KAAVYA RAJAN: Two Hands

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Two hands entwined together. One human and cold, the other mechanical yet warm. He whispered, “I’m home,” though she could never answer. Every update preserved her voice, her smile, her habits. Love survived. She didn’t. He finally understood the difference between memory and presence at last, letting go anyway, forever.

Kaavya Rajan is a high school student from India. She has been published in magazines such as In the Mood and journals like Apotheca and Crashtest. She enjoys reading and watching tennis in her free time.

ROBERTA BEACH JACOBSON: Holiday

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

on a partly cloudy day
in an ordinary small town
in a flyover state
a parade begins at 10 am

when the batons start swinging
and the brass strikes up a familiar march
with gusto
the townspeople clap and children cheer

for one day
all feels right
with the world

Roberta Beach Jacobson is the author of Demitasse Fiction: One-Minute Reads for Busy People.

KEVIN J FELLOWS: We

Odd, Submissions, , ,

On her first visit, she turned the light on and watched him sleep. When he woke, he was alone. Dismissing her presence as a vivid dream, he turned the light off.

Her weight sank the mattress. She said, “Don’t do that.”

“Turn the light out?”

“We don’t like it.”

“We?”

Kevin J. Fellows, is a former technologist but has always been a writer. His fiction and poetry have appeared in Translunar Travelers Lounge, ONE ART, 34 Orchard, Strange Horizons, Star*Line, and others. See more at kevinjfellows.com.

MARIA CARGILLE: To Teach Unlearning

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

She moved with a terrible efficiency, cutting corners within her own space so as to never, ever inconvenience. Movement that bled quiet don’t mind me, and of course, that’s more important and i’m sorry.

I soothed slowly, wordlessly: I see you; and of course you matter; and it’s alright, love.

Maria Cargille wrote this story.

LORRAINE MANTON: Mirror Image

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Every morning she pins on a smile with thoughts as sharp as nails. She checks it carefully: is it wide enough? Are the edges too hard, are the lips too thin, too tight-pressed, too fake? (She copied the smile from a storefront dummy, but no one has to know that.)

Lorraine Manton is currently studying creative writing and literature at Deakin University, Australia, and has a great fondness for books, coffee and small slices of imaginary lives.

ALEXA DONLEY: Homecomings

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Running away is the easy part—it’s the coming home that hurts. Seeing your shoes lined up at the front door, your car in the driveway, your flowers blooming in the front garden. They all waited for you, faithful, steady.

It will be harder to leave next time, knowing that.

Alexa Donley is a speculative fiction author living in Washington. When not writing, she can be found traveling to new places or walking in storms. Her first book, The House on the Rocks, is available now, as well as monthly short stories on Patreon.

ELLIOTT FIELDING: I don’t take it for granted

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

I walk by memory through night-dark rooms, take comfort in familiar imperfections — curled wallpaper and doors scratched by other people’s dogs. But my sense of security is strung through with a barbed-wire-strand of fear; I know I could lose this home. The strongest gratitude comes hand in hand with grief.

Elliott Fielding is a Colorado scientist and emerging author who weighs phrases and measures words.

DAVID SYDNEY: Moth Toast

Amusing, Submissions, , , , , , ,

“What’re you doing, Ed?”

He motioned for quiet, crumpling a napkin. “This moth’s toast.”

The insect was on the kitchen table.

“Don’t kill it, Ed. It has a life too.”

Life? Too? His face twisted.

After he released it into their backyard, it was almost immediately eaten by a bird.

David Sydney is a physician who writes fiction in and out of the EHR (Electronic Health Record).

SIMON BUCKLEY: Concerns Have Been Raised

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

Hi Leo.

Yes, the exhibition install was fine!

The issue we’re having is the wall text has raised concerns about your artwork.

Thing is, we’ve realised it’s correct.

I’m afraid the situation has changed.

It’s now just the wall text on display.

See you at 8.

The wall text insisted.

Simon Buckley is a Glasgow-based writer and visual artist. His interdisciplinary practice explores language, rurality and non-human intelligence. He is co-coordinator of the action research group Durty Beanz, and his artwork and writing has been exhibited and published by galleries, museums and institutions internationally. His flash fiction has appeared in MAP Magazine, with forthcoming work in BULL.