-
April 8th, 2024
I wrote this last year right after the solar eclipse. I figured it was worth sharing since this month it had been a year. Enjoy! … I drag myself out of bed after only a few hours of sleep. I’m a nocturnal creature who has found her home on third shift. I leave the house in my galaxy pajama pants and “I love horror movies,” t-shirt, with my curly green hair floating around my head like seaweed. So many people asked me if I would get up to watch the Eclipse. I asked myself who would sleep through it?The roads are abnormally quiet for the middle of the day,…
-
An Offering For The Tall One
The feather looked out of place in a pothole behind Fastway—black, but blue under the right light. It fell from the tail of a black bird that caws. Ignoring the moisture on my feet, I take its stem between my teeth. I look around, make sure its owner isn’t coming back for it, and sprint back toward the lair. I am still small enough to fit under the chain link fence behind the store. Under parked cars, between houses, through tall grass, past barking dogs, and a stinky creature with a white stripe—I run without slowing down. There’s no time to stop and chat. I need to take my…
-
Mother Is The Name For God
I scanned the tall shelves, running my fingers over spines, both old and new. The library seems so out of place in a decaying city like Gehenna. Maybe the people who funded it hoped the residents would educate themselves and pull their city out of its decades-long funk. Unfortunately, crime, drugs, and poverty can’t be fixed with books. Two thick volunes rested under my arm; one on demonology, and one on angels—because there are two sides to every story. I tried to remind myself of that the other night when she showed up—this woman I wanted to know, until I saw her. We made eye contact for a second.…
-
Crows Take Care Of Crows, Part 2
Wind rattled the bones and crystals around us. Delilah sat her needles aside and rose from the oak rocking chair. “I think I’ll go see if Mettie’s awake.” “Yes,” Grandma said. “I’m sure he’ll be up and ready for breakfast soon.” The two women shared a quick kiss before Delilah disappeared into the house. Grandma motioned to the ornate stone bench by the table. I fiddled with the hem of my sweatshirt and lowered myself onto the cool granite. “Does anyone else know?” she asked, taking my hands in hers. Her cool skin quieted the nerves inside me that tried so hard to be rattled. I shook my head, biting…
-
Crows Take Care Of Crows
I pressed my toes into the damp earth and leaned back, letting the sun bathe my pale face. Blue eyes—Crow eyes—can’t handle the bright sun. I closed them and watched the back of my eyelids turn the color of pomegranate. Sunflakes settled all around me, and a river of deep green slid beneath the trees. This is where I come to think. Somewhere in the lush canopy above, a mourning dove cried. This will ruin your life, Mara. I rubbed my stomach, which wouldn’t be flat anymore by winter. I wanted to be the first of five to finish high school. Those plans died in the back seat of Tim’s…
-
Our Sally Is Gone
Rural USA, December 21, 1927 Sally May climbed the carved granite steps, careful not to slip on the damp stone. The cave walls wept, and cool drops fell from the ceiling. She could already hear her parents scolding her. They might even send her to bed without supper. Daddy would say, “Sarah, how many times have we told you? Don’t go wanderin’ like that.” Momma would tell her, “Go on to bed, Sally.” In the thirteen years since momma birthed her, they still couldn’t agree on the name. She loved the way grandma said her name with that drawl. SallaMay. Skeletal trees scratched at the cave’s mouth, as if trying…
