david

I’m in the doomed city again, barely time to run. I always find you, but can’t make you go. “Your stubborn streak will kill you this time.” You just laugh. I have to choose: To survive, or stay and be consumed.
Later, running, I’m miles away. Then, the roar, and hot wind throws me forward. But I don’t look back.
My alarm clock jolts me awake, followed by the familiar pain that you are still alive, but I am long gone.

Nathaniel

I eased hesitatingly from beneath covers. Dark bedroom pulsing. Floorboards shifting like tectonic plates. Corners of my mouth sticking with familiar sweetness. The meeting had meant an end, as mutual as one could ever be. Former passions cried for one last indulgence and we gave in, them having once filled our every waking thought. The door stuck on the way out. I thought of making repairs, before realizing.

Sarah

The Torturer’s Song

It’s practice, not hatred, that steadies the hand on the other end of the cigarette’s burning kiss. The heart’s wires stripped electric, I fine tune the sun and tighten the strings until the man is taut, singing secrets that aren’t his. Eyes branded with stars, you want to know where God is? Look up at that ravenous moon. He’s locked up too.

Mike

The Last Christmas: 2011 Population 312,763,111. Toy Production Materials.1300 Elves @ 3 meals every 12 hours. FDA Has banned Milk and Cookies for Santa without Health Inspections.8 Rain deer waste elimination system. Homeland Security Agent @ each residence & after 8 hours, overtime rates apply. FAA Regulations require a rest every 8 hours. Result:Cheapest toy $1,213. 24 . Gov't Personnel + Santa + load exceeded allowable shipping weight. Christmas is cancelled.

Karen

Her fingers were fire engine red. A cigarette dangled from her lips, which were the same color as her nails. A cloud of smoke billowed around her face. She chatted with the bartender, who had just served her a martini. Her lipstick stained the glass. She crossed and uncrossed her legs, revealing calf muscles that made me envious. She exuded confidence. I sat captivated, wondering if she actually felt the confidence or if it was just for show. Sometimes you can't tell. Most times you can't tell. You think you know and you're blown to bits when you realize the truth. Is there anyone in this life you can trust? Besides family, and sometimes not even them. I wondered if she had these thoughts. Should I approach her? Have a real conversation? Well, real in my eyes.

Leslie

“I just want to hold you,” Adam said weakly, but Steve scoffed, turning his back. “Why would I ever share a bed with you? I might be gay, but I have standards.” Heart broken, Adam fell to his knees, feeling sick.
“But I love you,” he said, voice choked with tears, “I love you and I thought you loved me. You said you loved me.”
“Yeah,” Steve said, “But that doesn't mean I want you to hold me. Fairy.” He scoffed, cold.

Leonardo

Mirren and Bello asked me. They were speaking  in a choral echo pattern with one voice trailing the other using the exact words  in the same cadence but with a slightly different pronunciation: "que es mas macho? Que es mas macho? Que es mas macho?
"Winslet," I thought, but was too dumbstruck to answer. 
After a few moments, barely audible , I was able to muster "white lily."

gail

It is a raw, snowy Sunday morning and the city is not rushing to wake up. But some, like me, have ventured out. There is no path cleared yet, so I walk in the street. A delivery man on a bicycle is approaching. He navigates it with care and child-like delight. I smile and he, from under his Yankees cap smiles back and croons, “Good morning Senorita !” Without missing a beat, I reply, “Buenos dias Senor!” Cultures do not collide this day; they meld and help put a thaw in the city’s chill.

gail

Cold War

It is a raw, snowy Sunday morning and the city is not rushing to wake up. But some, like me, have ventured out. There is no path cleared yet, so I walk in the street. A delivery man on a bicycle is approaching. He navigates it with care and child-like delight. I smile and he, from under his Yankees cap smiles back and croons, “Good morning Senorita !” Without missing a beat, I reply, “Buenos dias Senor!” Cultures do not collide this day; they meld and help put a thaw in the city’s chill.

Tarun

On the freeway exit, homeless cold eyes looked through my windshield. Greed of good karma forced my fingers to search for spare change. Penniless pockets offered an unopened pack of gum instead. But homeless refused, "Beggars can be choosers". I asked. WHY? He said,"I don't chew on the job". I admired his work ethics and moved on. His eyes went back to work in search of another windshield.

BlackSpot

We begged grandpa, 2035 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame mythkeeper, for a tale of debauchery, excess and legendary talent? Bertrand Canford, he began, or Bert Candy was a new Presley in 2050. Bull Sabers a lady in waiting. Rumor was, Bull was vampiric. He seduced, bled, fed and stole Candy’s voice. New blood, arisen Rock Royalty, Candy left drained and mute, the rest well known. Immortal red giant, Saber hits bullet charts.

Bill

Tastes Like Chicken

Things have been tense since he accidentally killed and roasted her brother Will, serving him at a backyard barbecue. He reminds her that Will had grown a layer of feathers and developed the habit of clucking. She thinks he should have noticed that something was amiss when he began to pluck Will. He has nothing to say to that.

BlackSpot

We begged grandpa, 2035 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame mythkeeper, for a tale of debauchery, excess and legendary talent? Bertrand Canford, he began, or Bert Candy was a new Presley in 2050. Bull Sabers a lady in waiting. Rumor was, Bull was vampiric. He seduced, bled, fed and stole Candy’s voice. New blood, arisen Rock Royalty, Candy left drained and mute, the rest well known. Immortal red giant, Candy hits bullet charts.

norman

committed the sin of knowing self her nothing recon ciliated laughed at repentance studied toweled off with a turin cloth after steaming in roman baths mounted afresh flesh rising to dune's crest to face crescent swords or a single sun worshiped by sand amassing how are camels born from oasis to oasis if not by available tits circumscribed succumb commit biology forgives birth its ignorance to come

Francesca

His sacred temple/Holy vessel/his religion. She glistened, dewy petals, sunrise glow, sparkling/aromatic. His breath not deep enuf 4her endless sweets. He knelt 2gift his offering&worship. His heart open/leaning, petals 2sun. Steeped/infinite moment/longing. 4ever changed, fragrant incense in her shrine. Eyes pleading/moistened lips-cherry blossom pink. Billions of cells, soul-fire ignited. Their first & last kiss.

Rick

"That was close," said the Captain calmly.
I felt fear, electric, clenching.
"Next time we won't cut through the belt."
He was confident, relaxed.
Finally I relaxed too.
There won't be a next time for me, I said to myself.
Behind me, lay the adventure of a lifetime.
Beside me, beyond the ship’s silver skin, lay death.
Ahead, a tiny blue dot of hope punctured the black velvet of night.
"Next stop Earth."
I'm coming home.

Martha

In the year 2085, Vogel places her left index finger on the chip underneath the skin of her right wrist. The chip recognizes her fingerprint and connects her to her unique air frequency. A slight move of her fingertip opens the receptors to the right side of her brain where her thoughts go from her frequency to another’s receiver. She places her wrist against her ear and sends her mother a mental message.

Rick

"That was close," said the Captain calmly.
I felt fear, electric, clenching, but trying to let it go.
"Next time we won't be cutting through the belt."

He sounded confident, relaxed.
Finally I relaxed too.
"There won't be a next time for me," I said to myself.

Behind me stretched enough adventure for a lifetime.
Beside me, beyond the ship’s silver skin, lay death.
Ahead, a tiny blue dot of hope punctured the black velvet of night.

"Next stop Earth."
I'm coming home...

John

I was grocery shopping the other day, saw the colby-jack
cheese, and paused there. Colby-jack is a boring, general purpose
cheese. But, my dog likes it. Smoosh it around glucosamine pills so
that he'll swallow them.

It is the holy eucharist that my dog and I celebrate, every day.
Sometimes there is cheese, no pill. Just the sweet ceremony.

He died five years ago, and I have a hard time with colby-jack now.

Garold

A cat-shaped shadow on the warm, sunlight floor – yawns. She tolerates an expensive, difficult to swallow pill. The implicit, asymmetrical reward is Ms. Ginger's favorite food – and for both of us some time on my lap in the cool, shadowless glow of the TV, rubbing her ears. Then a nap wherever she wants. Then to the box – priceless. We find such simple joys in each day, because tomorrow is promised to none of us.