Fiction

Brawny, Brainy, Good

Emily Adrian -

When Shannon first saw an ad for the reunion episode, a week ago, her interest was fleeting. She enlarged the photo to scrutinize the...

Drop Velocity

April Sopkin -

The disgraced CEO sat alone at a table in a coffee shop, playing a game on his phone. Samantha Becker spotted him after grabbing...

The Farmer Takes a Wife

Holly Goddard Jones -

The politician was a good public speaker, warm and spontaneous, and he was loath to stick to a stump speech as he toured the...

Every Drop Is A Man’s Nightmare

Megan Kakimoto -

The first and only time she is driven over the old Pāli road with a container of pork, Sadie smears blood on the back...

Hard Luck Hand

Michael Bible -

A bird got trapped in the lake house. Maniacally, around the room, it flew. Tiny, furious and yellow. It didn’t know how to leave....

The Language of Melons

Annie Trinh -

We speak the language of melons in our family. It has been something that Mom and Dad spoke to me since I was born....

Friend of the Pod

Frannie Comstock -

When Claire first gets the notification, she excuses herself from the meeting she is in, goes into the single stall bathroom at her office,...

The Death of the Author / Maladaptive Daydreams for the Astronaut in Training

Lily C. Buday -

Teacher comes, as usual, at settling-down time— or, more accurately, that’s when you summon her. Right as you’re trying to acquaint yourself with the...

The Smoker

Alexa Economacos -

Her cigarettes always smelled worse than other ones. I couldn’t say why, exactly, since I didn’t smoke. My friends did occasionally. Or what they...

Nina, Rome

Cristina Sandu -

The following story is an excerpt from the story collection The Union of Synchronized Swimmers by Cristina Sandu. The Union of Synchronized Swimmers is available now from Scribe...