It was definitely a weed. Sally frowned. She didn’t recognize what kind, though. It didn’t resemble nightshade, goosegrass, or ragwort. Best to call in reinforcements, she fished her phone out of her apron pocket. Snapped a photo and sent it to the family chat. One of them was bound to identify the plant. It didn’t take long for the messages to roll in. Grandma, why are you growing weed? Yes, but what kind? WEED! They really were most unhelpful, and…
Theo scrubbed the remaining dregs of sleep from his face and stared at the coffee table. It took a few minutes for his memory to filter through the alcohol-induced fog. The snapshots of his on again off again relationship lay scattered before him. He swept them into a pile and reached for his lighter. He shouldn’t have printed them. Left the memories in digital form where they were easier to ignore. Lesson learned. The fire grew brighter as it ate the…
Angela hated mirrors. It was bad enough to be reminded of the accident every time she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She wouldn’t waste time staring at the physical reminders. Everyone told her it would get better, but what did they know? They weren’t left incapable of walking, with scars on their bodies. Therapists sat behind desks, pens in hand, asking stupid questions as if it would somehow heal all her broken parts. Doctors poked and prodded. She’d shouted…
Jan swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to unlock the door and hurry inside her mother’s apartment before the neighbors could offer condolences — or complaints. She hadn’t visited in years, and had no desire to linger amongst the cobwebs and complicated memories. Not when she’d rather be home curled up under her fuzzy orange blanket pretending life was normal. A waft of stale air mixed with the unmistakable stench of rotting garbage assaulted her. She braced…