Forked lightning flashed across the blackened sky, illuminating a face at the window. Carla froze, soapy washcloth in one hand, half-cleaned pot in the other, and considered she might have listened to one too many true crime podcasts, but then, it moved. The pan clattered back into the sink, splashing the floor with water as Carla screamed and scrambled to drag the blind closed before she scurried towards safety. Heavy footsteps on the stairs told her Marvin had heard the…
An air-raid siren echoed through the night, growing louder with every second until it was impossible to ignore. Pete scrubbed sleep from his face as the girls screamed. The tornado siren was a familiar cry, but as the howling wind yanked and tore at the house, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Hail pinged off the windows. Pete didn’t need to check the sky this time. He scrambled out of bed and towards his panicked…
Linda refused to cry as she tugged the sleeves of the red sweater over her hands. Rain blurred the cars and traffic lights below, turning everything into a kaleidoscope of colors. She lived in a city with eight million other people and yet was utterly alone on her birthday of all days. She reread the letter before crumpling it into a ball. A three-year relationship deserved more than a few good memories and the promise of a future coffee date. Maybe…
Maya sang her heart out. Jake sat in a shadowy corner where he could watch without being in the way. He told her to pick anything, and they’d do it. Anything to reconnect with his daughter post-divorce. Sure, karaoke night wouldn’t heal the hurt for his teenaged daughter, but maybe for tonight it would offer the escape they both needed. Her face was alight with a smile as she belted out the unfamiliar lyrics, but he had little doubt it…