Photo by bongkarn thanyakij on Pexels.com Craig suppressed a gag as Martha set the plate of broccoli casserole, her “specialty,” in front of him. “I made your favorite,” she smiled. “And there’s plenty more in the kitchen.” “You shouldn’t have,” he said, subtly leaning to the side so as to avoid the hot aroma wafting… Continue reading Little White Lies
Category: Grown-Up Stuff
Legs
Photo by Vova Krasilnikov on Pexels.com I’m never going to forgive u. She hit Send, and as a second thought, quickly typed Hope ur happy. Then, before she could receive a response, she turned her phone off and set it on the bedside table. She closed her eyes and let her head droop for a… Continue reading Legs
Property of Nicholas Plath
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Sylvia Plath knew she was doomed as soon as she opened her mother’s birthday present. It was going to be a book – her mother never gave her anything else – but this one was heavy. She pulled the newspaper wrapping away from the cover and read the title. “The… Continue reading Property of Nicholas Plath
The Lesson
Photo by Burst on Pexels.com 6:15 a.m. Better call in a sick day, Molly thought as she stared at her reflection. No amount of concealer was going to cover up that bruise. She smiled, thinking of the light-hearted responses she’d give to her coworkers if she did go in. Oh, I’m fine, but you should… Continue reading The Lesson
Mom Friends
Photo by Gianne Karla Tolentino on Pexels.com I meet Jackie through a friend of a friend and right away she asks for my number. I think maybe she’ll text me in a group message one of these days, but no, Jackie actually calls me and wants to hang out, just us, next weekend. We go… Continue reading Mom Friends
Prompts Inspired by Photographs in Magazines
Photo by Inga Seliverstova on Pexels.com The room is dark and immediately hot. My neck starts to itch and sweat trickles through the baby hairs at my temples. The man on the couch is freezing, though. His blanket looks new, but it’s blue with yellow sunflowers: a donation. The couch is rubbed bare at the… Continue reading Prompts Inspired by Photographs in Magazines
The Caretaker
Photo by Inna Lesyk on Pexels.com Jessie Gates would have traded the rest of her life for one good cup of coffee. As she mixed water with powdered eggs, she took a sip from her mug, grimaced, then dumped the rest of it into the sink. “What’s the matter with it today? Too weak… Continue reading The Caretaker
Village of Straw and Mud
Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com Lilathena was finally in a place where she felt she might belong. This was the fourth village she had seen in a month, the eighth since she had lost her mother, and the tenth since they had left behind their old home together at the beginning of the planting season.… Continue reading Village of Straw and Mud
