Broken

Broken I’m almost done the dishes when the unthinkable happens. My hand, slippery with suds, grasps my glass and it slips, falling onto the floor with a sharp crack. I stare in horror at my only glass, lying in four large pieces and a scattering of shards. Immediately I start gathering them together, trying to…

Spirits

Spirits “What are you hoping from this?” I asked the woman across who was looking out the train window lost in thought. She glanced towards me. “Oh, I’m just curious. I don’t think we’ll see anything, really, but I’ve got an open mind.” She went back to looking out into the fog. “I’ve got questions…

Creeping Things

Creeping Things Footsteps creep by outside, military-style boots. Breathe slowly. Militia, looking for conscripts. Or target practice. Stomach rumbles. It’s been hours. Low voices. So hungry. Moving away. Something creeps across your hand. You grab it instinctively. It squirms. You stuff it in your mouth. Crunchy. Suddenly you’re a kid again, hunting crickets in the…

When our World Moved

When Our World Moved Could I move the glass telepathically? Pure fantasy, but so was this date a year ago. Anything to impress her. I chatted superficially, willing the glass to move. Bang! Glass and water flew everywhere. My face exploded in pain. Despite everything, my spirit glowed. I was telekinetic. Later, as I was…

Yesterdays’ Alchemist

Yesterdays’ Alchemist “Did anything notable happen today?” Dr. Yarrow asked. She looked at Nikolai over the top of her pad. Nikolai did not want weekly therapy session and he suspected that Dr. Yarrow did not want to see him either, but those were the rules. The higher ups thought that historical adjustment and the associated…

A Bar For All Tastes

A Bar For All Tastes You enter through a normal-looking door off the street, something in a rich brown for tradition’s sake. Inside is a reception desk. A selection of chocolates on the desk is the only hint of what lies beyond. This is where you make your first choice. Families with children immediately go…

Three Books

Three Books There were three books that had a big impact on Hudson. The first was Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card. Hudson picked it out at the library during one of their reading periods in fifth grade. It was the first time he realized that books could actually be interesting. After that, he read…