by Adalia Bogert Let me guess,You were one of them. “Don’t have kids.”Barren.“Speak up.”Nonverbal.“At least you’ll lose weight.”Cancer. I don’t have to tell you how bad that last one was.In our world, we have rankings.And Cancer is #1. Now you’re one of us.And you want to know the rules. I’ll…
by Adalia Bogert Name. Date of birth. Group member ID. Patient ID. Age. Height. Weight. Pain level. Date of onset. Number of hospitalizations. Prescription number. Test number. ICD-10 code. Signature. Date. Me.
by Rachel E. Enright “The Graveyard of Abandoned Dreams” placed first in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2021 Fall Fiction Contest. The graveyard of abandoned dreams was starting to get crowded. As far as Walt the gravedigger could see, headstones jutted out of the ground like sentries on a forgotten battlefield, weather-worn and…
by Amanda Koprowski “Between Here and There” placed second in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2021 Fall Fiction Contest. Myra says, “Let’s go on a road trip,” and Alice looks at her like she has two heads, because there is work and family and because Myra always says things like Let’s open…
by Brian Reickert “On the Lake” placed third in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2021 Fall Fiction Contest. Marc stepped into the canoe, sat on the caned seat, planted an oar on the rocky lake bottom, and pushed away from shore. Dylan waved goodbye to his mother who stood barefoot in the…
by Janet Petrine “Whispers of the Archipelago” placed fourth in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2021 Fall Fiction Contest. Locals were accustomed to the peculiarities that laced through their meager population. The strange behavior was companion to the endless winters and the harsh wilderness. For those among them with fragile souls, the…
by B. Cray “Chamomile” placed fifth in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2021 Fall Fiction Contest. Karyn found more beauty in the world when she softened her gaze. The thing she appreciated most about her bedroom was the birdfeeder Julian had placed just outside the window last spring. It was an attempt…
by Cat Hannon My last memory of you –The nurse ripping the pain patch from behind your ear.Pain crossed your face – the crinkle and frown, burnt into my memory.I felt your pain as you faded from this world.Within the hour, you and Grandma would be reunited…Finally, and forever. You…
by Andi Garrison (This poem contains domestic abuse.) Maybe one dayyour bruises won’t burn my skin.Promises you left behindwon’t hurt time and time again. Maybe one dayvivid memories will fade.The only scars left herewill be the marks from my blade. Maybe one daymy reflection won’t break my heart.With every passing…
by Darcie Raridon Need for a fatherfelt like a pox.So, I buried minein a box-top-box.It’s stuffedfull of lessons,he never taught,wrapped in clotheshe never bought,and I scribbledhis obituaryon the first, andonly postcardI ever got.