Author Archives: susan

Word Count:  251 When his first child was born, his first son, he was thousands of miles away. Doing the right thing for humanity, helping rebuild a nation torn to strips of thin fragments by civil war. The people, broken … Continue reading →

Word Count:  219 It seemed to be taking forever. Waiting for clearance for liftoff. The hours of delay. The months and final weeks of preparation for this first trip to Mars. He squirmed a bit in his seat. Radioed for … Continue reading →

Word Count:  373 She felt so alone. That deep black widow alone. It was just starting to hit her, the loss. They said it was common. To see him around corners, to feel him still in their bed. She tried … Continue reading →

Word Count:  222 Morning sun cut through the kitchen. She flicked off the radio. Put their empty coffee mugs into the sink. “Where were you?” she asked. “I know where I was. Where were you?” He turned quickly at her … Continue reading →

Word Count:  305 She gets up from the couch and goes upstairs to dig out a sweater. Resists the urge to change cutoffs to long jeans. Makes the bed to avoid creeping back in there and pulling the covers up … Continue reading →

Word Count:  46 In a locked room at the top of the stairs lives a senile old woman who was once a young girl who lived in a locked room at the top of the stairs. That’s all I know … Continue reading →

Word Count:  310 She hated her nose, too round, the bridge bumpy, and wanted one like her friend Caroline’s, straight and noble. He, loving her, killed Caroline, cut off her nose, brought it home and removing her’s, carefully stitched Caroline’s … Continue reading →

Word Count:  362 One midsummer’s evening she left him to go live in a well. An old one, deep and dark with fieldstone walls that caught the sunlight at noon. The walls sparkled like sequins for fifteen minutes then faded … Continue reading →

Word Count:  318 She told him he could pick any toy he wanted. He dropped his hand from hers and ran like a monkey from one side of the aisle to another. She could hardly keep up. He was only … Continue reading →

Word Count:  279 They’ve been married a very long time, fifteen years. Still love to play silly tricks on each other. He’s hidden her credit cards. She’s hidden his keys. He’ll pretend he’s flown to LA on business. She’ll pretend … Continue reading →