Bianca J. Cook

Trapped Along the Shoulder A black horse lay pinned on its side in the narrow, muck-filled drainage trench beside the wet highway asphalt. Its dark coat was caked with wet gray clay, and its neck rested limply against the steep, straw-covered bank of the ditch. A passing driver paced near the rear bumper of his … Read more

A Modest Request Outside The Bakery An elderly man in a faded blue denim jacket stepped in front of a young man stepping out of a café, pointing gently to the brown paper bag held in his hands. The young man paused on the sidewalk, holding a freshly bought sandwich with a few bites already … Read more

A Cold Request at the Glass An elderly man in a worn brown coat folded his trembling hands together as he stood outside the bakery window. Behind the clean glass display, rows of fresh sourdough and golden loaves rested on wooden shelves, steam still rising into the air. The old man pressed his palms together … Read more

A Request on the Sidewalk An elderly man sat slumped against a red brick wall outside a bakery, his weathered hands resting across his knees. His frayed brown coat showed tears at the shoulders, and his silver hair flared outward in uncombed tufts against the brickwork. Shoppers stepped past the bakery display window, carrying paper … Read more

Turned Away at the Door An elderly man pulled his frayed brown coat tight around his shoulders and stepped up to the doorway of the local hardware store. He paused at the entrance, resting one hand against the dark wooden frame before speaking to the shopkeeper standing inside behind the counter. His voice rose above … Read more

A Heavy Burden on a Busy Sidewalk An elderly man leaned his worn jacket against the chrome handlebars of a tarnished vintage bicycle, dragging his torn trousers along the busy urban pavement. Pedestrians shuffled past him on both sides, their eyes glued to their phones or staring straight ahead. He adjusted his grip on the … Read more

A Fractured Life Behind Glass A woman pressed a black telephone receiver against her ear while staring through thick visitation glass. Tears ran down her cheeks as she told the man in the orange jumpsuit that their daughter needed a new life without a father behind bars. She demanded that he sign the divorce papers … Read more

A Violent Twist at the Window The woman thrust her smartphone through the drive-thru window, her fingers gripping a paper cup before throwing the hot coffee straight onto the young cashier’s uniform shirt. Malik stood still as the dark liquid soaked through his red shirt and apron, running down his chest in heavy streaks. He … Read more

A Sudden Accusation At The Counter A man in a dark suit slammed a check onto the marble bank counter and raised his voice at the woman standing before him. He held the paper high in the air, pointing his finger toward her tear-stained face while security guards stood nearby in the lobby. The woman … Read more

A Quiet Glance on the Train A young man leaned over his seat cushion, his gaze locked onto the glowing phone screen held by the passenger beside him. He did not look away as the screen shifted between menus and applications. He watched every tap and swipe from just a few inches distance, completely absorbed … Read more

An Unexpected Approach A young man leaned down over the edge of a round wooden table, resting one palm against the back of an empty chair. He looked toward the woman sitting across from the lit candle, her blonde hair styled loosely around her shoulders. She wore a fitted black dress with a wide neckline … Read more

An Unexpected Bill The waiter slid the leather check folder across the polished wooden table. The man in the black jacket reached down into his pockets, opening his wallet only to find it completely empty. He leaned forward, looking up at the waiter with a quiet admission that he had no money to cover the … Read more