Bianca J. Cook 
An Unwanted Birthday Surprise Two hands clamped onto the blue-collared shirt and shoved the man forward, driving his nose and forehead deep into the thick chocolate frosting. The force pushed the tiered chocolate dessert flat against the wooden coffee table, sending crumbles and sweet paste sliding across the dark finish. Behind him, the blonde man … Read more
A Confrontation At The International Boarding Gate Bright terminal lights reflected across the polished gray floor of the airport corridor. A blue overhead sign marked the entry point for international departures. Several passengers waited quietly near the electronic scanning kiosks behind a divider. Suddenly, a uniformed security guard rushed forward toward an elderly traveler. The … Read more
A Tense Confrontation At The Departure Gate Bright morning light poured through the large glass panes of the busy departure terminal. Commercial aircraft stood parked outside along the wide tarmac under an overcast sky. A gate agent wearing a tailored navy blazer stood beside the automated ticket scanner. A young woman walked forward while cradling … Read more
An Early Confrontation Inside The Plane Soft overhead lighting filled the narrow passenger cabin of the airplane. Rows of dark blue upholstered seats lined both sides of the center aisle. An older man sat upright in the first seat on the left side. He wore a light brown casual jacket over a collared button-down shirt. … Read more
An Unexpected Guest Arrives In The Dining Room Warm crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow across the polished stone floor of the dining hall. White linen tablecloths covered each table while patrons sat quietly in formal evening attire. Servers in tailored black vests moved silently between the guests with covered silver trays. An older man … Read more
A Quiet Morning Inside The Showroom Warm overhead lights reflected across the polished glass display counters inside the quiet jewelry showroom. Crystal chandeliers hung suspended from the high ceiling above rows of gold and silver pieces. A salesman in a dark grey suit and black tie stood behind the central showcase. A woman with silver … Read more
Lena’s voice cracked on the first word. She swallowed. “The prevailing wind comes off the river at fourteen miles an hour from November through March,” Lena said. She did not look at her notes. “If you put a flat facade on that corner, you create a wind tunnel right where the school bus drops off … Read more
A Tense Encounter In The Designer Boutique Warm indoor lighting filled the wide corridor of the luxury fashion boutique. Neat rows of designer coats hung along display racks in the background. A woman in a tailored camel coat walked across the polished marble floor. She carried a black leather handbag securely in her left hand. … Read more
A Sudden Rejection on the Ballroom Floor A man leaned forward in his dark tuxedo and whispered three blunt words directly into Nora’s ear. Her gentle smile vanished, her lips parting as her eyelids snapped wide. She whispered back, questioning if he really intended to discard her right in the middle of a crowded formal … Read more
The Final Boarding Call The heels of her boots struck the airport carpet in rapid succession as she bolted toward the departure gate. Her long brown coat billowed behind her, flapping in rhythm with each frantic stride across the empty concourse. In her right hand, she thrust a folded paper boarding pass high above her … Read more
A Sudden Stop on a Flooded Road Rainwater poured off the brim of the duffel bag as the young man trudged along the edge of the asphalt. Tires splashed through standing puddles behind him, slowing down until an old green pickup pulled onto the shoulder. The driver rolled down the manual window, peering through wire-rimmed … Read more
The Struggle On The Grass The German Shepherd pressed his broad front paws firmly into the dirt on either side of the little girl’s shoulders, locking his weight over her back. The child lay flat on her stomach, her fingers buried into the blades of green turf as her wide eyes darted toward the crowd. … Read more