Bianca J. Cook 
Separated by Steel A young woman pressed her white-rolled diploma flat against the steel diamond mesh as tears ran down her cheeks. On the opposite side of the chain-link barrier, an older man in a faded orange jumpsuit reached his fingers through the small openings, curling them until his knuckles turned white. Neither of them … Read more
A Cold Reception At The Front Desk The desk clerk tapped his index finger across the glass tablet screen and shook his head. His tailored navy suit remained crisp as he lifted his chin, his dark tie firmly centered against his collar. Across the polished wooden counter stood an older man wearing a faded denim … Read more
An Unlikely Obstacle Along The Fence Line A young white-tailed deer rested her belly squarely across the rough cedar split-rail, her front hooves hovering suspended over the tall meadow grass while her back legs scrambled uselessly against the crushed gravel trail. She was balanced like a seesaw on the top beam, pinned by her own … Read more
A Search for Scraps in the Rain The dog’s front paws rested on the slippery plastic rim of the green dumpster as her hind legs trembled against the wet asphalt. Rain soaked through her matted tan coat, clinging to her round, swollen belly as she stretched her neck into the garbage heap. She nudged aside … Read more
A Sudden Strike at Chores The sheep slammed its dark forehead against the side of the galvanized bucket, knocking the metal clean out of the farmer’s grip. Dry yellow corn kernels rained across the wet concrete path, bouncing against stone and rolling into muddy puddles beside the barn door. The man caught his breath, his … Read more
Pinned Against the Dirt The rooster pressed his breast against the packed dirt, wings pinned tight beneath the lowest wooden rail of the pasture fence. His neck stretched forward into the open yard while his tail feathers remained wedged on the other side of the timber. He opened his beak wide, letting out a sharp, … Read more
A Sudden Clash at the Front Desk A woman’s palm struck the vintage metal lunchbox resting on the marble counter, knocking it off the ledge so it clattered loudly against the floor. The elderly man in the distressed wool coat flinched slightly as the metal container bounced near his worn leather shoes. She stood behind … Read more
An Angry Demand In Row Two The man in the sharp navy suit jabbed his index finger directly toward the elderly woman’s face. She sat quietly in seat 2A, both hands resting firmly on the worn leather handles of her beige handbag. Her trench coat was faded, frayed along the seams, and bore small tears … Read more
The Flying Pieces The man’s forearm swept across the polished tabletop, sending dozens of hand-carved chess pieces tumbling through the air and crashing against the hardwood floor. Small wooden pawns rolled toward the stone hearth as an older man entered the doorway, his mouth opening in shock at the mess scattered across the rug. “That … Read more
A Shattered Legacy The woman pressed her palm firmly against the stained glass until the central pane gave way, raining jagged shards across the hardwood floor. Dust and small fragments scattered across the patterned rug beneath the wooden staircase. The older man took a step back, his mouth parting as he stared at the empty … Read more
The Cold Counter The triage nurse tapped her blue pen against the laminate desk and looked over the mother’s shoulder at the hallway. “Six-hour wait,” she stated, barely shifting her posture as she flicked her pen. “Non-urgent.” Beside the counter, the small girl buried her red, blotchy cheek deeper into the fabric of a worn … Read more
Cast Out on the Stone Steps A pink tweed sleeve swung forward, knocking a burgundy canvas duffel down the wet stone stairs. The bag tumbled against the dark granite risers, spilling a pale folded blanket across the rain-slicked landing below. Standing beside the open archway of the manor, the young woman cradled a white dog … Read more