Bianca J. Cook 
A Slender Door on an Old Oak Tree The craftsman pressed his thumb against the miniature wooden latch, testing the swing of the tiny carved door on the trunk of the oak tree. Wood shavings clung to the coarse fabric of his brown apron as he drove the final bracket into place. A young woman … Read more
A Strange Request at Room 302 Clara kept her chin tucked toward her collarbone as she pulled the hotel room door open. Maya stood in the hallway holding a fresh stack of folded white linens, wearing her blue housekeeping uniform and a name tag pinned to her chest. When Maya asked if the room needed … Read more
The Blow In The Assembly Hall The metal chair slammed against the officer’s shoulders, sending her tumbling forward onto the polished floor. She dropped to both knees, one hand slapping against the tile to brace her weight while the folding chair clattered beside her. Behind her stood a woman in a dark navy dress, chest … Read more
A Sudden Collision at the Table A heavy palm clamped around the back of the woman’s neck and drove her face toward the metal tray. Her chin rattled against the hard surface, inches from the mound of mashed potatoes and sliced meat. The clatter of utensils echoed off the tiled floor, drawing eyes from across … Read more
A Battered Instrument On A Wooden Bench Olivia Bennett unlatched the rusty metal clasps of her battered carrying case and pulled back the lid. Inside lay a scarred wooden body with severed strings curling uselessly into the air alongside a single paper notice announcing auditions for the following morning. A tear slipped over her lower … Read more
A Warm Bag In The Cold Rain A man in a frayed brown trench coat turned three copper pennies over in his wet palm outside the diner window. Rainwater dripped from the brim of his collar as he peered through the glass, watching families share plates of hot food beneath glowing neon lights. The diner … Read more
An Unexpected Discovery on the Sidewalk A young girl in an oversized, frayed olive jacket bent down on the concrete sidewalk and picked up a thick black leather wallet lying between pedestrians’ boots. Her chapped fingers flipped open the fold, revealing a dense stack of fifty-dollar bills, twenties, and an identification card bearing the name … Read more
A Red Light in the Server Room Marcus pushed the string mop across the polished linoleum floor, leaving a damp sheen in the quiet corporate tower. A high-pitched tone cut through the hum of the air conditioners as a red beacon pulsed near the doorframe of the server corridor. He let go of the mop … Read more
A Sharp Tap On The Glass The bright red bird snapped its beak against the glass panel, refusing to flutter away when the woman stepped close. She tilted her head, clutching her ceramic mug while studying the feathered visitor balanced on the narrow sill. Outside along the gravel driveway, family members stopped to stare, pointing … Read more
A Tattered Jacket At The Polished Counter The teller pressed both palms flat against the smooth marble counter and leaned forward. Her eyes flicked down over the frayed collar of his faded denim jacket and the worn folds of the manila envelope resting by his knuckles. “Get out of my line,” she said, not touching … Read more
A Tense Encounter at the Boarding Counter The gate agent’s fingers clamped down firmly onto the worn brown sleeve of Ruth’s coat, pulling her away from the scanner. Ruth stumbled slightly, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the corner of the podium to keep her balance. Behind her, travelers shifted their luggage across the slick … Read more
The Turnstile Confrontation The attendant gripped the traveler by the shoulders and shoved him backward toward the glass doors. A canvas duffel bag dropped to the gray concrete floor with a muted thud. The older man kept his boots planted firmly, his right hand gripping a white printed ticket between thumb and forefinger. The worker, … Read more