Bianca J. Cook

A Hard Grip On The Shopping Cart The guard slammed both palms against the metal frame of the shopping cart, blocking the doorway to the parking lot. His uniform shirt strained across his shoulders as he leaned directly into the older man’s face. Paper grocery sacks sat crumpled near the threshold, loose onions and packages … Read more

A Sudden Interruption on the Marble Floor Worn leather work boots shuffled across the polished white marble, carrying an older man dressed in shredded trousers and a frayed brown coat. He carried a limp cloth sack in one hand, keeping his gaze straight toward the high-ceilinged elevator bank. A younger man in a tailored charcoal … Read more

A Sudden Strike on the Showroom Floor The salesman’s hand whipped forward, knocking the crumpled wool cap out of the older man’s grip and sending it spinning across the polished concrete. The cap settled beside the front wheel of a dark gray luxury SUV. The older man did not flinch, keeping his feet firmly planted … Read more

A Fiery Response to Arrogance The amber stream of gasoline splashed across the curved windshield of the purple supercar before pooling on the polished concrete below. A well-dressed man stood on the vehicle’s roof, tilted the red plastic container, and emptied the remaining fuel over the hood. Guests in tailored suits stepped backward near the … Read more

A Deal Behind Closed Gates A man in a navy blazer pushes down on the handle of a manual floor pump, forcing air into a black shape on the concrete driveway. With every downward thrust, the vinyl expands against the paving stones. The square lines, front grille, and oversized tires fill out until a glossy … Read more

A Sudden Spark On The Crosswalk Flames chewed through the dark wool of the businessman’s jacket as he stepped onto the painted stripes of the crosswalk. Smoke billowed up behind his shoulder blades, grey and thick against the city skyline, but the man continued walking toward the opposite curb with a leather briefcase swinging in … Read more

An Unattended Package on the Hood A woman in a red satin dress stretched her fingers toward an orange electronics box balanced on the front of a black sedan. She slipped the package against her ribs, tucking both elbows tight against her sides while glancing down the sidewalk. A man walking nearby stopped in his … Read more

An Unprovoked Attack at the Mess Hall Table A metal tray tilted forward, dumping steamed rice and meat sauce directly across the man’s dark curls and down his left cheek. Grains clung to his jawline and smeared across his orange collar, but his fork remained resting calmly between his fingers. He lowered his gaze to … Read more

The Wood Splinters The heavy iron head of the mallet crashed into the dark polished wood, sending white lily petals scattering across the stone church floor. A doctor in a white lab coat pulled the tool back and struck the lid a second time, wedging the head deep into the seam. She threw her weight … Read more

An Unplanned Challenge The young girl pushed both rims of her wheelchair forward, stopping directly beside the concert grand piano. Behind her, rows of patrons filled the balcony and lower hall, dressed in dark tuxedos and evening gowns. The pianist, dressed in a tailored black suit, stood up from his bench, gestured toward the open … Read more

A Trembling Finger on the Glass An elderly woman pressed her trembling index finger against the glass display case housing a crystal-encrusted stiletto. Her jacket was frayed at the cuffs and torn across the shoulders, hanging loosely from her frail frame as she sat hunched in a wheelchair. She whispered a quiet question through parted … Read more

A Sudden Attack on the Sidewalk A masked runner in a green hoodie lunged forward, tore a leather purse from the hands of a woman in a white suit, and sprinted down the pavement. The woman stumbled off balance onto her heels, shouting toward the retreating figure. A man sitting against the plate-glass wall on … Read more