Story

An Unnoticed Melody On A Busy Sidewalk Ethan slid his fingers across the metal guitar strings, sending a gentle acoustic rhythm echoing off the brick storefronts. Commuters in heavy winter coats surged past, their gazes fixed firmly on the concrete beneath their boots. Behind him, Mark leaned over the counter of his mobile coffee cart, … Read more

A Sharp Confrontation On The Pavement The woman smoothed the lapels of her crisp white blazer and planted her black high heels onto the polished concrete plaza. Her leather portfolio tucked under one arm, she stopped squarely in front of an older man sitting on the low stone ledge near the revolving glass doors. The … Read more

A Partner Down On The Roadside The German Shepherd pressed his black snout against the officer’s limp hand, pushing upward against the unresponsive fingers. The officer remained flat on his back in the tall weeds, his head resting against the patrol vehicle’s front tire. Cars whipped past along the multi-lane road just feet away. The … Read more

A Lone Dog on the Rails The golden retriever shoved his wet nose hard against the young woman’s collarbone, nudging her slack jaw upward. Her arm lay limply across the steel rail, fingers curled motionless against the gray ballast stone. Down the narrow corridor of pines, two glowing halogen beams cut through the exhaust haze … Read more

A Sudden Red Stain A tilted wine glass emptied dark red liquid directly down the front of the white button-down shirt. The young waitress stepped back on the dark wood floor, her hands flying to her sides as the liquid soaked through cotton fibers and pooled along the edge of her black waist apron. Her … Read more

A Standstill On The Shoulder The adult red fox pressed her front paws against the loose gravel shoulder and thrust her muzzle into a narrow concrete drainage gap. A line of orange traffic cones blocked off the right lane behind her. Cruisers stood with flashing blue lights while cars crept past in single file. Inside … Read more

Turned Away at the Threshold The security guard pressed his palm flat against the older man’s worn lapel, stepping forward to block the double brass doors. Behind the elderly gentleman stood his wife, her hands resting quietly across her cream cardigan while marble tiles reflected the soft glow of the chandeliers overhead. “Stop. You two … Read more

A Confrontation At Boarding Gate Twelve The gate agent snatched the printed paper pass and tore it straight down the center. She tossed the shredded pieces into the air as waiting travelers stared from the seating area. An older woman stood alone on the carpeted floor, holding a small brown leather handbag in both hands. … Read more

A Confrontation in the Corridor A supervisor slammed his palms against an elderly woman’s arms, knocking a heavy silver briefcase from her grip onto the tiled aquarium floor. The metal latches clicked against the hard surface as visitors paused by the surrounding coral exhibits. The man jabbed an index finger toward the exit doors, demanding … Read more

The Rush of the Current The man’s boots skidded across the wet shale as his fingers clawed at the churning edge of the river. Foaming white water roared around a woman’s shoulders, pushing her head beneath the cresting waves. Her hands slapped against the surface, trying to find purchase against the rushing surge that dragged … Read more

A Count At The Register An elderly man slid a bag of sandwich bread across the black conveyor belt, his frayed jacket sleeve catching slightly on the metal railing. On the belt sat a carton of whole milk, a yellow bunch of bananas, a plastic pack of red apples, canned meat, and dry pasta. The … Read more

A Slipping White Box An older man’s fingers slipped from the slick cardboard of a bakery box, sending a frosted strawberry cake tilting downward toward the brick sidewalk. A younger passerby dropped his knees to the pavement, cupping both palms beneath the bottom flaps just as the cardboard began to buckle. The white icing grazed … Read more