Story

A Sudden Snatch On The Sidewalk The cyclist’s hand closed around the brown leather straps and ripped the purse straight off the woman’s shoulder. Her arms flew back as the momentum jerked her balance off the curb. She cried out, stumbling backward on the concrete while the young man stood up on his pedals, surging … Read more

Caught in the Wire A young bison calf pulled against the tight twist of barbed wire looped around its hind leg. Rain dripped from the strands of rusty steel onto the muddy roadside. Each time the calf shifted weight, the metal pinched deeper into its wet, brown coat. Just a few feet away on the … Read more

An Unexpected Confrontation A slender hand reaches out and abruptly blocks an elderly woman’s fingers just inches away from a designer leather handbag. The blonde sales associate pulls her shoulders back, stepping squarely into the older woman’s path. She shakes her head firmly, her eyes narrowing as she scans the worn beige cardigan and simple … Read more

Standing in the Middle of the Road Rubber screamed against the asphalt as the heavy front bumper of the fire engine dipped forward, halting inches from a motionless golden retriever. The driver threw the gearshift into park. His partner pushed open the passenger door and stepped onto the street, waving both gloved hands to clear … Read more

Tangled by the Roadside A gloved hand reached toward the tangled bundle of brown and white feathers pinned against the gravel path. The large raptor shifted its weight, pressing its chest into the dirt as green plastic netting pulled tighter across its back. A few yards away, an adult bald eagle perched upright on a … Read more

Trapped Beneath the Vines Black plastic mesh pinned the raptor’s mottled brown wings flat against the dry vineyard dirt. Each time the red-tailed hawk shifted, the synthetic twine dug deeper into its flight feathers. High overhead against the golden evening light, a second hawk circled in wide loops. Its sharp, piercing calls echoed down the … Read more

A Slice Paid From the Pocket A pizzeria employee stood behind the front counter, wiping her hands on her white apron as she watched a woman outside eating leftover crusts from a trash can. She turned toward her manager and pointed out the window, asking if she could offer a single hot slice to the … Read more

An Unexpected Request The young woman held her hands out, her palms turning upward as she faced her mother in the living room. She explained that she and her partner had lost another apartment and needed a place to stay for a while. Her mother stood still, crossing her arms over her brown dress as … Read more

Left on the Highway A woman in a thin black dress pressed her arms tight against her chest while heavy snowflakes settled on her hair. Her fingers trembled around her shattered phone screen as tears tracked down her cold cheeks. She stared at the blank screen, trying repeatedly to redial for help, but the battery … Read more

A Sudden Crisis At Thirty Thousand Feet A young woman’s knuckles turned white as her fingers dug deep into the padded armrest of her airplane seat. Her head jerked back against the headrest while her eyes blinked rapidly toward the cabin ceiling. Heavy, ragged breaths rattled in her chest as the over-ear headphones rested awkwardly … Read more

Trapped Along the Boundary Line The fawn pulled its front hooves into the soft mud, wedging its chin further against the metal wire. Coiled strands caught beneath the animal’s jaw, holding its small head firmly against a green metal fence post. Directly behind the captive youngling, an adult female stood in the frost-dusted grass. She … Read more

A Late Night Encounter An elderly woman sat alone on a wet metal bench outside a hospital entrance at midnight as rain streamed down. A man in a white shirt stopped walking when he noticed her sitting motionless in the cold air. He walked over and asked if she was alright being out so late … Read more