Story

Initial Promises In A Small Kitchen A young woman slicing bread at a small kitchen table turns to face her younger brother. She sets down the kitchen knife on the wooden cutting board next to a white ceramic mug. Her hands rest on the table surface as she speaks directly to the boy sitting across … Read more

Waiting for a Promised Visitor An elderly woman rotated a small printed photograph between her thumbs as she looked out the front window. The glossy picture showed a young boy wearing a bright blue hoodie against an outdoor background. She spoke aloud to the empty room, mentioning that the boy had told her he would … Read more

An Unexpected Coffee Shop Spark A young woman sat at a small round table near a cafe window, turning a page in her paperback book while taking a sip from a gray mug. A young man walked past her chair and dropped a folded white paper napkin onto the wooden surface of her table. She … Read more

An Unexpected Moment On The Bench A boy in a blue hooded sweatshirt sat alone on a green metal bench outside the school building. His backpack rested beside him on the metal slats as other students walked past in small groups. A girl in a white sweater approached the bench, paused, and asked if he … Read more

A Sudden Confrontation At The Head Table The young groom walked across the reception hall floor, heading directly toward the chair at the main table. Before he could pull the gold-trimmed seat out, an older man in a matching black tuxedo lunged forward and gripped the back of the chair with both hands. “Back off! … Read more

A Stride Through Polished Halls An elderly man walked across the marble lobby, holding a scuffed leather portfolio against his ribs. Frayed stitching showed along the lapel of his faded grey suit jacket. Before he could reach the inner reception desk, a young employee in a tailored suit stepped directly into his path and raised … Read more

Questions at the Dinner Table A young boy leaned over his plate of roasted vegetables and pointed toward the wooden seat at the end of the table. He looked across the dining room toward his mother who was quietly cutting her food. The dark wooden chair remained unoccupied every single evening during dinner. His sister … Read more

A Quiet Corner An elderly man adjusted his position in a brown leather armchair while a small birthday cake sat untouched on the side table. In the background, family members walked back and forth across the dining room, talking amongst themselves near the bookshelf. A single lighted candle stood stuck into the center of the … Read more

A Solitary Candle A young woman sits on the edge of her bed, her eyes fixed on a single lit candle flickering atop a small frosted cake. She rests her hands near the edge of the plate, her shoulders drooping as she gazes down at the tiny flame. She speaks softly, her voice barely carrying … Read more

Stepping Into The Woods A father swung a rolled blue sleeping pad over his shoulder as he walked down a pine-needle path beside his two young children. His daughter marched on his left, gripping a tall wooden walking stick in her right hand while her backpack shifted against her shoulders with every step. To his … Read more

A Moment of Panic at the Diner Counter The woman smoothed out the paper receipt, her thumbs pressing hard against the printed total. Across the booth, her young son pointed down at his empty glass on the laminate table. She looked up from the bill, her eyes glossy and her chin trembling as she counted … Read more

A Demand in the Sanctuary The pastor leaned forward over the wooden podium, his graying beard trembling as he pointed a finger directly at the congregation. Sister Louise stood in the aisle, her hands clasped nervously against her black skirt as the leader confronted her about missing her tithes for two weeks. She lowered her … Read more