Story

An Unwelcome Guest at the Grand Entrance A pointed finger cut through the air of the marble corridor as the mother of the bride stepped forward. Her shoulders squared under the dark blue velvet gown, her voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings as she demanded the man in the blue staff jacket leave the premises … Read more

A Sudden Shift Across the Aisle Miss Carter gripped both handles of her leather briefcase and stepped into the center of the courtroom floor. Her knuckles showed white against the dark leather as she leveled her gaze directly toward the elevated wooden bench. Behind the polished mahogany desk, the judge folded her hands. The silver-haired … Read more

A Binder Opens on the Bench The judge slid the thick beige folder across the polished wooden desk, turning the front cover flat against the table. She adjusted her glasses, peering down at the stamped paperwork before looking directly across the bench. Opposite her, a woman in a dark tailored blazer rested both hands flat … Read more

Stepping Out Into the Sun Her black leather heels clicked against the pale stone steps outside Grand City Courthouse as the heavy wooden door swung shut behind her. She adjusted the dark leather briefcase under her arm, pausing on the wide granite landing overlooking the street. The morning light hit the brass latch on her … Read more

Digging Through the Scrap Yard His gloved hands locked around a bent yellow handlebar buried deep beneath a tangled heap of rusted exhaust pipes and iron frames. Jake yanked the metal frame loose from the scrap pile behind Elm Street Auto Repair, dragging it across the cracked asphalt into the open air. He let the … Read more

A Cold Welcome at the Counter A woman wearing a knit cardigan pushed open the heavy glass doors of the boutique and stepped onto the polished tile floor. She adjusted the leather strap of her brown shoulder bag and walked directly toward the glass display cases in the center of the room. Behind the counter … Read more

A Cold Arrival An elderly man pushed his worn boots across the wet pavement and pulled open the heavy glass doors of the grand hotel lobby. Rain dripped from the brim of his collar as he stepped onto the polished marble floor. He adjusted his heavy, frayed overcoat and walked toward the reception desk. Behind … Read more

A Hand on the Silver Fender The old man’s trembling fingers grazed the polished silver arch of the vintage fender. His wooden cane clicked softly against the white showroom tile as he leaned his weight forward. He wore an olive cardigan over a faded collared shirt, his shoulders rounded beneath the fabric. Beside him, a … Read more

A Dropped Scrap Of Paper On Concrete A folded slip of white paper slipped from a woman’s fingers and fluttered down onto the rough concrete walkway. She kept walking beside a tall, muscular companion whose tattooed arm remained linked tightly with hers. Neither of them paused or turned back toward the brick storefronts lining the … Read more

A Sudden Confrontation in the Cabin Aisle A flight attendant marched down the carpeted aisle and planted her polished shoes directly beside row fourteen. She rested one palm against the overhead luggage bin, bent her knees slightly, and pointed a rigid finger at the elderly man sitting by the window. His jacket was shredded along … Read more

A Tangled Struggle On The Forest Floor The white stag thrashed his legs against the moss, his hooves kicking dirt into the brush as he fought against a thick sheet of blue plastic wrapped around his eyes and muzzle. He rolled onto his side, his velvet antlers catching on low tree roots while the blue … Read more