A Voice Inside Your Soul

Title: A Voice Inside Your Soul

Word Count: 4249

Rating: PG-13 for themes of depression and suicide.


Jonah was barely through the door when his mother called out to him. Can you sit down for a minute, we need to talk.

We need to talk. Nothing good ever follows those four words. He took a deep breath, jammed his hands in his pocket and said, “Sure thing.”

His mom was in the kitchen, bustling about mixing something in a saucepan. It smelled like hot chocolate. It was ninety-five degrees outside and his mother was making hot chocolate. She only did that for two reasons: It was actually cold, or she had something to say that required a cushion to soften the blow. Jonah tried to think of his school work; if there was anything he was slacking in bad enough to warrant a parental intervention.  But no… No, he was fairly certain his grades were up to snuff. He wasn’t an ace student but he got by. Continue reading


Title: Sehnsucht

Word Count: 430

Rating: PG

When you are seven you make plans to run away to Neverland. Your bag is packed, hiding under your bed with your piggy bank and all that’s left is to wait until the family is suitably distracted for you to escape. It’s not that they’ve been bad to you, quite the contrary in fact, and it’s not that you want to escape them so much as you want to sate this strange catch in your chest every time you breath. Continue reading

For Love of Sea

Title: For Love of Sea 

Word Count: 993 words

Rating: PG-13

Notes: Brief mentions of domestic abuse piece inspired by the legend of the selkie

“That’s all the mail?”

Bree flinches at the question, the key in her pocket nearly pulsing with dread. He knows. “Yes,” she says. Her voice stays even and nonchalant by some miracle. He knows, he has to know, damn. “Were you expecting something?”

What did she do with the box? The invoice was shredded and shredded again and flushed, so that’s not a problem, but for a wild moment she can’t remember what she did with the damn box.

Owen shrugs, plopping into the chair at the counter with an audible noise. “Nah, just seems like there should be more to life than bills.” Bree doesn’t relax until she hears the beer can hiss open. She manages to toss a smile over her shoulder. Continue reading

The Other Mirror

Title: The Other Mirror 

Word Count: 886 words

Rating: PG

Notes: Inspired by The Snow Queen

Inside the lodge it is dark and cold. Sadie’s breath frosts in the air as she looks around; there is no fire in the hearth, no candles to provide illumination. Everything is stillness and death and a queer blue light touching the whole room. She rubs her hands together and tries not to brush against anything, already knowing the cups are frozen to the counter and the inviting couches are nothing more than blocks of ice.  A harsh wind blows outside, howling unhappiness to the world. She’d already tried the door, thinking the storm would be better than this eerie nothing, but the knob had stuck fast no matter how she twisted and pulled. Continue reading

Knock Twice

Title: Knock Twice

Word Count: 830 words

Rating: G

The very first place she tries is the mirror covering the often forgotten medicine cabinet.

Well, that’s a bit of a lie. The very first place she tries is the back of the armoire, having heard Very Good Things about doorways and worlds and backs of wardrobes. She had crawled through layers of disuse, brushed against coats of furs and leathers and soft cardigans that made her stop to run a sleeve against her cheek. Continue reading

How Pretty

Title: How Pretty 

Word Count: 760 words

Rating: PG


She is made of silk, tulle, and gossamer. Her eyes are two jeweled buttons, her mouth one long up sweep stitch in a color the Creator calls Rosebud. She is a happy little doll who sits patiently as the Creator applies the finishing touches – lace ribbons for her hair, knitted shoes for her feet, and finally a heart.

how pretty, how pretty
Continue reading