The Agony of Defeat

Arms crossed with eagle eyes glued to the screen, Victor
prepares for a final round of Marvel vs. CapCom.
Kick, spin, punch, dodge! Jump, tumble, duck, evade!
He sees an opening and unleashes a
deadly combination but alas, his foe’s
preemptive strike spells his doom!
Again, Chun Li Taseihas
shows him the
meaning of
humiliation!

Lake Erie

We stood on the beach, coarse sand and smooth stones.
Couples shifted position, keeping our distance from each other.
While we waited, we chose water worn stones.
These we slipped into our jacket pockets.
We warmed them with our hands.
Impatient, we waited for sunset.
Foolish, wishing time away!
So we were.
Green flash.
Stone.

- Miriam N. Kotzin


This piece originally appeared in Per Contra.

Surgical Day

She smiles a Cheshire Cat Grin and gives me a Valium.
Radiation-needle markers disguise themselves as tortured croquet wickets.
I fret while talking to the White Rabbit.
I’m rolling down toward the Mad Hatter.
My laughter paints the tension red.
The anesthesiologist visits, breathing drugs.
“Off with your breasts.”
“It’s the Queen.”
“Tea time.”
“Alice?”

- Mary Ellen Letarte


This piece originally appeared in 55 Fiction.

The Arrival of Morning

“I’m not gonna miss this meteor shower,” says Fiona as
she lies down on the blanket with her digital
camera, some Mr. Chips and her iPod. Eyes
closed, she thinks about the praises she’ll
get when she shows the pictures
to her class. Suddenly she
hears, “Wake up, Sweetie!”
It’s Mom. “Breakfast
is getting
cold.”


This piece originally appeared in Paperbag Writes.

The Episode Before Relaxation

Shandry stored the black lid canister in his breast pocket.
No one else was looking as he did it.
Noise from the marketplace grew to surround him.
The nervous tension finally left the air.
Luckily he knew the place well.
His actions were not suspicious.
Everyone kept to themselves.
He returned home.
Sitting down.
Puff!

- PinchMe


This piece originally appeared in Paperbag Writes. I met PinchMe through Mylot.com and this person gamely shared his fifty five word short story.

White

Someone has called my name and her voice is tempting.
I step out slowly amidst the house’s horrifying darkness.
I hold my shivering hands, memorizing my steps.
Breath is heard like a stupid hell.
In the distance, white is glimpsed.
I touch it, it’s wet.
The horror-struck shout’s heard.
Mom’s facial cream!
I’ve mistaken —
Ghost.

- Luida Cabatana

Wishful Thinking

She walked out on me one fine day in September.
Her letter waited for me on the dining table.
“I’m leaving. I’m so sorry. Love lots, Grace.”
Even now I still dream of her.
Her kiss. Her smile. Her face.
I still wait for her.
Or a phone call:
Ring. Ring. “Hello?”
”I’m back.”
Damn.

- Mark Lorenzana

Posted with permission from Mark Lorenzana, fledgling copywriter by day, aspiring essayist/struggling fictionist by night.