A trifle — I stood at the edge of the stage and took my bow, as I had done many times before. Theater an der Wien had been my home almost as long as Vienna herself. The smoky exhalations of the audience perfumed the cavernous space with expectation and judgment. Audience: A useful…

Demon tears and baby breaths — I thought you were talking nonsense but I didn’t listen hard enough when you said you couldn’t save me if I swam into the surf. Diving into roiling waves battling for our life I was sure you’d change your mind and join me in the fight. As currents dragged me…

To an uncertain summit — Finish college, get a job, then marriage start a family, raise the kids, and flourish retire, travel, and grow old together meet again in heaven, or wherever. That was the plan, our steps to be happy each one a ratchet on our long journey steadily climbing toward perfection always moving in the right…

Backed into a corner — “I didn’t think you’d show up,” Joe shouted to me. I stumbled over the pitcher’s mound of the deserted ball field and slowly approached my old friend waiting for me in the outfield grass. “I told you I’d meet you out here after algebra class,” I said. “Yeah, but…“ Joe…

Sleep-drunk and searchin’ — I don’t know why you left me, dear so I typed the prompt that brought me here to this dark place on the internets to find out why you like him best. Well, I seen him on the Instagram so I know he’s purdier than I am he’s got more Facebook friends…

The resurrection of Jacob Christopher — This is the story of my life as I dreamed it on the day I died. As with all dreams, it was over in a split second, the proverbial life flashing before my eyes. But not the full life, just the parts named Mary. Mary — My Lover I met Mary Rosse on the…

It wore his wedding ring — “I didn’t kill my husband,” she told the police detectives. “Not really.” Detectives Swanson and Dealy exchanged glances. Swanson said, “You don’t seem too sure of that, Mrs. Valance. And we found you covered in your husband’s blood.” They waited in the interrogation room while the distraught and disheveled young…

I hope you can go! — I’ve been planning a trip to a warm, sandy island not so spiky and sharp as the place where we live Where the rain is gentle and the sunshine mild and everyone’s thankful for what nature gives Where the pace is slower so nobody’s late there’s no worrying chaos just our comfortable mess…

It’s running late — At the far end of a lonely ride I stopped at a diner for a bite to eat and suffered the scrutiny of those inside as I strolled to the bar to find my seat. The barman asked, “What’ll ya have, son?” “A brew and a menu to start,” I said he…