Short Story

“Okay, man what's wrong? You've been acting really distant all day.” Rhett asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.

L-Jay tried not to speak of the baby she was carrying. He would ask her how she felt, and she always said “fine.” L-Jay still told no one about the baby. She went to the doctors every month and the baby’s heart was strong. L-Jay still did not know if she would keep the baby or give the baby up for adoption. L-Jay had not felt the baby kick and many times forgot she was pregnant.

You’re pregnant.” he said and this time Dr. Neethling thought that Molly was going to faint. “Molly? Are you okay?” he asked before getting up and making his way to where she was sitting. “What?” she asked and he could see her pleading with her eyes. “It can’t be…we…I am on the pill. How?” she asked with confusion in her voice. “Molly…the pill is only 99% effective. Have you taken any other medication recently?” he asked again while he was trying to understand why she fell into the 1% bracket. “I…don’t…yes, I was taking antibiotics for a sinus infection a month or so ago?” she said softly. “Well, there you have it then…antibiotics work against the pill.” he said making his way back to his desk. Molly looked at him in disbelief, and she could feel a restricting lump in her throat. “What am I going to tell my parents?” she said without realizing that she had said it aloud. Molly knew that her father would never forgive her for disappointing him in this way. Molly knew that all he had asked of her was to finish school and then she could go back to Ryan. She felt her body start to shake when she thought about what James would say, and it scared her to think of how he might

Richard responded. “But…” “ No but’s Felicia, no abortion, we’ll manage, god has blessed us again. I’ll handle the financial situation, don't worry.” “I’ll try my best to help out.” Felicia said. This news made their sad faces into positive and

Abby moves around her chair, like an overexcited puppy, there was something she couldn’t wait to tell us “Well last night I went to this book fair and I went to one of the stands and there was a book called “Just Babies” and I found it so fascinating. It really makes you think about how we are as human beings and how babies behave.”

Devoid of movement or light, the cockpit's only hint of life was the insistent hum and faint bio-chemical stink within.

The smattering of rain on the roof overhead calms me, beating out an irregular rhythm like an anxious child unconsciously tapping his foot. The dim glow of my phone screen washes over me as I wait for the light to return, cut off by the flash flood inducing rain. I look around, and sigh; yet again, the lights on the ceiling are blank, leaving me with nothing to shield myself from the impending darkness.

“Talking is exactly what I need to do, but can’t confront it,” she groaned out, softly banging her head.

Other than one awakening to use the chamber pot, Joan slept straight through until the following morning. The smell of warm oats and honey drifting over to the bed woke her. She sat, well-rested, but an undercurrent of tension was present. It was difficult to fully relax when images of the past few days flashed through her mind without warning: the beatings, Alis’s rape, and the forest where they’d almost frozen to death. She and Perceval had spoken about battle fatigue, and how memories of suffering and carnage seen in war could affect a man years later, and Joan wondered if this would be the same for her and her friends. How was one to lead a calm and peaceful life after having endured such terror whenever creak and boot fall made one

Slade Thorley peers through the grungy window of the apartment he shares with his friends. Several beggars sit outside, looking more dejected by the minute. None of them seem to notice the scruffy blonde Missourian. “When’ll this end?” he wonders aloud, as much to himself as to the other two.

Last week, dressed in her tailored suit and mile-high red heels, Morgana walked into the neighborhood watering hole in the Bronx. The pub was dim, crowded, and smelled like stale beer and musky cologne, but despite the irritating odor, she enjoyed the drinks and the laid-back atmosphere, even if she stuck out like a sore thumb when she came dressed in business attire straight after work. But that didn’t really matter, because she and her crowd were celebrating Merlin’s master’s degree by consuming nachos, wings, and beer. It was a fine night to let loose and chow down on greasy food. After all, this was Merlin, who worked so hard at his two jobs, teaching grade school and tutoring disadvantaged kids at the community center, all while

I reach in my pocket as I clamber out of the dusty wagon, I find is a stick of gum, a euro and two roll-ups. Trouble is, I don’t even own a match to light em. I don’t have much after handing over my savings to the traffickers. I’ve come from France to the UK because everyone tells me life’s good here..

It all starts on the side of Mt. Kilimanjaro, at the science and mining camp Alpha Site 18. Emilio, a black haired, blue eyed, roughed up miner from years of working in other mine shafts and a hard personality with a soft spot for children, was walking toward the main science bay area at request of the head scientist there, Ian Mack.

“I can’t believe you let this happen ?!”Savannah’s mother screamed at her.”I’m sorry mom , I didn’t know .” They went back and forth in the spacious ford mustang . Savannah was only 15 going on 30 . Having a child,what a responsibility . It was surprising . She never wanted it to happen but

“I can’t believe you let this happen ?!”Savannah’s mother screamed at her.”I’m sorry mom , I didn’t know .” They went back and forth in the spacious ford mustang . Savannah was only 15 going on 30 . Having a child,what a responsibility . It was surprising . She