The Cafe Window

It was just for one night, thought she as she closed the window. The wind is howling and the rain is conducting a symphony of drums against the glass. She turns around and starts walking across the room, the white carpet is soft underneath her bare feet, as she walks to her chair, fixing up her mess of long, beautiful black hair into a messy bun. She has the hair of a Disney princess and the school thought she's one of the most beautiful girls in the entire class, with eyes of ice and a heart of gold. Underneath the mountain of clothes she has yet to put away she finds a towel and hands it to Roman. He takes it from her, their hands lightly touch and he flashes that million dollar, white as snow smile. His dad must be drinking again. Why else

It was the year 1922 and life hadn’t been this good in a while, times had taken a big change for the best. In Manhattan, New York, there were extravagant parties every weekend; the whole city shows up and doesn't leave until they see the sun. There was once this wealthy family living right in the middle of the roaring twenties. There was a mom, a dad, an older sister named Alice, and a younger sister named Anna. Alice loved to go to all of the huge parties, meet new people, and not come home until the morning. Every time Alice would get ready to go out for the night, Anna would watch her get ready as if she was picturing that was herself. Anna looked up at her sister and wanted to do everything she did. Alice had been talking about this party for a long time, and the night

A man of his mid-twenties, Lucas Walker, was walking down the sidewalk. The colorful leaves swirled on the ground near him. They were almost completely gone from the trees. Recently the sky had gotten darker foreboding the coming of a storm. As Lucas continued, he heard his stomach grumble. It was around noon, so it was to be expected. Quickening his pace he made his way to the nearby cafe. Lucas strolled toward the building. Looking through the window he saw himself. He wore a red sweater with jeans. Lucas mumbled about the overpriced cafe in front of him, clear displeasure flashing across his face. He pushed open the door and entered. Only a few people were there and after scanning the room for a seat he froze when his eyes crossed a certain lady.

Cal Trask pulls a man’s jacket from the trunk of his beat up Camaro. It drapes against his boyish frame, accentuating his less than broad shoulders and slim torso. At the door, a sweaty hand passes the bouncer the fake ID he acquired last Wednesday night in some kid’s basement for fifty bucks. Cal hesitates before he walks in and watches as men enter and exit, leaving their wives, kids and jobs outside as they walk in and then returning to them disheveled, satisfied and slightly guilty. He steps over the threshold into the dreary atmosphere. Immediately he is grabbed by a worn, pale woman with droopy eyelids that rests her hand on his chest and stands on her toes to whisper in his ear.

She stood in front of stores and admired the things in them, spending about ten minutes viewing sofas through a glass and playing back what she has been wishing for. The opportunity she has been waiting for, the reason she woke up at dawn in Tepoztlan to go up North with Candido, the comfort she wished for and everything Candido promised her was right in Canoga Park. She feels right at

“Shit, shit, shit…” Kelsey mumbled to herself as she leaned against the wall of her room to put her other black stiletto on. She quickly zipped up her black dress, applied red lipstick and ran out the door. The warm night air brushed against her legs as she quickly walked to the bar downtown. She was on a mission tonight… and being late wasn’t part of the plan.

In this moving account, Pereira shares warm and humorous incidents as well as tragic and overwhelming encounters from the death of her father, sister-in-law, brother and her mother's journey through a new world after her familiar world escaped from her memory.

It was three in the morning, light beats of cool rain hitting the windows, casting strange shadows onto the walls. Audrey was sleeping peacefully beside her, lips parted and legs tucked close, the heat from her body somehow warming Desiree’s insides. She looked at the other with a soft gaze and a fond smile on her face, heart melting at the sight. Audrey’s face slept so adorably, so soft and loose, sleep allowing her to become vulnerable and almost young again. It was an indulgence, to view Audrey as young and so care free in her sleep. To imagine their lives as easy as they wanted, as successful as they wished. Desiree longed to keep her like that, keep her away from trouble and danger, love care for her deeply enough to keep her safe

Drea, seated across from Joan at the Cup and Sword Tavern, grinned at her friend. Drea was thrilled to learn of Joan’s pregnancy and grateful for her friendship. It had been a lonely few years, raising Wallace without a father, but Drea’s new relationships with Alis, Carina, and Joan had drawn her out of isolation. This was the first time in years Drea had gone out for an evening meal with a friend, though she experienced a dull pang of guilt for leaving Wallace with the neighbor.

During the day, excitement filled Margaret, knowing Andrew would be home later that evening. She wasn’t accustomed to being alone and was surprised Andrew went to the convention instead of sending Sylvia. After preparing a special dinner, she sat down to watch TV. Waking up later, she wondered why he failed to wake her when he came home. “He was probably tired and went on to bed,” she said, under her breath as she went up the upstairs to their bedroom. Opening the door without seeing him in bed, Margaret rushed downstairs, out to the garage

It was a couple blocks from the bar, but it took thirty minutes for them to traverse the streets. Charlie couldn’t walk more than ten feet without grabbing Pam, kissing her neck, and basking in everything he had wanted for as long as he cared to remember. Onlookers were privy to young love on the brink of a new world. Little did they know they were witnessing the hope that comes when two people finally find each other. That life has now offered them everything they have been fighting for. When the two lovers finally made it to the hotel room, true happiness was able to take place. Charlie was never the ladies’ man, but Pam brought forth in him decades of passion bottled up for this one moment. In the wee hours of the morning, Charlie and Pam finally closed their eyes, resting upon one another, hopeful and eager to see the world the next

Walter walked with purpose towards the coffee shop on Main. He was heading to order the missus her latte. After every hair appointment she wanted a latte with extra cream and Walter had to get it for her. As he walked along he passed a school. It was 2 o’clock and he heard the loud, obnoixous bell ring as he passed. He hurried along before the kids started filing out the door. He was still thinking about it when he reached the door of the coffee shop. He placed his order and sat down, staring out the window towards the school.

Inside of ten minutes, she stands on Estelle Louise’s front porch, staring down at the weathered screen door, lying at her feet. Sidestepping around it, she enters the house and moseys into her friend’s dingy cluttered front parlor. As soon as she sees Estelle Louise, leisurely rocking back and forth in her tattered rocking chair, she walks over, gave her a warm hug, and says, Hi

Anxious bodies scurried out of the car and into a building. Julia ran up to someone with squeals, greeting the stranger with a hug. As they moved apart, the rest of us had slight confusion, “This is Rose, my friend I told you about,” Julia said. Rose had piercing eyes that one could get surely get lost in. Her face was plump, her dimples appeared when the group said their quick greetings, I returned the smile as I introduced myself. “I like you necklace,” Rose explained to me.

Mrs. Johnson awoke from a deep sleep bright and early, just because she wanted to get a head start on her beautiful day. Before departing the door, she made sure had collected herself, putting on her she had stuffed her handbag with marshmallows. Mrs. Johnson had a current mission as she stepped into the crisp morning air, happy as a clam. Ordinary this wasn’t something she would normally do, but it was something she enjoyed. Nevertheless, nothing could ruin this day, more so, she wouldn’t let anything ruin this day. Mrs. Johnson’s attitude was preeminent to the others and radiated so much that it could be noticed from Upstate New York and a glow to her that matched the sun’s. Finally, when she stepped out of the door, people rushed by her, because they all had a destination, but Mrs. Johnson wasn’t quite sure we're she was going. Aimlessly, Mrs. Johnson roamed the streets until she found something that needed her attention, weaving in and out of the busy bodies that occupied the sidewalks. Finally she decided that at such an early hour, black coffee sounded delightful, so she decided to embark to a local cafe on the corner of “Main Street”. On her way there, she passed a small apartment complex and found a petite child crying. Because Mrs. Johnson was concerned for the girl, she walked over to her.