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Dragon Lotus Cafe
As the city’s countdown to midnight began, Mrs. Davidson donned her lavender woolen scarf with the delicate flower pattern — a present from Ben on their first winter together as a married couple. The woolen threads wrapped her in memories of Ben’s soft touch and the many seasons they spent ringing in the new year Continue reading
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Pastor Eli
In the wealthy enclave of Hidden Hollow, Pastor Eli’s eccentricities didn’t sit well with the board members who had so generously poured their donations into the new stained glass windows and upholstered wooden pews to welcome their young new minister into the fold. Pastor Eli was frequently seen in the wooded area behind the church, Continue reading
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Greg
In a bustling city, Greg lived in a spacious duplex, supporting his sister and parents as a dedicated but overburdened traveling salesman. Every day, he faced the relentless grind, feeling trapped in a life that drained his spirit. One night, in cheap lodgings far from home, he found a storybook about a Greek God named Continue reading
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A New Land
Avram, dressed in his newly issued United Holy Land Peace Corps uniform, felt truly at peace for the first time in his life. He stood next to Fatima, her own uniform mirroring his, as they unloaded crates of food, water, and medicine from the truck. “Careful with those crates, Avram,” she said. “They’re worth their Continue reading
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The Gift
One dollar and fifty cents. That was all Marianne had after scrimping for months to buy Edwin a 30th birthday present. Last week, Edwin’s eyes had lingered on the field glasses in the pawn shop window, perfect for birdwatching. But she only had one thing of worth to sell—her thick mane of hair, rippling in Continue reading
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Mrs. Persimmon’s Palours
Mrs. Persimmon was the boarding house queen—her double parlours a shrine to elegance and comfort. She would sweep you through their virtues, praising the distinguished gentleman who had occupied them for eight years, and then, with a sheepish smile, you’d reluctantly admit that you weren’t a person of distinction. Mrs. Persimmon’s eyes would narrow, her Continue reading
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The Masterpiece
At the top of a two story brick building, struggling artists Alice and Anna shared their eclectically decorated flat with a fluffy white cat. Now Anna lay flush with fever, looking through the windowpanes at the ivy clinging to the brick wall of the adjacent building. One morning the doctor summoned Alice into the hallway, Continue reading
The Wild Pomegranate Tree 