I stand apart from my new family. They hate me. I’m here to replace someone they loved. When the green light comes on and it’s time to stand in our lane, they’ll push me to the front so I can be hit first, again. So I can be broken. As if that would bring back […]
A Nationscape sits and grows on Hilga’s face. Residents crowd at the bags under her eyes, alien skyscrapers rise and fall at her lash line. There’s unexpected wonder as her chin billows with industrial smoke. Except the weight causes her eyelids to droop, traffic on her lips makes it difficult to smile, and transportation tracks […]
At lunchtime, away from the watchful eyes of our teachers, the girls always want to play brides. Any rag or tear in their clothing is proudly shown off, as if they were grown up already. The boys know better than to protest about the game. Smart boys keep their mouths shut and trot around, whimpering, […]
“Five minutes!” the PA drone calls out, winging past the nozzle tinting the fondant of Franklin’s left arm. He watches the drone zoom through the open trailer door—sees green fields, sunshine. Thinks of his allotment back home, Bolinda planting her seeds. The fabricators have him by the armpits before he slides all the way to […]
“Why do people go to war?”That was the question my eight-year-old asked at dinner the other night when we explained that the U.S. holiday, Memorial Day, is in honor of military service members that have given their lives in battle.Following her question, the adults and teenagers did shifty eyes around the table. There’s no good […]