Millicent was ready for intrigue and adventure to enter her life. If it were purely up to her, however, to get lost in a mystery, she feared she would just as soon disappear in the laundry. Millicent was not experienced in the art of getting started. She needed a spark to catch. Millicent's sphere of…

Lila, picking out the broccoli in her takeaway yakisoba, thought about how lucky she was. She had supportive friends, indulgent parents (Lila was a surprise, a miracle, a late-in-life baby), debts paid, and big dreams of opening a tattoo parlor. She didn't care much for tattoos, hadn't a drop of ink on her own skin,…

Kenneth kept a record of items he believed would make him a more interesting person. There was much he did not know; even more he wished he could forget, but writing helped to smooth the creases in Kenneth's brain. On average, he filled up two composition books per month. Kenneth made a point of including…

Iced beverages and yellow awnings are found on only the best of October days. Friends move about the space we see, as well as the space hidden from view until all the lights go out. In either case, keeping a seat available, and leaving room at the table, will ensure the safe conduction of energy.…

Shirley's eyes filled with tears when I told her I couldn't stay. The home she built for us was cozy. It had all the necessary comforts for two. It just wasn't where I was supposed to be. I wouldn't trade the days spent listening to Shirley's stories for all the riches in the world. The…

Where I stand offers a view of home which existed 30 years ago. If I look down, I see summer light streaming through cedars and the sound of motorbikes off to the right. Gazing up into the gray haze, I see days that resemble treasured recollections, but the images don't fit. What were once interlocking…

A sense of wonder led Lily to the opening of the deep woods. Lily read a lot and said her prayers every night before retiring. She was afraid for her soul. Lily felt it tugging and taunting her with pretty promises. Freedom … Fortune … Forever. Intriguing prospects, but Lily feared her soul would develop…

Road. Path. Journey. Way.Common images to describe taking actionin the face of uncertainty. Lara felt most at home rolling in the unknown. It didn't take courage, or exceptional intelligence, to carve out useable units of reality. What the job did require, however, was patience and a sense of humor. These indispensible tools made the work…

Larry was hunkered in the garden with sky-high dahlias keeping the world at bay. Larry was having a bad day. He tried to explain to the therapist how his life had become a predictable sitcom, but a sympathetic ear and a dash of reassurance was not what Larry wanted. What he wanted was for Dr.…

A sweet, musky taste lingered in the back of Karla's throat. She felt dizzy as she coughed up something pearlescent and slimy. "Here, drink this." A glass of water was held up in front of her nose. She'd forgotten about Kayla. Taking the glass from her sister, Karla drank until there was nothing left. She…