Boiling Point
_ **Boiling Point** _ My walk from the station was more like a swim, the swampy summer morning air even more overwhelming and oppressive than the metro journey that'd got me there. A journey made up of three trains, two transfers, and nearly an entire...
Blind Date
_ **Blind Date** _ A wave of noise and a blast of heat crashed into me the moment those automatic doors slid open. I ducked my head to dip inside and escape the gloomy, late-November cold, allowing this new 'VRcade' place I'd been invited to fully...
Aftermath
_ **Aftermath** _ Ball clutched to his chest, the broad moose in mud-splattered claret started another tired charge downfield. Wearing his cleaner green and gold-hooped shirt, my boyfriend Marek steadied himself, arms poised, legs ready to...
The Climb
_ **The Climb** _ I'd overpacked my grocery bags. I knew that from the moment I had to lug all four of them out of the store. The decision to do an extra-large after-work shop, thereby granting myself a day off from that part of my weekly routine,...
Crash Landing
_ **Crash Landing** _ The bedroom door creaked louder than it had any right to. It left me frozen at the threshold, halfway between the light of the hallway and the darkness beyond, ears brushing the top of the doorframe while deep in thought over how...
Lost & Found
_ **Lost & Found** _ The air stifled so very much. Even on a morning that was not so hot, how difficult it was to breathe came as the first thing to my notice upon disembarking the train. To walk through the streets, the crowded, overloaded streets,...
Hard Labour
_ **Hard Labour** _ I glared at the short straw in my palm. Again. As hard as I willed it to, it refused to grow longer. "...Do I _really_have to?" "Listen, the straws have spoken," Manny replied, beaming his pleasure for the longer one in his grasp....
Torchbearer
_ **Torchbearer** _ Blake sank to his knees, placing a paw to his battle-felled brother's chest. The pain-stricken grunt it drew threatened to pierce his own. Blood oozed between his fingers. Drenched his palm. He recited a silent prayer for any and...
On Defence
_ **On Defence** _ "You look good," I told Sam, smiling at him through our bathroom mirror. "I hope you're not planning on picking anyone up tonight." "Why would I?" my little 'panda replied from atop the counter, standing at his smaller version,...
Voices
_ **Voices** _ '_Dear Jiri,. Thanks for taking the time to meet us the other day to discuss our Line Cook vacancy. I'm getting in touch to let you know that while we were very impressed with your knowledge and your enthusiasm, competition for the...
Perspective
_ **Perspective** _ "Purpose of your visit?" I'd been standing silent in line so long that I'd almost forgotten how to talk. Jet lag had my head all kinds of mashed up, too. No matter. The ultra-formal, no-nonsense crow glaring at me from behind her...
Rock Bottom
_ **Rock Bottom** _ I stretched my legs, then my arms and back, grumbling as I stirred in this makeshift bed of mine. A faint bar of light seeped between the gap in the giant door ahead, saving me from total darkness at the bottom of this wardrobe I...