By Megan Hemenway (TW: sudden death, grief, cannibalism, drug use) My uncle Vern died last week. I’ve been staying at his place, sorting out his stuff. I loved Vern, obviously, but I’m bitter about being holed up in his dusty apartment. Out of me and my six cousins, the aunts and uncles designated me as the best equipped to go through his mess of cardboard boxes, bursting file folders, and his ancient computer. I tried Read more
By Javier Melo Hidalgo “In recognition of his notable contributions to Pharmaceutical Science, which stand alongside an extensive portfolio of academic and professional achievements, the Board of Governors of St. July’s Hospital is honored to present Doctor Jonah Morrisey with the highest accolade it can bestow. Dr. Morrisey, please accept the 2043 Jeremiah Salazar Award for Scientific Excellence, which you have rightfully earned through a lifetime dedicated to the progress and preservation of the human Read more
By Luke Flanagan (TW: Brief mention of self harm) Norilsk, Russia is the northernmost city in the world. Six hundred and twenty-one nautical miles to the north, on the west side of October Revolution Island, Cassandra Skowroński sat in a plastic folding chair clicking her mechanical pencil and watching the lead march out. Carefully sliding it back into the pencil with a finger, she scribbled a few more words on a piece of paper, then Read more
By Naomi Necakov (TW: abuse and violence) No man is burdenless. We carry heavy cargo invisible to the naked eye but blinding to the soul. I harbor such weight during morning, noon, and night. A prince has no time for worrying—ease and grandeur are his only concerns. He does not wallow in his chambers and spend years grieving for his dead mother … at least that’s what Father tries to ingrain in me. A prince Read more
By Brenna McCord (TW: gore, implied/referenced animal death, threats of child death, and minor body horror) The horizon was a bloody gash against the night by the time the Creature made it to the river where the child would be drowned. The babe had been shoved into the Creature’s recalcitrant arms by the Deep Forest Folk, as even the most wretched among them had no desire to kill it themselves. Perhaps the task was too Read more