Toby and the rapacious monkey (Part 1)

Toby’s lungs were on fire, breathing hard from the exertion of running so hard. One after another, his feet pounded the cobblestones, carrying him as fast as he could move them. He didn’t even dare to glance behind him, not wanting to risk slowing down, or worse, tripping. In his mind, he imagined the outstretched arms of the constables behind him, hands reaching to grab him by the collar and…

November 8, 2017
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Dutch Harbor (#16)

99/99 - 99 words about 99 things
November 7, 2017

A young man stepped off the boat, walking toward the hills. The crew had gone to the bar, but too young to drink, he had stayed behind. He didn’t mind. There was no privacy on the boat, no quiet, and the mountain had been calling him for days. His only boots were for working the ship, not suited for hiking, but they sufficed. He climbed for hours, unheeding of the…

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Absence (#15)

99/99 - 99 words about 99 things
November 1, 2017

He opened his eyes, exhaling slowly into the dark. The tears had gone, the punishing waves of sorrow and anger ebbed, their vacancy replaced by the aches in his stomach and jaw, exhausted from hours of repeated clenching. He’d lost track of the details – holes in the walls, scratches and bruises, unsilenceable screams. They, like the others of laughter and love, companionship and support, were unraveled threads in a…

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In the hospital (#14)

99/99 - 99 words about 99 things
January 31, 2016

I got the call at 10PM. He had acute appendicitis, she said, and was going into surgery immediately. I got into the car and drove. It took me less than two hours, but I fought panic the entire way. It’ll be fine, I thought. It’s common. But the words didn’t comfort me. I feigned calmness while they showed me to his recovery room. He was sleeping, curled around his pooh bear, an IV running…

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Experience and maturation

January 19, 2016

When I hear “do you remember your first…” the first thing that comes to mind is of course the first kiss, or even more racey, loss of virginity. Granted, I tend to focus more on those types of physical things, but there are plenty of other firsts I can think of too. My first time riding a bike. My first day in middle school. My first day in the Marine…

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Violence (#13)

99/99 - 99 words about 99 things
January 14, 2016

I climb to the top landing of the stairwell, and freeze. A dirty man sits there, surrounded by bandages, wrapping his bleeding leg. “I’m going to need you to leave,” I say. “I’m not going anywhere,” he says, standing and puffing up. I click my radio, “I’ve got one hostile.” “You’re a liar!” He says, threateningly. I pull my baton, stepping back into a defensive stance. He crouches down, parroting…

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Duri (#12)

99/99 - 99 words about 99 things
June 18, 2015

My friend wrote to me in despair. Sure that my words would help, I replied: “You do have it in you. It’s who you are. Because you have friends, lovers, companions, and even assholes all in your corner, at your back. This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a fucking fact. You’re going to make it because it’s what you do. When shit goes bad, you don’t quit. So don’t fucking…

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