I never thought I’d be leaving the garden to go off and hunt for someone in the barren wasteland of the city we’d departed years ago.

They said he was seen heading East, toward the city, and I pictured him picking his way through the rubble of skyscrapers and dodging the sinkholes where bombs had landed in the streets or on top of buildings.

Then I wasn’t picturing it, I was there, stumbling over concrete and avoiding decades old ordinance, crossing no one’s path on the way to find him.

He left me for this nothingness, why should I bother?… Read the rest

I miss you, dear one, it’s cold and dark out here among the stars.

I miss the green and blue Earth and seeing the moon glow above us, but now I see no planets, no moons, only stars and other space stations.

I’m sorry, dear one, that we destroyed your home before you got a chance to enjoy it, and I’m sorry I didn’t take you with me when I left.

It’s cold and dark out here, dear one, stay down.

Better to breathe the poison and feel the radiation on your skin, right?

You don’t want to come up.… Read the rest

I took my time walking to the door, because inside, the house was empty.

It was raining and I didn’t have an umbrella, but there were so few things I cared about, the wet didn’t bother me at all.

I slid the key into the lock, and when I pushed open the door the phone was ringing, but didn’t I rush to answer it. There was nothing to rush for, or towards, anymore.

The machine picked up after the beep.

“Honey, it’s me. You have to come back and get me. It’s so cold here. Am I in a coffin?”… Read the rest

Her love was gone, but her life had to move on, there was no question in that.

She was young, she was beautiful, she had plenty of time left for things to change.

Maybe they would even change here, at this wedding she was invited to; maybe she’d dance with her future husband, and not even know it.

It was hard watching the other couples twirl and kiss when she had no one to touch, or no one to touch her.

Shouldn’t she celebrate the love she wants the most?

It’s hard when you don’t have nearly what you want.… Read the rest

I stormed his castle, crossed the moat onto the muddy ground, pressing myself against the outer wall and shimmying sideways until I found an opening.

I raced up stairs, fighting off swordsmen, and people throwing rocks. But I dodged and ducked and moved higher until I found his room, where he hid from me – with her.

“How dare you barge in here?” he roared.

“How dare you betray me?”

He draws a sword and we spar, metal clanking and breaths huffing, much like they used to between us.

“You deserve this,” I say, and plunged my hilt to his … Read the rest