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

They bowed to to the machine, marveling the shine of its black plastic exterior, the long cord that came out of the back.

They were particularly interested in the two metal prongs coming from the end of a cord, they were quite tasty.

Things went in light and soft and came out dark and crisp, and they didn’t even need fire to make it happen.

When the aliens came, our president told them toasters were our general currency, so when they left, we just didn’t have toast for a while.

And everyone bowed to him, for saving us from aliens.… Read the rest

In her dream she saw everything.

She saw the baggie of loose change, the different kinds of chocolate, the rainbow of eggs spread out on the kitchen table.

Her mom filled egg after egg, and hid them easily all around the house.

Then, she took the bag of flour and dipped three fingers in, then dabbed them on the floor, one after the other, more than the eggs, she made little bunny footprints to lead the way.

It wasn’t a dream.

It was just my amazing mom doing the best she could for a daughter who loves her so much.… Read the rest

“This is all I can give you,” he said, and it wasn’t enough for her.

She knew before he even said it that those words were lingering in the air between them.

The distance, the caution, the unwillingness to open up and really share a life.

Not to mention being the dirty little secret after years of not being a secret.

But as much as it hurts, it doesn’t touch the fear of being alone, and the dread of having no one to come home to, no one to hold her in their arms.

It never should have been him.… Read the rest

She stepped up into the carriage, her nemesis, pimply Paul, holding her hand to steady her as she ascended the two bouncy steps and onto the bench.

Immediately, she began smiling and waving to the crowds.

The horses pulled the carriage through Main Street, and the children went wild, admiring her hair, her sparkling dress.

Her fucking dress. The fabric was so hot, stiff and itchy. She was sweating her ass off and wanted to scream at every one of these people, “GO TO EPCOT!”

As she waved and smiled, she cursed herself for not going into exotic dancing instead.… Read the rest