Author Archives: apontius18

Midterms began tomorrow, and Tess was weary of studying. Chemical reactions swirled in her head, all sticking together in a big sloppy mess like the snowflakes piling up outside the library. As soon as she understood one equation, another one … Continue reading →

As her beauty grew so did his dangerous love he watched her in want as she walked gracefully above On one sunny day she made a costly mistake lured by a flower she could not forsake She strayed from her … Continue reading →

I would have never cut the cat’s fur under the summer sun had I known she’d slice my arm during her panicked run Her shorn tail giving me the middle finger as she fled the savagery my scissors did bring … Continue reading →

I can count the number of times I have been drunk on one hand. And if you open my refrigerator in the middle of May, you are guaranteed to find a few chocolate bars leftover from Halloween. But don’t get … Continue reading →

My nana was to the kitchen like a honey bee to a flower. She happily buzzed around her warm yellow domain to fill our plates with love. The tang of simmering sauerkraut assaulted our senses upon entering the front door … Continue reading →

I grew up slowly among the books of Pat Conroy. The tides and marshes of the Carolina sea islands ran through my blood like a river of gold. The smell of pluff mud burned into my nose singularly from the … Continue reading →

The world is a playground I could travel on my own passport in my pocket route guidance on my phone I could meet the people of Peru and taste the foods of France cut the cheeses of Wisconsin go to … Continue reading →

Forty-two pairs of eyes locked onto the television set atop the black AV cart that had been wheeled into Mrs. Cleveland’s classroom. The room was crowded. Ms. LaScola’s neighboring class of second graders had walked over with their chairs to … Continue reading →

Walking around the block, I am once again greeted by the heady scent of my favorite flower, the gardenia. Each bush I spy is either glowing with a single bloom or laden with clusters of those white petals – except, … Continue reading →

The burial mask glimmered of gold, lapis, and feldspar for nothing was too great for the Valley of the Kings star The Egyptian pharaoh lay in his tomb of rich treasures jewels in the sarcophagus and artwork for his pleasures … Continue reading →

The name “Amy” means “beloved,” thus Valentine’s Day seems like it would be my perfect holiday. Love floats through the air on little cherubic bubbles like fizzing champagne. There are sparkling diamond treasures in velvet boxes, dozens of long stemmed … Continue reading →

“You were supposed to be dead!” Her scream bounced off the ceiling and dropped to the bare floor in a puddle of defeat. He had returned. The storm had awoken her, drawing her into the kitchen for a glass of … Continue reading →

Used to be that sailors read the stars like a compass. Simply stretched their arms wide and hugged Polaris. If the North Star played hide-and-seek, then the pointer stars of the Big Dipper or the five stars of Cassiopeia would … Continue reading →

Belly buttons Cigar smoke Tuna fish Dirty jokes Escalators Busy roads Items borrowed Money owed Hairy spiders Snow and ice Excess noise Unsolicited advice Expired coupons Wilted flowers Cancer cells Loss of power Climate change No cell service Expectations Feeling … Continue reading →

There is something ridiculously daunting about writing a holiday story that makes me feel like the Nutcracker battling the mighty Mouse King. My wooden arms wield my sword, up and down in a repetitive motion, but nothing happens. My eyes … Continue reading →

Dear Edward, I am sorry this letter finds you so late in the game. I suppose I was too busy licking the salt off my hot pretzel and preparing to belt out “Sweet Caroline” with the rest of the mad … Continue reading →

The drive through the Snow Belt region felt a bit like the dreaded northeast winter itself – an endless, uncomfortable gray slush settling into the crevices of your boots. But arrival at the farm meant shedding our winter layers and … Continue reading →