by Dana May I came across the ad while cruising the W4W Craigslist page in the basement of my law school library. I clicked on “Looking to Start a Lesbian Escort Service,” not bothering to check over my shoulder for any potential witnesses. My queerness, at that point in my life, seeped out of meContinue reading “Bucolic Plague”
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The Scooter
By A.S. Callaghan When my father died, my mother was left with the task of selling his Vespa-style scooter. She had wanted to get rid of it for years, out of fear my ailing father was going to hurt himself or, worse yet, someone else while riding it. But my dad clung to the scooterContinue reading “The Scooter”
Years
*after Dick Laurie By Janice S. Fuller How do I forgive the passage of years,the melancholy of remindersas I sit in Starbucks writing. Businessmen do deals,tutors teach their students,nurses study for exams,loners treasure time alone.Espresso squirts a whssssh!Adele serenades us. Laughter, squealsof babies rocked in car seats by their mothers.Doors slam. Suddenly I’m disoriented atContinue reading “Years”
Window with a View
By Joseph Markell It’s dark outside. The metal window frame is cold, and I have to be careful not to breathe too heavily or too close to the glass. I don’t want to fog the window and block my view. I observe the hundreds of buildings in my view, lain out before me like dimlyContinue reading “Window with a View”
Temptation
By Dana May I am a squeamish person. My body overreacts to certain triggers, causing my heart rate and blood pressure to drop suddenly. I learned the technical name for this—vasovagal syncope—following an ER visit after fainting while driving. Thinking too much about something stuck in my eye sparked that particular episode. After CAT scans,Continue reading “Temptation”
My Quarantine Birthday
By Kate Pashby we entered the virtual strip clubor rather, we all played the prerecordedstrip show at the same timehalf a dozen queers in thesolitude of our own homes I Venmoed the hottest strippera redhead with thigh-highblack boots and nipple ringsand she messaged me soon after“Was this a mistake?I don’t think we know each other”beforeContinue reading “My Quarantine Birthday”
Blunderland
By Ben Nardolilli Trying to turn my room into a positive place,A house where yes is heard more than no,And all of the swears come from a place of joy,So far, I’m starting small, saying FUCKAnd SHIT whenever I reach a solitary climax,Then saying nothing when I stub my toe Has it made the spaceContinue reading “Blunderland”
Cast Iron Skillet
By Sarah Henry A TV cook says,“If you don’t havea cast iron skillet,you have no life!”He waves his ownto warn the viewers. Mine is used forbaking cornbread.Southern style lackssugar. A new typehas added protein.Another’s madesweet with honey.I want all three. I love the wetblend of eggsand cornmealsliding throughmy mouth easily.Guilty pleasuresmean carb bombs,not Keto fare.Continue reading “Cast Iron Skillet”
Next Morning, Picking Blueberries
By Karla Linn Merrifield In ready fruit, fruition:warm, plumpas nipplesto finger,to thumb,to palm,to tongue,once nimbly poppedin open mouth —one tender nibble—plush the explosion. I swallow blueberries wholebecause I was as I was.
Both Sides Now
By Shieva Salehnia They say what breaks your heart open also opens your eyes, and in that moment, you have the chance to grow, to become the person you have always wanted to be. But it’s hard to let go, to give in to the breaking. I turned 30 years old in Brooklyn. Three yearsContinue reading “Both Sides Now”