The earliest the military medical system could approve the procedure was weeks out. Weeks I didn’t have. The PA lowered her voice. “If you can do this off-base,” she said carefully, “you should.” “How much?” I asked. She wrote the number on a scrap of paper and slid it across the metal tray. Five thousand … Read more

For a brief second, nothing happened, and Eli felt the familiar fear that he’d misjudged everything. But then Grave’s eyes shifted, not dismissively, but with focus, tracking the street with a predator’s calm, and as if summoned by attention itself, the van appeared again, tires crunching over gravel, decelerating as it approached the sandbox where … Read more

The silence that followed was not gentle; it was oppressive, thick with discomfort, the kind that makes even seasoned professionals shift in their seats, and for the first time that morning, Judge Branham leaned forward, curiosity replacing irritation. “Proceed,” he said. Ava did not look at the audience, or at the lawyers who towered over … Read more

Later that morning, I was at the new house, waiting for the electrician. The place was a mess—dusty floors, peeling wallpaper, and the unmistakable smell of mildew. But it had potential, and I was determined to bring it back to life. “Hey, Eliza!” came a voice from the doorway. It was Mr. Thompson, our electrician. … Read more

I should have known things would get worse when I saw Louis in action with my own eyes. It was a Tuesday afternoon at the grocery store near my house. I was picking up milk and bread when I spotted them in the checkout line. Louis was leaning over the counter, chatting up the young … Read more

I should have known things would get worse when I saw Louis in action with my own eyes. It was a Tuesday afternoon at the grocery store near my house. I was picking up milk and bread when I spotted them in the checkout line. Louis was leaning over the counter, chatting up the young … Read more

The egg shattered against the stone, the sound sharp in the quiet morning air. “Hey!” I yelled, my voice shaking. “What are you doing?” The figure stiffened but didn’t turn. My heart pounded as I ran toward them. They turned slowly, and my breath hitched. “Madison?” My sister’s face stared back at me, pale and … Read more

A copy of the criminal complaint, obtained by the Marietta Times, reportedly states the sheriff’s office became aware of alleged threats of violence being made on TikTok on January 25. The threats are reported as being directed towards an unknown individual but they were interpreted as being about the president of the United States. One … Read more

I kneaded dough on a scratched-up Formica counter, rolled it out with a wine bottle I found in the trash, and baked them in the slightly off-kilter oven in the communal kitchen. Sometimes I managed to make 10 in one evening, but my highest number was once 20. Then I boxed them up and delivered … Read more