She is a stranger in a faraway place, 

and she is welcomed home.

  “

THE WATER’S EDGE BY FLAVIA BRUNETTI 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 65

She is a stranger in a faraway place, and she is welcomed home. Now there is no longer any such thing as the privilege of turning away, no longer any space for, that’s not my business. And though she thinks she understands the fears that lurk behind some dark thoughts, that some may even be justified, she also knows that hearing the stories of people so different from herself and her own can stretch her mind in the most wondrous of ways. 

Animals were not allowed in the Green Zone. What was this cat doing here?

Having to waste our lives like this, letting our time on this earth slip away for nothing.

This was the hellishly hot week I was let go. I was a copywriter in fashion expected to write 65 clothing descriptions a day.

Why do you care so much?

Hello? Please help! My phone is broke!

I DON’T KNOW WHAT FOREVER MEANS BY ROBERT EARLE 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 61

I don’t know what forever means.

The two of you roar away.

Your mother must be very worried about you.

WHAT LIES AT THE CORE BY MEIRA BIENSTOCK 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 57

I collect random lies and ingredients I’ll never use.

In my dreams I am always good enough.

I don’t have to be on that bus, I can drop the whole thing.

OK, imagine if all the roads and the streets in LA were completely empty.

The sky we had

never made no clouds, bitch.

We said we’d co-author a book some day.

Bukowski said that there was everything and nothing.

I realized that I needed to take a deep breath.

Has Hollywood stacked the deck against women?

Does it bother you I am happy?

I sleep next to your dead body.

It’s the same earth

again and again.

That’ll get you the best sex of your life.

Can we talk, at least, before I go?