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One of life’s great mysteries had finally been revealed to her.

FIRST FRIDAYS BY ZACH SWISS 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

More like it had splintered into millions of little mysteries jostling in the darkness.

Whatever happens 

happens for the good.

A SCUT OF EARTH BY ELIZABETH KIRSCHNER 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

Bean whispered, you could place your hand in a ripe fruit and withdraw a beautiful afternoon. He said, “Whatever happens happens for the good.” 

I photographed this swimming pool for its wonderful aquas, blues, purples, and greens. And the man in the pink shirt.

What is a nice girl like you doing with an awful boy like that?

LOVE MATCH BY ANNA SEQUOIA 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

“Don’t be intimidated,” Alexandros said as he unlocked the door. “They keep this place so my grandmother can rest when she’s in the city shopping.” The shades were down and the room was dark but as Alexandros turned on one lamp and then another the apartment took on a watery glow from the pale-blue silk-covered walls sparked by elaborate gilt moldings. 

At that moment, at least, she didn’t feel intimidated. The apartment was like a stage set. She thought the furniture looked like Louis XVI but she wasn’t sure it was authentic. 

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When had the wrench begun tightening?

THE YEAR OF THE WRENCH BY JED WYMAN 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 32

It felt as if every time he turned around nuts and bolts and other facets and fasteners of his life would come undone and disappear forever.

I write poetry when talking isn’t enough.

 All the girls knew your 

 Asian putz was smaller.

HALF-FOOT HEROES BY BEN UMAYAM  34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 87

I was taught the Asian Myth. Asians have minuscule members. The other guys and all the girls knew your Asian putz was smaller.

 You wore my hat and laughed as 

 we walked home hand in hand.

LOVE AND PHILODENDRON BY PATRICK SEAMAN 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 83

 I remember you wore my hat and laughed as we walked home hand in hand and I told you to keep it and you did.

I need something else, I don’t know what.

IN MUNICH LATE BY IVANOV REYEZ 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 92

I must decide my future. I’m past the dream, she thought. I’m going to be gone.

The baby, crying.

I bought diapers and clothes and toys and bouncers and bottles and everything I could think of to make that little one happy when he got here. And she took him. She took the baby, a month old.

SHE DROVE WEST BY BRANDY MCKENZIE 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSU92

PERFECT BY JEFF WAINWRIGHT  34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 92

Gaudi had no money. He used whatever he could find, clapped it together, so one part of a balcony was this shape and the other entirely different. Imperfect perfection.

I’m not devastated. Should I be devastated?

MORE HUMAN THAN EVER BY SOPHIE WELCH 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 92

She went from being this terrifying figure in my life to someone helpless and human. I wasn’t sure what to do, what to say. 

Her happy life vanishes forever.

NIGHTSHIFT BY LINDSAY SMITH 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 91

Renata doesn’t see Little Josh tottering in the driveway, doesn’t hear him yelling, mummy wait.

It only mattered that I was beautiful.

I can’t figure out whether he’s not texting me today because he’s finally gotten tired of me or if he’s just busy.

He wanted to free her by paying a bride price.

THE AFGHAN GIRL BY C ROTHSCHILD 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 90

At 47 Lars had married the 18-year-old Miriam, the beggar girl from Afghanistan. What on earth did he think? That they could be happy together?

Listen to the surf. I could lie here, lie here with you forever.

STARTING AGAIN BY LINDSAY SMITH 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Do you think we could do things together always? I mean, like we could be these archaeologists sifting the sand for the remains of ancient civilisations, and together all the time, sharing everything.

 Everything, she thought, is 

 an accident of where you are.

STEALING HOME BY KAY BONTEMPO 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 78

Two bell peppers, Muenster cheese. Cauliflower, a pack of Newports, Tampax. Martinelli’s apple juice. Paper towels two-ply. English Breakfast tea. Boil-in-a-bag rice, paper clips, ramen noodles. Maybe some ice cream if there was money left over. America’s Choice vanilla, eaten straight from the carton. It wouldn’t be bad. With an uncomfortable pop, he pulled out of her and lay beside her, breathing hard. It was 11.52pm. She wondered if the Shop’n’Save would even be open.