For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of flying. I mean… who hasn’t dreamed of flying? It’s the most wonderful thing there is. I still remember, as a youngster, my afternoons spent scanning the sky, trying to make out shapes in the clouds. Who hasn’t? A rabbit, a dragon, a monster or even a car. Watching the clouds has never been so stimulating for our imagination. However, I wanted to be more than just a spectator. I wanted to swim in this ocean of lightness, to split the skies like a bird: free as a bird and with no one to disturb you. What a wonderful feeling! I even remember believing that clouds were actually made of cotton,…

Under gravel and twisting roots there lies an intricate system of life, hundreds of sizes smaller than our species. Like pale, empty veins they stretch out to dig downwards into damp soil. It is dark. Darker than sunless skies. The realm underground is the realm of corpses. They settle between debris like shells pushed under sand by careless ocean waves. Deeper, and deeper. While you walk overhead on solid ground, thinking of the casual facets of life, corpses are clawing overhead themselves, grasping those roots and pulling at them with a vengeful desperation to return to life. We never hear their wailing, but the earth’s surface shakes with their conviction. Ghosts are known to protest against going quietly. If they…

The Visit Henry had always been a bit different. As a child, he was quiet, more interested in books and toys than in other children. He grew up alone, but he never seemed to mind. His mother, Grace, worried that her son wasn’t making any friends, but Henry always reassured her that he was fine just the way he was. One day, after returning from work, I received an unusual phone call from Henry. “Mom, you need to come over. I want to introduce you to someone.” Henry’s tone was different than usual—more excited, which made me feel a sense of relief. Maybe he had finally found a girlfriend? There was a reason to think so—my son had unexpectedly gone…

I used to think grown-ups always knew what was right. They seemed to have all the answers, like they were in control of everything. Back then, I thought there were rules for how things worked, even in little moments—like the way someone should look at you, or how a touch was supposed to feel. But nobody ever explained what it meant when something felt… different. When a look lingered too long, or a hand stayed where it shouldn’t. I didn’t know back then. I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel. I was just a kid. I was just eight. Ruben was my best friend’s neighbor. He was older, maybe seventeen, and that was the best part—he was older.…

I would like to unburden myself a little, because I am very worried about this. To begin with, I don’t know if you’ll understand me when I say that we, as individuals, have a kind of ‘vibe’—the thing that helps us differentiate and recognize people. It’s like an aura, or maybe it’s the soul. An example of this would be when you meet someone you haven’t seen in a long time, and even if their appearance has changed, you still recognize them, like they have an inner spark that remains the same. We all get certain vibes from people, objects, places, or family. I’m sure at some point you’ve seen something and thought, ‘This gives me the same vibe as…

Parker looked in the mirror. He felt his scar, a smile that was forcefully stitched in his face. Although the stitches were thankfully taken out, his scar persisted. Parker exhaled; everything had happened so quickly. His sister was insane, his parents had passed away, and now he was by himself. Parker was lucky to get an apartment with his father’s credit card. However, not only would Parker need to find some way to pay it off, but if the authorities found out, he’d be put in an orphanage. Parker was only 13. Parker stepped out of the bathroom and fixed his gaze on his baseball bat. Parker recalled what the police had stated regarding his sister’s visit to the hospital prior to she went…

It was a cold, uneventful evening, just like every other since the quarantine had started. I was scrolling through random VRChat worlds, bored and alone in my room. Most of the worlds were empty, just floating in digital silence, but one caught my eye. The world was called “Nyras’ Crypt”—no description, no tags, just the name. I figured it was probably some forgotten fan-made map. Curiosity got the better of me, and with a click, I joined. The loading screen seemed to take longer than usual, and the sound of my headset hummed louder, but eventually, I was transported into the world. It was a dim, eerie space, a blend of dark medieval architecture and glitchy, futuristic elements. The walls…

I had everything a man could ever want. A beautiful wife, two wonderful kids, and a cozy house on a quiet street. Life was good—perfect, even. My wife, Emily, had the kind of laugh that could light up a room. Our kids, Lily and James, were the most precious little souls. I remember taking Lily to her first day of school, watching James learn to ride his bike. Simple, mundane moments that filled my heart with a warmth I never knew I could feel. Years passed in what felt like a blissful blur. Family dinners, vacations, late-night talks with Emily after the kids went to bed—everything was so vivid. I could feel the warmth of her hand in mine, the…

I hate snow. Not in the way most people hate the inconvenience of shoveling their driveways or the sting of icy wind slicing through their scarves. Not in the way someone groans when their morning commute is slowed to a crawl or when their favorite shoes soak through, leaving their socks clammy and cold. No, my hatred runs deeper than that—bone-deep, marrow-deep, settling into the cracks of my ribs like frost that never thaws. Most people love snow. They welcome it, yearn for it even. Their faces light up the moment the first flakes begin to fall, delicate as whispers, like the world itself is speaking some long-forgotten lullaby. Snow is magical to them, a crystalline promise of laughter, snowball…

I am a single mother of three boys who was recently divorced. James, my eldest son, is twelve years old and has just begun secondary school. He is very smart; loves science and wishes to work as a biologist after he graduates from varsity. Without a doubt, I see him pursuing a career in that area. George, my 10-year-old second oldest son, is a creative little prodigy who enjoys painting and modeling clay sculptures. Lastly, Kevin, my 4-year-old son. Kevin is such a sweetheart! Even though he can drive me insane with his silly little questions such as “Why do you tie your shoelaces like that?”, “Why do you tie your hair like that?”, “Why do you like like the…