Distorted Mirror
“Mothers cried, but their tears were mixed and lost in the seemingly endless water; and even this would be better than home, this crashing, roaring, watery grave…”
Fiction
Student 2026
Writing Contest Honorable Mentions
Chess
“And just as abrupt as it was that day when he became a hero, my hero, he just as quickly became an unidentified monster. A monster with no name.”
Grandma’s Testament
“I wish I could talk to her again. I would tell her that she did not fail. That her foundation set up her grandchildren for positivity and great things.”
Chasing a Vein
“Spaces between fingers / Along the bony ankle / Neck / Groin. / Anywhere skin still whispered / Maybe / Anywhere pain could be mistaken / For permission.”
Little Spirits Falling From the Sky
“Each little spirit came falling down onto this big Earth / to form a relationship to this physical world. / Acknowledge these little spirits, / welcome them.”
With Me Throughout, Even Now
“I’m looking out into the woods and there he is, my old friend who’s been with me throughout. He stretches an arm out beckoning me to go that way. . .”
The Lightning Man
“The shadow is pitch black and there are no features. It is just standing there behind my brother who is sleeping, unaware of our presence. . .”
Hands of Matriarchy
“I often wonder if my hands feel remorse and sorrow, / question whether or not they deserve forgiveness, / and if they feel joy and gratitude when given the chance to rebuild what was unmade.”
If You Grew Up Where I Did
“If you grew up in the home I did, you would know love and compassion. You would have been held when you were sick, fed when you were hungry, and protected from things of which you were unaware.”
