No Thought

My doorbell rings with flowers from David. Every year on Valentine’s Day he sends me red roses. The delivery boy smiles waiting for his tip. I hand him the money and shut the door forcibly causing the room to shake. Another vase to take up room in my cabinet.

Just once I’d like David to say he loves me and take me out to a nice dinner. He does the same thing every year without any other thought.

I throw the roses in the trash, the vase cracking into pieces.

I grab my car keys and take myself to dinner.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Search

I scramble the room for the file. Many lives depend on the information, including mine. When I accepted this job, I knew the risks involved and didn’t care. Now I just want to go back to my life.

Where is it? I search the desk drawer and every cabinet, but nothing. Major Thompson may be wrong. I swear quietly. It is not here.

Outside the sirens roar and car doors slam. Yelling soon follows.

I slip out onto the ledge and wait for their destruction to end before entering the room again.

The Nazi’s didn’t catch me. Not this time.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Keeping Secrets

“Don’t tell your mother,” whispered Harold, sweeping up porcelain pieces as Jacob walked in.

“Gee, Dad, she’ll explode when she finds out.”

“That’s why I ordered a replacement.”

When the doorbell rang, Carrie raced to the door.

“Did you order anything?” she asked Harold who happened to appear alongside.

“Yes I did,” he mumbled. “I’ll open it in my office, after my next Zoom meeting.”

At dinner, everyone gathered in the dining room. Carrie glanced at the China cabinet.

“Strange,” she uttered. “I’m certain that figurine has blonde hair, not red.”

Jacob turned his head the other way to smile.

From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs

Krystyna is a writer of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. She resides in Edmonton, Canada.