That Night

The sky looked heavy as darkening clouds pressed hard against the planet's surface. The two dominant elements fought. It was like an unstable ballet.

"Are you going to fight with me?"

Sam shook his head. "We're not fighting."

He wanted to return to that night in the garden with Lily.

Lightning illuminated the clouds, shattering the heavens, spilling its hot sparks in whirlpools that burst into thunder. Sam's heart pounded fast.

"It can't end here," Lilith cried.

Sam knew what was coming.

"Hey guys," Adam waves. "Beautiful night."

Thunder crashed.

Samael bowed his head crying as the real thunderstorm began.

From Guest Contributor J. Iner Souster

Narcissi

Resplendent in her white dress, she headed down the steps from the veranda. He tightened his parka to stave off the wind and followed.

Behind the house they built, they strode toward the pond, their barren feet leaving a trail along the mucky ground. Her smile was terse, he clenched his jaw. He searched for something new to say, she shook her head. They knit their hands, now ringless, and peered at their reflection.

Later, when the children rushed out to search for them, all they found by the water’s edge was a white lily rising beside a thistle bush.

From Guest Contributor Nicholas Katsanis

Nico is a writer of magical realism and absurdist fiction. His work has appeared in 50-word stories and Literally Stories. Look out for his debut novel Bocce at the End of the World in 2022 and follow him on Twitter @nicholaskatsan1

Changeling

Susan struggled against her mother’s prying hands, desperate to keep her favorite teddy, but mother won at last, tearing it free. The child wilted to the floor. “You can have it back when you apologize,” said her mother, slamming the door behind her. Susan saw the little man out of the corner of her eye, beckoning from the window, his crown adorned with fresh lily blooms. He was so polite and understanding. Her mother would never know. Susan’s mother returned and found her daughter’s window open, wind scattering lily petals across the floor.

“Susan!”

“Here,” replied the child behind her.From Guest Contributor Sean Ferrier-Watson

Sean has pieces published or forthcoming in Borderlands, Better Than Starbucks, Forces, and Illumen. His book The Children’s Ghost Story in America was published by McFarland in 2017. Follow him at www.seanferrierwatson.com.

Wilted Lily

Sarah awakened from a frightening dream, her nightgown pasted to her body in sweat. Her husband, Mark, was still asleep, so she gently lifted the covers, went to the bathroom, and splashed cool water on her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and remembered every detail.

It was her wedding day. At the altar she couldn’t breathe, her body slowly disappeared, and her bouquet of lilies fell to the ground.

“It was just a bad dream,” she whispered to herself.

She softly kissed her husband and went back to sleep.

Under the bed, rested a wilted lily.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher