In a Cluttered Atelier

I'm not fond of it - too quiet, too observant. You always telling me to shut up and observe, Maestro. Shut up. You at least have arms to clean the atelier when you annoy me. How does one punish this? Unplug it, perhaps? That's murder! Oh. Well, give it a brush - let's give it … Continue reading In a Cluttered Atelier →

Phantasmagoria

As she mused over the whereabouts of the missing monks, a gust of wind tugged at her haori, and the reedy, distant laughter of children seemed to momentarily vanish from the chilled air. She took another wary step down the mountain path, but paused. There shouldn't be children on the mountain this late at night.

Endless Morning Sun

The eclipse behind my mind blots out the sun in imperfect ink droplets, radiating malignant rays of pain. The acrid smell of stale beer mixes with the bitter tang of discarded cigarette butts - a sumptuous bouquet of regret. I want to die, or just lie in bed until the crimson sun bursts from the … Continue reading Endless Morning Sun →

Alone on January 2, 2012

I took the train out from North York, staring at my phone and the last three messages I sent into the silent, digital maw. I bit back bitter tears, thinking that maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time... with the wrong person. Luckily, most wrong places have train stations out.

Le Petite Princess

She reminded me of the night sky. Maybe it was the sheer blondeness of her hair, which - when tied to those restless eyes and pale complexion - made me wonder if moonlight looked like this when She wanted to wander where the shadows were. Suddenly, I knew why foxes only danced under the Moon's … Continue reading Le Petite Princess →

Fear, Utterly Reviled By Years

I thought she'd slam the door on me, but she hurdled over the couch, sheer panic on her sweat-sheened face. I whipped around and drove my shoulder into the door, forcing it against the horror on our heels. "What does it want!?" Just on the other side of the door, we heard it coo: "U-nye-loo-lay-doo?" … Continue reading Fear, Utterly Reviled By Years →

A Beautiful Night

She slid closer, wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders, murmuring softly under her frosted breath as she fought against blessed sleep. The other put out her cigarette, complaining idly about the cold while thinking about love and loss. The one who dragged them both outside smiled as lights streaked across the sky. "Beautiful night." … Continue reading A Beautiful Night →

After the Night

The sound of the door closing wrenched him from his drunken slumber and into the crushing reality of consciousness. He groaned, the sour smell of cheap beer and bad sex clinging to him like a film. Blearily he reached for his glasses and instead found a note written in crisp lettering: "Hopefully see you tonight?" … Continue reading After the Night →

The Anticipation of a Moment

He sighed, leaning back with a look of thoughtful contemplation, then returned to the manuscript. Another smoked beside the window, reading, brows furrowed. She watched them eagerly, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Well?" someone said. A moment of silence dawned with the sun, pregnant with effort, skill, and no little amount of divine inspiration. "It's perfect." … Continue reading The Anticipation of a Moment →

Somewhere in Nevada

He flicked his cigarette into the desert and began to light another one with the practiced motion of a salaryman. His assistant was pissing on the cracked earth beside Highway 50 because he insisted on drinking four energy drinks for breakfast. A scraggly kitten approached, meowing. The salaryman frowned, uneasy. Two men and a kitten … Continue reading Somewhere in Nevada →