It only looked like a butterfly because of where it had chosen to hide itself, of course. Faint, fluttering, fragile thing, but no different in nature than any of the other pieces she’d collected, and some of them had been… Continue reading

No one ever asked him what he feared most. They feared too reasonably for that. But dreams didn’t have any reason to cower from him, and they crept up to ask him in his sleep, when all answers were honest.… Continue reading

“I hate it,” she said, could only say to her grandmother, who would think well of her anyways. “I hate being this way. Why should it be their business what I’m like? Why should they get to decide?” Only her… Continue reading

Tall and stately and untouchable as death disrobed, the metal figure walked that storm-washed field of battle. Rain coursed through the tree-root-branching insignia cut into its breastplate, leapt in white spray from the sharp joins of its hips, the only… Continue reading

Save it for when you need a little happiness, she had said, pressing the parcel into his hands. When there doesn’t seem to be any left on the horizon. The horizon was nothing now but shards of moon-glow bobbing on… Continue reading

It would have been better if he’d just vanished without a trace. A parent can make up all sorts of hopeful stories then, about other shores, other ships, even about a son who hates them so much, he’d rather disappear… Continue reading

The first time Mother ever screamed at me was just this morning, when I reached for the door. I wasn’t going to go outside – I just wanted to look at the snow that’s been whispering for so long behind… Continue reading