Love under the Shadow of Poverty – Part 2
Three months later, Jolie gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Charlotte. The baby looked very much like her mother. She had soft cheeks, dimples on her face,…
In God’s Presence
The great God, the hidden peace within the heart of chaos, the light that, in the darkest of nights, shows the way to weary eyes. God, show the way to…
The Gate Was Unlocked
What made us laugh was not his dance, but the way Aisha caught him. Aisha was my cousin’s girlfriend back in the days. She never knew how funny her partner…
The Small Window
I was sitting on my small bed with my uniform on. My blue-covered science book was open and placed on my lap. Observing me from afar, I looked fully focused…
I don’t believe in petty love anymore
I no longer believe in love. You knew why I was crying. You saw my tears; you saw how I struggled with myself every day. I don’t know. Didn’t my…
Letters to Dad: 1
Hello Dad, How are you? It’s me, your last-born son, writing to let you know what has been happening here ever since you left, six years ago. We still feel…
What He Left Behind
The morning light fell low across the compound. The mats from the mourning ceremony were still rolled up and placed against the cracked mud wall. Crushed leaves were scattered on…
On Being Familiar: Part 5
I took Luzmila’s shawl from the back of the chair and covered myself with it as I lay down on the sofa. Streetlights reflected off of the wall and rain…
Part One: A Life Within Reach
1 That day, when she woke up, for a few moments she didn’t know where she was. She opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling. It was the…
The Village Drunkard
“Maliko Moyo! Come out of the cell, you are free to go now,” Captain Mbewe shouted. Mr Moyo came out of the cell and stood by the door. With his…
The Wrong Audition
Marcus is fifteen, Black, suburban – the houses around the cul-de-sac match, and the loudest thing on a weeknight is somebody’s sprinkler. His bedroom had the LED lights his mom…
The Visit
It was a cold autumn morning in Mashhad, and the air smelled of wet earth. It had been raining since midnight, and water still dripped from the edges of the…
The Marked Banknote
Rana was heading to school. She was in third grade. She was running late, yet she wasn’t in any hurry. Head down, she trudged along listlessly, kicking a stone and…
When Gold Makes the Rules (Chapter 5)
When rules are written down, they seem firm. Notices printed on walls. Prices of goods are nailed firmly to walls. Working in a hardware shop taught me that when money…
What
“Wait, wait guys!” Alex gasped for air after having run so far. “What are we running from?” Right after Dido had fled from Jamari’s house in fear of getting caught,…
Waiting for Majid
Mehran is listening to a gentle song by Ahmad Zahir on his headphones. It is the third day of autumn and the weather is getting colder, day by day. Mehran…
The Last Fatherly Touch
Dual Worlds Case File No. 3: Smile Chapter One What? You again? How many times will you drop your prey before you’re satisfied? I may not know how my life…
Halloween Baby
A month before Halloween, I started dreading my own birthday. I’m going to be 44. I used to love it—Halloween baby, costumes, too much eyeliner, my friends making fun of…
The Story of Joanna
Joanna was a very beautiful woman, but her life wasn’t so beautiful, because every man she met either wanted her as a wife or toyed with her, and it always…
I can take care of myself
I walked into the restaurant. I sat in our usual spot. I waited for her to arrive. She came in. Her coat was just as soaked as mine. She took…
