Swim at your own risk

January 28, 2017April 30, 2018 ~ Tara R. ~ 5 Comments

Ponder Lake was deeper than it looked. The dive raft anchor was attached to the end of a mussel crusted chain so long it was lost in the murky depths. On a dare, I once tried to reach the bottom, inching down link by link until I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. I shot … Continue reading Swim at your own risk

Got money on my mind

January 26, 2017May 19, 2017 ~ Tara R. ~ 4 Comments

“Joel will be acquitted, right?” Francine chased after the public defender assigned to her son’s case. She slipped into the elevator just as the doors shut. “That’s unlikely, he had possession of the stolen money.” PD Guzman pushed the button for the 8th floor court room. “That money could’ve come from anywhere,” Francine’s voice rose. … Continue reading Got money on my mind

Warm milk and old oil

January 25, 2017April 30, 2018 ~ Tara R. ~ Leave a comment

It was the smell that Vince would remember. That warm milk, piss and vomit mélange that always made him think of elementary school. Mix in the lingering pall of old, grimy oil, and the bitter tang of iron oxide on the back of his tongue, Vince felt like he was walking through a cloud of bad … Continue reading Warm milk and old oil

Vicious violin

January 24, 2017January 25, 2017 ~ Tara R. ~ 1 Comment

“It is a violent, discordant assault on the ears!” James stomped around Wei’s apartment, his hands pressed firmly over his ears. His heavy footfalls made the vintage LP skip on Wei’s turntable. She put out both arms, grabbing him by the shoulders to stop his pacing. She wanted to put her hands around his neck, … Continue reading Vicious violin

Wintry winds

January 20, 2017May 19, 2017 ~ Tara R. ~ 5 Comments

Blair huddled under a quilt, her legs tucked underneath her. A steaming mug of coffee in her hands, a splash of Bailey’s added to fortify her. A wintry wind howled outside her window, whipping the trees into a frenzy. Their brittle, rimed limbs scrapped at her window. She imagined a demon clawing to get in her house, … Continue reading Wintry winds

So, it begins

January 19, 2017January 23, 2017 ~ Tara R. ~ 5 Comments

The plain, wooden cross, skillfully constructed from weathered, white-washed fence slats, appeared overnight in St. Anthony Gardens at the neglected burial site of a nameless decedent. Great care had been given to crafting a traditional grave marker, one that was reverent and not pretentious as were so many of the monolithic tributes in the cemetery. … Continue reading So, it begins