THE WEIGHT OF IT: A JOURNEY IS NEVER AS IT SEEMS

Chapter Story – Part Four

A gust of wind slammed my body, and I toppled over as if the hand of Many Gods slapped me to the ground. Snow eddied and spun all around me, and any sight I did have vanished. I clamped my gloved hands to my face and waited for the wind’s unexpected burst of energy to recede.

THE WEIGHT OF IT: THE ONLY THING TO DO

Chapter Story – Part Three

Dancing light emanated from the open hatch of the pot belly stove and illuminated Morgan’s body. Every few seconds the body twitched, or seemed to, though I told myself it was the fire’s flickering light, nothing more. I hugged my legs closer, afraid he’d grab my ankle and that damn milky worm would get me.

THE WEIGHT OF IT: THE MESSAGE

Chapter Story – Part Two

“What?” I said and jerked back. He was wrong, hallucinating most likely. Sebastian was dead. I had been at the funeral, crumpled to the ground, unable to hold my anguish inside. Old Lady Selena had brought hyacinths to the funeral. The scent still made me nauseous.

THE WEIGHT OF IT

Chapter Story – Part One
Cold etched its way across the windowpane, intricate snowflake drawings under a microscope, while the wind and snow whipped and whirled outside. The winter-art spread, similar to salt dispersing watercolor on a canvas as I traced my finger along its ever-increasing pattern.

The freezing pane stung the tip of my finger. I didn’t remove my finger or alter the pressure of skin against the chilled glass; I wanted to endure, not give up. Too many said I’d given up too soon already.

PARTICLES OF BLOOD: Traces of Darkness

She came to on the bathroom’s hard floor. Deep bone pain seared her cheekbone as she lifted her head to wipe the drool from the side of her face; a small, clear pool marked her desperate state on the floor.

PARTICLES OF BLOOD: Down Deep into the Deep, Black Hole

“Can you describe the man you saw?” Officer Rayne said, jolting Hetty from her friend’s lifeless eyes.

PARTICLES OF BLOOD: The Underground

Hetty’s mind slipped to the few hours priors. She could feel the bright winter sun on her skin, a reminder of the past days of warmth when autumn had reigned and bestowed its easy days and cool nights.

PARTICLES OF BLOOD

Hetty stared at her hands splayed on her lap, covered in blood. She studied the blood’s different life stages—wet, sticky, dry, flaky—and blew warm breath onto her raised hand. Minute particles of blood floated into the air.