Some claim after our final breath a soul survives the body’s death and some kind of an afterlife begins. Other’s say that when we die and utter our last earthly cry we’re dust and just wind up in garbage bins! I think it may well be the case that when we leave the human race the details of departure are what matter. For one can leave the mortal plane in total peace or with great pain, silently or with a bang or splatter....

Emily Janson was devastated when she got the call that Jonathan, the man she was to marry in two weeks, was just killed in a motorcycle accident. Holding the phone to her ear, her breath leaving her, she stood still, unable to speak, unable to comprehend the words she heard. The call came from Jonathan’s mother, who had just been called by the police.“Oh no,” she gasped before the sobs broke loose and tears filled her eye...

~ The End ~ Becky Patterson sat in the dimly lit room, her head bowed slightly, staring blankly into space. She neither knew nor cared how long she’d been there. Finally she heard a light rap on the door, which opened before she could respond. “Excuse me, Ms. Patterson? Everything appears to be in order, and we need to — time is of the essence —” “Of course,” she said in a flat whisper, not making eye contact, then as an...

As I stand on the curb at the airport, awaiting my sister’s car to pull up and take me home, I reflect on the last 17 days and the adventure of a lifetime. And I thought about what had brought it all about. It all started about 18 months ago. In August of 2010, I lost my best friend after a six year fight with cancer. A little over two months later, my mom was diagnosed with a type of leukemia and about six weeks later, j...

When she'd first arrived, the Valley was beautiful. It was Summer and everywhere glowed and baked and sung. The leaves on the trees blanced to white and yellow, the grapevines sagged to the soil, heavy with juice. Surfers rolled in from the coast with the tastes of salt and hot chips and Coca-Cola, and couples flowed through for wine tastings and kangaroo dinners, the shops closed at four, children rode their bikes throug...

I watch the fathers running through the streets,carrying their limp dead children in their arms,their broken hearts bleeding grief and rage.I see them running past the wounded everywhere,past the blood, past the fires, past the crumbling buildings,past the rubble of homes and businesses,past the screams--fathers running for their liveson frantic feet through smoke filled air,the boom of bombs bursting in their ears, bulle...

Jump in, she says, it will renew you. I dive into the blue water. It’s cold. English seawater is always cold. It is dark down here, I can’t see, but I can feel. I feel her splashing beside me, reaching for my hand. Her fingers are so small. Make a wish, she says. I like her, but I’m scared. Wouldn’t you be scared diving from a cliff into this floating world of darkness? I have to pull away. Her fingers slip from mine. Don...

"What did the doctor say?” “Nothing yet…he said he’ll have information for us soon.” “Oh…” We all put our heads back down. The last 4 hours were torture; sitting in the hospital lobby, watching all the sick people go in and out, and nurses shouting, and IV machines tick tock ticking. We knew our father had Lymphoma…we just didn’t know what the prognosis would be. How much time did he have left? Was it curable? Was he goin...

The Knife By Tony Radford A missile-flash, a chopper-crash – a field of charred debris, a team of five are burned alive – and that leaves only me. A stranded man in hostile land – my radio is cracked, a uniform that’s soiled and torn – at least I’m still intact. A dire strait – I’ll lie in wait until it’s safe to go, a star-less night, no moon in sight – thank God the clouds are low. I take a fix – it’s twenty clicks from...

The smiling, long legged brunette in the photo leaned against the door of a familiar car. One hand held a set of keys against her freckled cheek while the other seemed to toy with the unfastened snapof impossibly skimpy white shorts. In between, an unbuttoned olive-drab, US Army fatigue shirt was spread just wide enough to give a teasing peek at the swell of her firm young breasts.The soldier holding the photo smiled. He’...

“You’re asking me how it’s going?” I said incredulously. “How can you ask me that? I’m paralyzed and I’m dying, for god’s sake!” “Well you don’t have to be sarcastic!” came the response. “And besides, you’re not dead…..yet. By the way, my name is Waldo. Nice to meet you.” Waldo flew over my head singing ‘Getting to know you…..getting to know all about you…..’ I learned later that he often did things like that; he had been...

Looking back today and reminiscingon the good times we shared.The smile on your face that we both shareThe rough calloused hands that held mewhen I was hurting. The hard hand that bustedme jumping on the bed! But it only happened oncebecause I didn’t want you angry at me.I remember riding in the big combine whileyou were working…so happy I was at your side.I remember running the mile race and when I moved in from last to...

A Children's Moon displayed today, upon a canvas bright and blue, not a cloud in the sky to see, the only thing on exhibit, you Mr. Moon. Showing yourself in the brightness of day, for children who would usually be asleep in their beds, when you appear at night. Eyes wide, mouth round, look of surprise upon your oval face. Not a frown, as I would expect from you, being up so early. You appear almost translucent to me, bot...

I sat beside him as he cooled. I touched his hand and stroked his head. Death had come an hour before. They placed him on a hospital bed. I found him on the bathroom floor. There was no pulse or breathing sound. He collapsed behind the wooden door. There was nobody else around. I never got to say good-bye. When I found him he had expired. I had said mean things that day when understanding was required. I looked at his now...

December 20, 2011   Do I fear death? Death was before me Gripped Counting my seconds Of my life There I was facing judgement Like votes in a ballot Was I to live or die? Cash pot and lucky five Couldn’t save me All I had was God watching me My heart pounding But still I was calm Not fearful But wondering What my end was to be And finally When the gun man got what He wanted I could see fear in his eyes Tremble in his voice...