Photo by Tom Barrett on Unsplash The digital clock sits on the off-white ledge with slashing red numbers. Parts of it start to flicker like the numbers are falling apart. There’s no sky through the window above the clock — just clouds. Everything is a different shade of tainted white…

“Can we practice it?” Meat stares at faer hands. At the room fae just recently cleaned. At the outfit already laid across the couch even though they have eight hours before the party. Sometimes, it’s easier to ask questions without waiting for a reaction. Without the pressure of eye contact. …

It’s not my own suit so it really shouldn’t matter. I’m just borrowing it. And it’s just for a costume party. It doesn’t matter that it doesn’t fit me. That the shoulder pads extend far past mine. That the blue lapels almost reach my belly button. …

Girls camp functions as a consolation prize. Our church partners with Boy Scouts but not Girl Scouts, so once a year we have the least camping camp at the cheapest grounds. We aren’t allowed on the obstacle courses or hikes the boys always talk about. …

The fence is an open mouth made of cracked ashy lips, yet she enters. She doesn’t want to, but her feet keep touching new gravel and rusted grass as she holds herself steady, preparing for everything. …