Sharing Fear

No one wants to be afraid all alone

Photo by Bill Adler

I cowered in the living room corner, bent at the knees, crouched low, peeking through slits between my fingers, my arms and legs quivering, pupils wide with alarm, goosebumps cascading across my flesh, in an attempt to offer comradery with my terrified cat by pretending to be afraid of the Roomba, too.

One-sentence stories amaze and delight me. They’re beautiful literary creatures, creating entire lives and worlds between the first word and the period.