fiction
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Pandan in Autumn: a short story
Jenny sets out for the perfect fall picnic—wicker basket, apple butter sandwiches, autumn leaves. Instead, she finds a gray park, cold bread, and chaos. On her way to visit her grandmother, she realizes real comfort isn’t in picture-perfect seasons, but in croquettes, pandan cake, and family warmth. Continue reading
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After the Glitter: a short story
Vanessa Phan once ruled the quad in Guess jeans and glitter. Now she works at a dollar store in dusty California, haunted by old scars, lost love, and faded nights. Between cigarettes, daycare pickups, and a CNA brochure, she wonders: is reinvention still possible after peaking too soon? Continue reading
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Nicole Kidwoman and Her Dream Son: a short story
While eating a $1.50 hot dog, Mary reflects on her life, marked by the pandemic and her daughter’s transition to Angelo. Once disapproving, she struggles with her feelings about changing family dynamics and societal norms. Her longing for connection with Angelo intensifies, leading to a poignant dream of reconciliation as she confronts her past regrets. Continue reading
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Goodbye to Gareth: a short story about a man and his orange cat (part one)
He was content with his quiet life and his cat. Until one day, his cat died… Continue reading
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Not a Cat
The cat clawed at the door. But there was no door, and the cat was not a cat, only a memory of a sweet cat that once was. Continue reading
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Books I’ve Been Reading: The Crimson Princess by Zoey Voss
I don’t have any fictional or memoir vignettes to share with you today. Instead, I will tell you a little about what I’ve been reading. I rejoined NetGalley to see how the platform works these days (I used to participate around 10-12 years ago or so), and the first book I’ve agreed to read and Continue reading
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Gas Station Coke: Damian’s Dilemma (a fictional vignette)
Under the flickering light of a gas station bathroom, Damian stares at himself in the mirror and grapples with a dilemma: Is he about to betray or save his friends? Continue reading
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Finite in the Desert: a vignette about stargazing in isolation
Stranded in the desert on a fine night, a man escaping grief looks up at the stars and feels ever-small and ever-finite. Continue reading
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The Perfect Daughter: a short story
A mother gloats about how she successfully molded her daughter into the perfect traditional daughter, only to be surprised. Continue reading
Eden Onpeng 