The first comes when you’re suffering from an apocalyptic migraine, one that has taken up residence right where neck meets skull. A circle of torment created just for you, by you. Pills would help, but you don’t know that yet. All you know is that your body is shaking like an earthquake and your breathing …
Author: K. A. Black
I write sometimes
Roadtrip of Dreams
The wind bullies its way in through the narrow opening of the cracked window, roaring through the car while it rolls down I-90. Snippets of songs breakthrough in the ebbs of gusts, small instances lasting just long enough for me to tell that the rock station I put on as I crossed the state line …
Night Time Thoughts
It is 12:15 am and I am wide awake. The wide-eyed, thought racing, insomnia induced awake. It’s caused by the pain and the meds, from the flair and the medication to treat it. I’m trying not to move as pain alights in different parts of my body, signal fires to betrayal, so that I don’t …
Metaphysical
I’m told I’m not allowed to experience love. Or can’t. That distinction seems to depend on who you ask. I categorize these people into two groups, The Fearful and The Wishers. The Fearful are afraid of what will happen if I learn love. The Wishers hope I can, but know that lines of code do …
Roadside Attraction
Carmichael jolted awake. Cloying, choking heat shuddered from the vents and he fumbled for the controls to turn it off. He looked around the small sedan, at the crumpled receipts, flat coke in plastic cups, and the herd of coins that had migrated across the dashboard while he’d been asleep. No David. Carmichael turned and …
Do You Understand?
“Do you understand?” “No, not at all.” Monika sighed and leaned her head against the wall of the room they shared. Her twin looked at her, eyebrows knitted together and mouth a thin line. Mimi sighed and broke the gaze. She twirled a finger through her hair, a motion that Monika had been doing already. …
Robot
The letter was smooth in her hands, the thin membrane of plastic over her name crinkling as she fiddled with the envelope. Her father had tossed it carelessly on the counter and she had looked at it, drawn to the noise it made as if it was one of the shiny fish they pulled from …
When The Dust Settles
When the dust settled into the corners of the window sills, I knew it was the first of the month. The second day was cleaning day. Our little house was cleaned from top to bottom, every surface getting a touch from the worn rag. The straw broom, missing a quarter of its bristles, made its …
The Final Straw
I stood stoically and watched my brothers and sisters disappear one by one. Each ripped from our grasps amidst screams and pleas to not take them, but also to not be next. We huddled in that darkened container for who knows how long, eyes turned towards the thin sliver of light that crept in under …
