The Tip I Never Gave

The waiter left after I ordered. Another server brought my dinner. I didn’t see him until he slid the check toward me   circling the tip twice. I left after paying for my food. He glances at me, picks a napkin from the table, and says, “Guess kindness isn’t in everyone’s budget.” I paused. Not…

Text From The Other Side

My best friend perished in a vehicle crash 7 years ago. No one found her phone. A SMS from her number arrived last night.   A photo of us giggling during her 16th birthday. I typed “Who is this?” We saw 3 dots. I froze when told, “Check your” Looking at the message, my palms…

A day after I moved to stay at my son’s house, when I had just woken up, my grandson was already standing right next to the bed, gently shaking me and saying: Grandma, you should find another place to live. Follow me, I will show you.’ I was startled and hurriedly followed him.

The smell of smoke still clung to my clothes three days after the fire.   I stood in what used to be my living room, staring at the charred skeleton of my piano, the instrument where I’d taught my son Michael to play “Clair de Lune” when he was seven. The fire marshal said it…