Scarlet

Auntie Barbara

Auntie Barbara is a successful woman. She flies between cities for conferences. She writes books in retirement and shares her interviews over dinner. She speaks with absolute certainty on politics, healthcare, and public policy—never to be questioned. She has a soft spot for animals. Though she owns many cats, you usually see only two when […]

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No Way Out

It was evening. The sun was almost down. The four of them sat at the dining room table. The dinner dishes were stacked on the far side, out of their way. Bruce and Amelia sat together. Bruce’s mother sat across from them, besides his father. Her face was flushed as Amelia told a story. Bruce

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Think Like a Champion: 3 Tennis Mindsets for Winning at Everything

Naomi Osaka dashed to the net and, with a powerful forehand, strategically returned Yuliia Starodubtseva’s serve. Her swing sent a 110  mph ball across the court so fast that it was impossible for Starodubtseva to return the ball, and resulted in Naomi winning another point. This was only one of the calculated moves Naomi employed

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“The Wild Rumpus”

I disembark my boat.I am far from home;my beard is long, my hair is longer, and my eyebrows are thick.I am slapping my feet on the concrete streets—my arms flap in the wind like thrashing waves.Towering skyscrapers cackle with a million mouths.Cars honk nasally honks when I cross red lights,cyclists slam grimy hands on their

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“Tyrant”

Rage toward the silent voices, the neglectful voices that stand in the middle using their whiteness as the privilege to be a ghost in a fight that leaves more blood than water to drink. Scream toward the bodies in power that line their power suits with dead presidents as the images of the dead and

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“Your Featherbed”

Yours was my firstfeatherbed.Box stitched billows ofwarmthfloating undera sea offlannel security. Your oversizedold puffy comfortersealed our safe cocoon.living up to its nameembracing mealmost as well asyou did.We slept entwined.seamlesslyconnected, untilThe unfiltered lightinterferedrevealingstark, prescientshadowswe couldn’t ignore. I got up before youstepping ontoyour cold stone floor.(I swear you kept thethermostat at50)leaving the warmthof your bedand you. Christine

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The Perfect Omelet

So, you want to cook a perfect omelet, huh? Let me tell you, it’s an art. Not just anyone can master the delicate dance of eggs in a pan. It’s like a culinary ballet, and you need to be the star performer. First things first, crack the eggs. None of that shell nonsense – we’re

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“Unconditional”

Her unkempt hair covers her face and her little hands flail asserting her disgust This will be the first time he holds his tongue The first time he dances with such an innocent girl He’s used to rough used women Used to screaming about their imperfections Sending them back inside their cage Cage the savage

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“They Birthed Nations, Word Says”

The women who could not bear children at first: Sarai, Rachel, Rebekah, Hannah,Samson’s mother—name not givenElisabeth—John the Baptist’s motherand Michal—the one that got away— Their persistent askingamidst improvisationswas the knowingthat they were capable,deserving and worthy.Such confidence! Had they believed they were barren, truly, they would not have eventuallyconceived. Day and night they travaileddriven by intensity

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