Stories

Short pieces. Rooted in truth. The kind of moment you almost missed.

Flecks of Light
Dora Acosta Dora Acosta

Flecks of Light

Jalen loved how the sunlight spilled through the doors and windows in the morning and onto the floors. He liked walking through it with his eyes closed, feeling its warmth on his cheeks. Every few steps, he’d open his eyes, wave his hands in the light, and catch the flecks that filled the air. Sometimes kids would stare as they walked down the hall, or a teacher would tell him to stop stimming. But he didn’t care.

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Paté
Dora Acosta Dora Acosta

Paté

“Paté, paté, paté!”

The woman selling Fritay and Paté shouted as she walked in the streets below. I quickly shot up from my seat and ran to the front of the building, looking below. The night air was still, lukewarm, and loud with insects, laughter, and casual passersby. The rooftop kept us high enough to find solace in the intermittent breeze under the moonlight.

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Linda
Dora Acosta Dora Acosta

Linda

“I don’t ever want to hear that shit come out of your mouth again!” he screamed as he slammed the door behind him. The house shook, and I felt something inside me shrink.

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