A New Kind of Literary Pulse

The darkness was heavy. Nothing seemed to break it beside the occasional whimper from one of the other men.
It had all happened so fast; it was still hard to believe any of it was real ... [+]

As a kid, I was always excited to show my illustrations to everyone I knew. Carrying my heavy old tablet to school, I loved hearing compliments on my neon-colored digital creations from my classmates ... [+]

The American dream. The human dream. Like a phoenix rising from a 9 to 5 to become a name even your parents recognize. Night shifts are swapped for night clubs and auto payments for autographs. We ... [+]

My name is Mary Delores Archie; I also carry my Indian name Hoshi meaning Raven. I am Shuswap from the Canim Lake Band and a Shishalh member of the Sechelt Nations people. I was born in the generation ... [+]

I've always liked being in control. My planner, filled with checklists and to-do items, contains my whole life. Filling out forms brings me a weird sense of satisfaction. I like putting all the ... [+]

Little brothers are annoying, aren't they? They're messy and whiny, god so whiny. They take your things without asking, they're...endlessly loud. That afternoon, my half-brother was the quietest he'd ... [+]

Who Needs Sleep When Life is a Dream?
My love for life is unequivocal & unwavering, & when you love something, you never want to say goodbye. Each time I close my eyes, the whole world I hold so ... [+]

I proposed to the love of my life in September, and she ran away from me. I'd expected her to say no, sure, as I knelt down in front of the Old Well with no ring, no intention, no plan. We were ... [+]

First, admit that you have never been happy. Admit that joy is a commodity reserved for those far outside of your understanding. Admit that pain has always felt more natural to you because it lets you ... [+]

Grace drives south on State Street back toward our apartment. We have groceries in the backseat, and there are plants tucked around my feet to keep the soil from spilling as we travel. Grace's new ... [+]

The backdoor slammed as you stormed out. The loud strike of blinds hit the door and caught up to the slam – the last noticeable telling of your previous presence. I sat on the floor. The others ... [+]

When I was fourteen, I was diagnosed with Vocal Cord Dysfunction. How I breathe is fundamentally broken. The doctor guessed I had never smoked, and I told her she was right. Good, she said, and let me ... [+]

There is no Tabasco sauce on our table. My usual order—the "Just Bacon" burger with no onions, pickles, or garlic aioli, please—will be unsatisfactory if it is not drenched in Tabasco sauce. The ... [+]

The hallways were unnaturally quiet when I left my room. The walls reflected a putrid-looking yellow that shined from the small light above me. The usual thumping of music that came from the doo ... [+]

Ten days ago, I quit the kind of job this school is meant to prepare you for. I left the investment bank I'd worked for, to return to school as a full-time student. Why would I make such a seemingly ... [+]

"(3x a million)
That's all
Your devoted husband
Nick"
Janet cradled her newborn child in her arms as she read his words, carefully sprawled on the tan paper. Her darling. He ... [+]

Tonks the cat was the first animal I ever met that looked at me like I looked at it.
Anita, my step-mother, was known for discovering the helpless and giving them life. She did it with her first ... [+]

When we think of a cell, we might not realize the extent of its intricacy. Sure, cells may be complex, but then there are tissues, organs, organ systems, and entire organisms. Cells are only a really ... [+]