Laura Byrne is a public health student, certified yoga teacher, and peer educator. She’s passionate about making mental and physical health accessible and equitable for all, whether through campus initiatives or state policy. In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading, and long walks on the beach with her dog.

Sudha Balagopal’s recent fiction appears in Fictive Dream, Adroit Journal and Does It Have Pockets among other journals. She has had two novellas-in-flash published by Ad Hoc Fiction: Nose Ornaments and Things I Can’t Tell Amma. Her stories have been included in Best Microfiction and Best Small Fictions. She is Series Editor, Wigleaf Top 50.

“A writing desk!” Jane exclaimed. “Oh, Papa!”

She opened the gleaming mahogany drawer.
Out scrambled a tiny . . . Someone.
Brilliant eyes. Muddy petticoats.

”I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” curtseyed the Someone. “I’ve been waiting for you. Let our adventures begin!”

Joanna Norland is a writing coach and playwright whose scripts, including Lizzy, Darcy and Jane, and a one-act and full-length adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, have been produced on four continents.

Maria Cargille wrote this story. Her desk is punctuated with lines of beach glass, one stray press block, and countless second-hand postcards.

Wearing Clouds by Angela Carlton

Sarah Sorensen (she/her) MA, MLIS is a queer writer based in the Metro Detroit area. She’s honored to be named a 2025 Best Small Fictions author and runner-up in the 2025 RockPaperPoem Poetry Contest. Sarah’s poetry chapbook, Light Splits Down the Wolf’s Tooth is now available through Bottlecap Press.

I parked where I always park, but the whole area looked unfamiliar. Valentine roses in hand, I walked around for 11 minutes before giving up.

I should’ve asked at the office but couldn’t admit to losing you twice.

Nancy Stephan is a writer and poet living in Atlanta, GA. She won Georgia Author of the Year (GAYA) for her memoir, The Truth About Butterflies, and spends much of her time reading and writing poetry. See more at nancystephan.com.

Son’s thoughts on experiencing sensory overload: Lights on, off, on, off, on off. Noise. People move. Many people. Stuff. Bright colors. Too much! Eyes hurt. Ears hurt. Head hurts. No. NO. NO!!!

Lynn Messing is the mother of a young man with autism. At some point in his youth she came to realize the reason he hated grocery store outings was that he felt his senses were being assaulted by the flickering fluorescent lights, the bright colours, movements, noises and scents. She then tried to make all grocery store runs when the stores were relatively empty and to make them as quick as possible. She submitted this story this month in honor of World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day which takes place on April 2nd.

The potatoes smell of lingering looks, hidden kisses, regret. She rinses away that night, but a layer of residue remains as her husband’s tires crunch gravel on the driveway.

Ellen Townsend is an art teacher and writer. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Flash Fiction Magazine, Fairfield Scribes, 50-Word Stories and others.

Eventually I slipped as the gang of peaks encircled me.
“Give me your soul,” they boomed.
I fought, briefly. Futile.

Dropping my pack, I stepped off the trail,
and joined them.

Tom lives with his young family in New Zealand and works as a primary school teacher. He has had a passion for stories ever since learning to walk and is currently working on a series of fantasy novels.