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Laura Taylor

Inside Out

In the past, I’ve always tried my best to be upfront and honest regarding my battle with anxiety. I believe it important, in a world where mental health issues are so often mishandled, shunned, or outright blasphemed, to keep up an open conversation about the very real struggles, successes…

Seasons Change

Gone are the dog days. Bathing suits, shorts and sundresses give way to sweaters, jeans and boots. The world, cast for months in solid green, yields to an array of color. Red, yellow, plum and brown weave a warmth into the atmosphere, paint scenery that takes away breath, a visual…

Pep Talk

Remember. You are the only person who can give these people life. Your mind, your memories, your thoughts and desires for them, none of it comes alive unless you make it so. The demon with the power to summon shadows, the one who, deep inside, has the capacity for love…

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

  “Never underestimate the importance of small things.” – Mrs. Elm (Matt Haig, The Midnight Library) I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit of a book hoarder. My TBR list is endless, and yet somehow I still seem to add to it…

Truths and Lies

He greeted me with a familiar smile and a kiss on the lips in the airport lobby, reached for my bag and wheeled it out to his truck. My heart leapt at the sight of him. Butterflies scattered underneath my skin and danced in my stomach, and I thought, sitting…

The Cheater

Tangled limbs and rumpled sheets freeze me in place. “What-what is this?” The question breaks over the lump in my throat, weak and hoarse. Curses fly, frantic hands grasp at linens as I yank them from the bed. Two familiar, panic-stricken eyes meet mine. Guilt drives apologies, but…

Closed Doors (Fiction)

Masked guests litter a dance floor as ancient steps whisk fabric across stone. Some prefer the company of gossip and libations; others hide in alcoves and rooms with locked doors. A few, myself included, come to play. Moonlight illuminates the halls, lights upon a distraction. Spiraled curls meet her bare…

Private Eye

When someone of importance commits an act of nefarious nature, the world of gossip erupts. The worse the act, the better the talk, and, for me? The better the pay. I fiddle with the settings on my camera. Newly manicured nails strum a nameless tune, reflect my impatience. “You sure…

Fate Seekers

I grew wings last night. Stark white and pristine, the pair sits heavy on my shoulders. Lightweight fabric wraps the curves of my body, shimmering under bright lights that frame a room void of color. Recollection of my arrival escapes my grasp. Just a dream, I tell myself. You’re…

Slow Cooker Italian Pork and Peppers

Hey friends. I hope this finds you well. Life is kinda weird right now, isn’t it? In an effort to distract myself from what’s going on in the world outside my door, I’ve spent much of the last week or so focusing on my…