Issue of February 2, 2026

Life in Fives by Ella Torres — Cover story fiction life

Ella Torres is a Brazilian writer and translator and a graduate of Barnard College, where she earned a degree in English and Creative Writing. She writes editorials, fiction, and poetry, and is currently pursuing an MFA in fiction at The New School.

Reaching Out by Tom Koperwas — Fiction horror

A twist on an old legend...

The Modern Artist by Peggy Gerber — Fiction life

Peggy Gerber is the 2021 winner of The Open Contract Challenge. When she is not busy writing poetry, she likes to indulge her love of speculative fiction by crafting stories of time machines, friendly aliens, creepy glass dolls and other phantasmagoria. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, and all things magical.

The Smile by Deborah Blenkhorn — Flash fiction

Social media can keep you in touch...

Alexithymia by Jim Murdoch — Poem

"Sad, like, red, is a conveniencism..."

Dark River by Michael Minassian — Poem unrhymed

"You asked me to write a poem..."

Difficult Breathing by Ndaba Sibanda — Poem unrhymed

Strains. Pains. Cheerless.

Expedition to the Plague Planet by John Grey — Poem unrhymed

"...That insidious virus hasn’t gone anywhere..."

Hospital Corners by Peter Mladinic — Poem unrhymed

"This is a letter to the man who lashed out..."

Interment by Sanjeev Sethi — Poem unrhymed

"...that must have been another me..."

Morbid Hope by Richard LeDue — Poem unrhymed

"...gravestones are metaphysical name tags..."

My Sister Never Rests by John Dorroh — Poem unrhymed

"My sister’s a chair..."