"Pleiades," by Anjali Sachdeva

The complexity of identity posed by identical twins is intriguing. You no doubt have encountered those kids who no one can tell apart except by the hidden mole in the small of the back, the kids who traded places and tricked teachers, friends or lovers. On a more serious level, what does it mean when twins who are separated by miles feel an intense emotional connection or physical pain? What really is the nature of intimate communication? Sachdeva’s story explores these connections and the fear of death among seven sisters. Leaning on the Greek myth of the Pleiades this story evokes a mysterious sensibility surrounding emotional connection and destiny. There’s a mix of the believable and the truly unexpected, that kind of moment most of us look for in short stories. Read it here in Gulf Coast Journal.

"The Man in the Moon", by Suzanne Grabowski

This story has a surprising use of the word ‘whore’ and winds its way to joy. In the fog of the aftermath of a C-section childbirth, the narrator admits to finding the anesthesiologist ‘kind of sexy’. The light tone in the writing borders on humor and carries emotional weight with delicacy. Ending on a magical moment, the story offers emotional wholeness when the narrator dances with a name-less child at a wedding. It will touch your heart. Read it here in Gulf Coast.