The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Eleven

The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Eleven – The Little Parade The first light of morning filtered through the soft curtains of Cradle Cottage, bathing the nursery in a gentle golden glow. Outside, birds chirped happily among the trees, and somewhere in the distance, a flute played a light melody that drifted on the … Read more

Subject #7412 – Chapter One

Subject #7412 – Chapter One – Intake The room was too quiet. That was the first thing he noticed. Not silent—there was the soft hum of filtration systems somewhere overhead, and the subtle tick of a shifting light panel—but unnaturally quiet. No voices. No footsteps. No doors opening or closing. The kind of quiet that … Read more

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter Three

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter Three – Bathroom Denial in Public Daniel had always hated busy stores. The chaos of voices, flickering fluorescent lights, and the rustle of shopping carts made him feel claustrophobic, like he was being slowly buried under other people’s lives. But today was different—not just because it was Saturday and the … Read more

The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Ten

The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Ten – The Enchanted Wardrobe The next morning dawned misty and cool, with pearly light streaming through Cradle Cottage’s nursery curtains. Eliot stirred beneath his quilt, his pacifier still gently bobbing as he sucked in his sleep. His bunny was nestled against his side, and the slight crinkle … Read more

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter Two

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter Two – The Quiet Aftermath Daniel barely spoke on the way home. The rain had let up by the time they pulled into the driveway, but the car still felt damp with tension. He sat with one hand on the passenger-side door handle, the other resting stiffly in his lap, … Read more

What Remains Between Us – Chapter Three

What Remains Between Us – Chapter Three – Quiet Adjustments Mark awoke before the sun. The house was silent except for the low hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the soft shifting of the old pipes in the walls. A faint golden wash stretched across the bedroom ceiling, not quite dawn but not … Read more

What Remains Between Us – Chapter Two

What Remains Between Us – Chapter Two – The Quiet in the Room The air in the house had taken on a strange stillness. Not silence — no, there were always sounds: the low hum of the fridge, the muted creak of settling floorboards, the soft murmur of the TV left on in the background. … Read more

The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Nine

The Velvet Cradle of Everwood – Chapter Nine – A Cozy Picnic by the Singing Stream The next morning, Eliot woke to the soft sound of birdsong drifting in through the open window. The rain was gone, and the sky was a warm blue, dotted with drifting clouds. Sunlight filtered through the leaves outside Cradle … Read more

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter One

Mommy Knows Best – Chapter One – Close Call at the Café Daniel hated how aware he’d become of every drop of pressure in his bladder. Not long ago, he wouldn’t have given it a second thought—he would’ve just held it until the next convenient moment. But today? Today it was the only thing he … Read more

What Remains Between Us – Chapter One

What Remains Between Us – Chapter One – The Silence Between Us The first time Mark wet himself during the day, it happened so quietly that he thought, for a fleeting moment, he had imagined it. He had been standing in the kitchen, leaning forward slightly as he waited for the kettle to boil. His … Read more