Wedding Dresses and Eggs (Anne, Samantha, and Becky)
Inspiration Words: Candy and Surreal Anne looked around her at the hotel room in Hunan province. Samantha sat on a chair staring at the door where Becky had just walked out. “Can you believe our little Becky is a bride?” Samantha said the words as if she was in shock....
Where’s the Path? (Paul)
Inspiration Words: Bell and salary Paul stared at the computer screen before leaning back and rubbing his eyes. It was 8 p.m., and the office was still full. Most people were sending emails, contacting customers in the West, and trying to hammer out the details of...
Numb the Ache (College Student)
Inspiration Words: Mercy and Bond I ended the call with my mom and climbed into my bed. I’d been trying to call her more frequently, after what happened. Inside the mosquito net, I felt like maybe I could hide from my roommates. It was the middle of the day, but since...
Desperate Prayers (Ellie and Carina)
Inspiration Words: Red and Well “I’m just so lonely, Grandma.” Ellie tried to find a comfortable position on the hard, wooden sofa with her feet propped up on the coffee table. She balanced her phone between her knees so her arms wouldn’t get tired holding it and...
Just Keep Singing (Anne and Johnson)
Inspiration Words: Shimmer and Bonus “Let’s go to KTV! My family is going next week, and they invited us to join them.” Johnson and Anne sat sharing a bowl of Ma La Xiang Guo (mah lah sseeahng gwoh), a dish of meat and vegetables that had been stir fried together....
Blank Slate (Wang Mingge)
Inspiration Words: Bottle and Disappear Wang Mingge (wahng meeng guh) stared at the piece of chalk in her hand that was poised over the blackboard. She knew her students were watching her, and her heart pounded. How do you spell hierarchy? Is it purely phonetic or is...
Pressing on to a Better Life (Street Cleaner)
Inspiration Words: Hand and Consider Twice, he pushed the pink broom methodically away from him before pausing to sweep the leaves and other debris into the wide dustpan. He didn’t glance up at the cars passing him or the bikes that swerved around him. Brush. Brush....
Broken Mosaic (Tan Shuwen)
Inspiration Words: Butterfly and Card Tan Shuwen (tahn shoo wuhn) lay on her bed. It was late Tuesday morning, but she hadn’t left her bed since Sunday night. That horrible night. Against her will, her thoughts returned to those moments at the restaurant. She tried to...
Through Your Eyes (Anne and Johnson)
Inspiration Words: Pumpkin and Scream Anne sipped her pumpkin spice latte and glanced at Johnson, who sat at the table across from her. Then she noticed a couple with a small child walk up to the Starbucks counter. Anne watched them gaze into the pastry display before...
Journey of a Mooncake (Mooncake)
Inspiration Words: Fortnight and Contemplate I have been made for a high and noble purpose. I am one of the special foods in China, and I have the wonderful task of bringing joy to many people during the Mid-Autumn Festival as they enjoy eating me and admiring the...