The veteran looked down at the thimble-sized hole in his coat. Despite washing and rain, the hole was ringed with muted copper. His eyes unfocused as he recalled the memory. . . . He felt the shot bef…

“You’re not disappointed?” The veteran ground his boot into the dirt. He took a long time in answering. “I’d have to care to be disappointed.” Her eyes shimmered and became soft. “How can you say that…

Sunlight filtered down through the green stained glass canopy of a forest in late summer. Motes hung in the air like much sea-life. Time followed suit and slowed pace to a viscous crawl. A young man w…