Brittany Mackeown

“Pillows” by Brittany Mackeown

Submitted to Contest #243

Trigger Warnings: mental health, suicide/self-harmThe house was small, the sky blue paint faded to robin’s egg. Haden parked under the carport, the brakes squealing like a newborn. He came around and opened the door for Veronica. She had no idea who he was, and that wasn’t even an exaggeration. She slid out of the car, clutching the strap of her purse. The purse she didn’t remember getting because it hadn’t happened yet. Yesterday, she had been sixteen, sunbathing in her backyard and listening to cavity-inducing pop music from when she ...

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“Loveflush” by Brittany Mackeown

Warning: contains sexual references and strong language On a gray inhospitably cold day in February, 1977, Claire stood helplessly in the florist’s, trying to pick a bouquet out for her girlfriend. Her girlfriend. Her very own girlfriend. A girlfriend who she was getting flowers for on Valentine’s Day.  Which was the right call. Probably. Maria liked flowers, rig...

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“Endless Winter Vacation” by Brittany Mackeown

Submitted to Contest #189

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Kaori’s break was only halfway over, and she was already on her third cigarette. The butt glowed like the last rays of sunset, pale orange fingers splatter-painting a wall of violet-black. Kaori shivered in her jacket. Flannel did little good against an icy wind and snow melting down the nape of your neck. The weather had been nice today, for the ...

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“The Old Weight of Love” by Brittany Mackeown

Submitted to Contest #162

A wrinkled menu from Punjabi Place sat out on the counter, tucked between a cutting board and the stovetop. In poor handwriting, a short list of ingredients had been written next to palak paneer, denoting the ingredients for homemade tikka masala sauce. Some of the ink had rubbed off from handling, but all of the ingredients were still legible.      Navya squinted at the ingredients. They were all correct, and even though tikka masala wasn’t even close to her favorite “Indian” (tikka masala was more Br...

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“The Waiting” by Brittany Mackeown

Submitted to Contest #158

They could have stayed in the truck, which would have been smart. Snow swirled across the empty parking lot and more was coming down, sticking in their hair and melting on the cigarette they passed back and forth. Sam’s hands were numb. He looked down at them to make sure they weren’t turning blue. No sign of blue, just a little red and chapped like Ronin’s lips. Sam had wondered if they would feel hot like when you have a fever and your body’s trying to stitch you back together, but he hadn’t tried. Sam’s mom was around, deco...

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