Cassie Poormokhtar

“Let’s Call It a Hunch?” by Cassie Poormokhtar

           Bartok whined with his wet nose pressed against my forearm. I slowly opened my eyes, resigned to the fact that sleeping in was off the table. I stretched, letting out a loud groan that caused excited small barks and lots of claws tapping on the wooden floor.            Rolling out of bed, I gave him a few pets before shuffling around for warm clothes so I could take him outside. He stayed under foot until his leash was on,...

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“The Trajectory of Your Destiny” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #75

“Hi, welcome to my video! If you’re watching this, you’re taking the first step toward your new life. Congratulations! This is a scary, but highly exciting time in your life. And I’ll be here to guide you through the process.”         Smiling so wide his too-white teeth caused a small glare from camera light, an overly tan man with a sleek haircut and a tank top stared at me through the screen. He faded into a white screen. A title card appeared: New Year, New You: A New Way to Experience Life! Instru...

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“Ten Most Effective Self-Care Tricks in this Unique Time! ” by Cassie Poormokhtar

It certainly hasn’t been a typical year, that’s for sure! Taking time out of your busy days for self-care in the middle of all this madness is *so* important. In a year like this, anything counts as self-care, right? I’ve tried out a lot of crazy things in hopes of finding solace during this wild time. I know I’ve had a lot of friends and readers asking how I’m keeping it together this year. I decided to reflect on the best ways I’ve found to deal with a year as yucky as this one! Here are the ten best self-care tips I’ve leaned into durin...

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“When in Doubt, Ask the Internet” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #73

She gave me a parrot for Christmas. But that’s a loose interpretation of what happened. What really happened was this: my doorbell rang, and upon answering it, I saw her waving from the street before she stepped into a red SUV with him and drove off into her new sunset.         I stared at the SUV’s taillights. I ran my hand over my five o’clock shadow and said, “Hope you’re happy, June.” “Hope you’re happy.” I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard my words repeated back to me in a familiar, bird...

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“Let's Be Young and in Love?” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #72

When we got assigned as project partners in English class, I never expected to care about who she was outside of class. I never expected to care about who she was in class if I’m being honest. If someone had told me two months ago, all I’d want to do is be wrapped up in the smell of Remington Wade’s freshly washed hair, I would have laughed for a good six weeks.            But now? Now I was in her bed, kissing her with my hand inching its way up under her shirt. Her hands gripped my hi...

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“Who Will Take Care of Vitamin?” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #70

Trigger warning: suicide   I was out walking the dog when she did it. I came home to find her, gun in limp hand, blood spilling from giant hole in her head. Grey matter splattered out across the refrigerator doors, slowly slipping down toward the tile flooring.            “At least she did it on the tile,” I said.            Vitamin was sniffing her head, and I realized we were contaminating the scene. Quickly attaching the leas...

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“Thanksgiving Rager” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #69

I paced inside the hotel room. We’d flown to Haley’s hometown to meet her family for the holidays. It would be our first Thanksgiving spent together as an official couple, and I hadn’t met her family yet.        Until two months ago, I hadn’t even realized she’d been so purposefully squirrelly about her family. When Bryce mentioned she had a younger brother, the information sent cold electricity through my veins. Brother? She’d never mentioned a brother. And then it dawned on me that she had never ment...

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“The Things You Can Accomplish in One Light Cycle” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #68

Sylvar took the last watch before dawn, allowing her to be up when the sun rose. She heard rustling behind her; it was Nuvo, awake, stretching. Their eyes met.         Crawling out of her bedroll, Nuvo joined Sylvar at the log in front of the long-gone fire. She rested her head on her shoulder; Sylvar placed her hand on her knee. They sat in silence as the sun slowly inched upward in the sky.         “Today’s the day.” Sylvar spoke softly to avoid waking the oth...

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“A Dragon's Lair for Me! ” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #67

Sylvar and Nuvo woke to the sounds of laughter. Qidan and Float were practicing down by the water. They were relaxing on the beach they’d found outside of the town of Gorros.         After spending several days helping Gemma, they’d decided a break was much needed before figuring out what to do about the dragon and the lux-ball Nuvo needed. Sylvar stretched and Nuvo rubbed her eyes; neither wanted to leave the warm sand beneath their bedrolls.         Slowly, Nu...

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“Escape With Me” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Anders laughed and picked up his d20. “You shouldn’t metagame anyway. You’re confused, but maybe Nuvo isn’t.”         I groaned. “Fine. What are my options then?”         Meeting Haley’s friends had turned out to be a real adventure all right. I chewed on my lip, trying to ignore the feeling of eyes on me.         He smiled. “All right, so Nuvo is outside of the gat...

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“Do Not Be an Ostrich for Halloween” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #65

        For thirty years, I ate candy corn with you. Now I watch you eat it without me. Setting off the motion sensors on your security system and taking down your dad’s Internet from time to time, those are the ways I haunt you.        I come to your dreams; sometimes you remember, other times, you don’t. The second night I was dead, I threw a photo from your dad’s dining table—the dining table that was up until two nights prior, my dining table, too—and for you...

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“Where Do You Go to Get Away?” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #64

        “Welcome to the oasis! I’m sure you’ll love it so much you’ll be here the rest of your life!” The red-haired woman smiled and held out a brochure. “I’m Tara. If you have any questions, I’ll be just down the road. The blue house, you really can’t miss it.”         I leaned against the open door to the condo and laughed. “The rest of my life? This is just my family’s timeshare. I’m here for spring break.”         She...

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“Apple Butter and Honey” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #63

        “Are we there yet?” I shifted in my seat. Jones had been driving for well over an hour, and she absolutely refused to tell me where exactly we were going.         “I didn’t borrow Alex’s car just to ruin the surprise. We’re close, I promise.” She smiled and looked back at the road.         “You’re driving really well for someone who went nearly ten years without a license.” I froze. “Holy shit, we’re in the wilder...

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“Some Heroes Read Books” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #62

         Above my desk, two sentences loomed over me. They had been painted in my bedroom before I was even born; it was the one thing I wasn’t allowed to change in the room. According to my parents, these two sentences were my destiny.        “At seventeen, this young hero will save the world. At twenty-one, she will be mourned by all for she will die a legend.”         My seventeenth birthday was tomorrow. I was...

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“Everybody Lies on the Internet” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #61

I carried it around for a week, picking at the seal absentmindedly before setting it aside. I’d been out of high school for years. What could they possibly want? A list of things I knew it wouldn’t be: a lost report card dooming me to repeat senior year, a demerit, a job offer, a reminder to order or pick up a yearbook, a letter of recognition. Finally, I ripped it open: cardstock. An invitation?   I read it several times. “Fuck. Ten years?” What the hell had I done with ten years? Nothing. I’d seen what my classmates were up to onl...

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