Andrew Cyr

Coreen was a friend to trustif ever there was a friend to trust.She lived next door, and we’d talkover glasses of wineon the back deck some evenings.Coreen wore another woman’s ring.But we’d been friends for forever.We’d attended the same Washington high school,and in our mid-forties, I lacked a life partner.Coreen set me up with a gal from work.I juggled my reservations.Coreen … [Read more...] about Blind Date Twist, By: Andrew Cyr

The plows used each sideof the road to pile snow.Ephrata was a small towntucked inside a farming community.I arrived home from work.I set my keys on the coffee tableand moved to the kitchen.The lantern that hung abovethe kitchen table was on.Something, I didn’t know what,had me entangled with mercy.But mercy and I had never seen eye to eye.I flipped through envelopes when one … [Read more...] about Have Mercy, By: Andrew Cyr

I knew Eleanore was guilty.But I did my defense attorneything and got her off.“Not guilt,” the judge read.The detectives didn’t know,but I knew where Eleanore hid the gun.But she had money—even more moneywith her husband dead.My fridge resembled a ghost town,with nothing to shift to look for something else.My shelves lacked canned food, and my lackof cash outlined my pockets … [Read more...] about No Defense, By: Andrew Cyr

Fall had fallen into place,dishing swaths of gold and red leavesthat crunch beneath dead grassand unevenly poured sidewalks.The thinning maple treeswaved skeletal branches.It was a brisk Seattle afternoon.A sadistic thief stuck me in the heartwith heartache’s arrowfrom a bow of contempt.She declared victory, assaultingmy shame as she wore a flannel,long brown boots,and lipstick … [Read more...] about Twin Sister Confusion, By: Andrew Cyr

Like a cold, I caught love in seasonsunbecoming of the attireI’d worn for unknown reasons.The sun glared from a cerulean skyand split down the middle of the living room.Chills of indecision sweptthrough my curled fingers, typingmessages on dating apps.Hannah’s profile captivated mewith its allusions to bandsI listened to and books that I’d read.Too good to be true.Or was it … [Read more...] about Love Skips Seasons, By: Andrew Cyr