Andrew Cyr

I stared out the windowas though I alone,among the prayersmy lips excused,could find you in a bar.I’m sure I wouldn’t haveto look too hard.Dad recognizing mewould be a first.I had a fast carwith a suspended license.I’d go.You don’t believe me.Hell, most times,I don’t believe in myself.But this time, I’d searchtaverns with busted lightshanging from crooked signs.Or dive bars; … [Read more...] about Tavern Memories, By: Andrew Cyr

Lacy flakes drifted out of the skyand slowly turned the landscape white.I was in the Pacific Northwestfor New Year’s. Alysha wanted to meetfor the weekend at our family’s vacation home.Tufts of dead grass poked up through the snow.I traversed to catch my footingover last night’s accumulation of snow.It took elbow grease to open the mailboxas icicles minded their own businessand … [Read more...] about New Year’s Eve Twist, By: Andrew Cyr

I’m desensitized to the burning flagson highways or kids spread acrossJFK Airport for a cause they don’tcare about because if they did,maybe they’d protest for kidskilled in Yemen.What’s that?Oh, the silence echoes its stillnessthrough the streets.Bombs missed guided targets,collapsing Bethlehem bridges.Names penned on bombsexploding dreams, but a flag,well, it was still waving … [Read more...] about A Death To Bury, By: Andrew Cyr

The winter sun’s hue dimmed from a bright yellow to a deeper gold as it sank below the horizon. I fit Nancy’s luggage in my trunk. I cupped my hands, blew warmth into my fingers, and closed the trunk. I was taking a woman from Yakima to Seattle. The three-hour drive might take longer, with light snow expected. It was the weekend of Nancy’s wedding. I worked as a police … [Read more...] about Wedding Derailed, By: Andrew Cyr

I held the icy rail and scaled the stairsto Natalia’s apartment.My windburned cheeks stung.My chapped lips cracked.I doubled over, placing my handson my knees to catch my breath.I put my ear to the dooras a deafening silence hung thick.I knocked.I nibbled on my thumb.No movement.No answer.I dug into my pockets,and retrieved a spare key,twisted a key in her doorknob,and the … [Read more...] about Switched Locks, By: Andrew Cyr