Monologue was published by The Closed Eyes Open magazine. To read this story follow the link below and scroll down to March 2026. “Monologue” is the sixth story in the list.

A horrific tale of the essential doubts that assail you when you step out of the house.

Disobeying school policies can have disastrous consequences, especially when you are practicing forbidden magic. You don’t know who you might inadvertently contact.

A lyrical exploration of time and the memories that humans leave behind to become part of the landscape.

This short story is part of the Talking Rivers‘s project “Through the Eyes of Rivers.” The story is told from the point of view of Gray Jays, the Adirondack boreal trickster.

A short story told from the point of view of Beavers, the weavers of sticks, mud and water. This piece is part of the Talking Rivers‘s project “Through the Eyes of Rivers.”

A short story told from the point of view of Sphagnum Moss, the guardian of boreal wetlands. This lyrical piece is part of the Talking Rivers‘s project “Through the Eyes of Rivers.”

This short story is told from the point of view of Freshwater Mussels, the lungs of rivers and is part of the Talking Rivers‘s project “Through the Eyes of Rivers.”

Everything changes, and sometimes for the better. In this autobiographical piece, Blake Lavia describes how their home town changed when the municipality banned pesticides.

The world has changed, but the Lake remembers human society and all the mistakes humans made. This short stories shares how the beings that remained understand what we, humans, have left behind.

Lost in a snowy forest, this short story’s protagonist has an encounter that they are not expecting.

Sometimes human hubris can lead to unexpected consequences. This speculative short story shares what happens when humans become trees.