{"id":292,"date":"2026-07-28T17:37:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T17:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/index.php\/short-stories\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T22:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T22:20:16","slug":"short-stories","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/short-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Short Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Monoglogue-Plain.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Monologue was published by <em>The Closed Eyes Open <\/em>magazine. To read this story follow the link below and scroll down to March 2026. &#8220;Monologue&#8221; is the sixth story in the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/theclosedeyeopen.com\/mayas-micros-ed-37\/\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"844\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited.jpg 844w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terror-3-edited-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A horrific tale of the essential doubts that assail you when you step out of the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/terror-flash-fiction\/\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Contact.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disobeying school policies can have disastrous consequences, especially when you are practicing forbidden magic. You don&#8217;t know who you might inadvertently contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/contact-fantasy-flash-fiction\/\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Stones-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lyrical exploration of time and the memories that humans leave behind to become part of the landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/old-stones-flash-fiction\/\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Our-Own.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This short story is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/\">Talking Rivers<\/a>&#8216;s project <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/through-the-eyes-of-rivers\">&#8220;Through the Eyes of Rivers.&#8221;  <\/a>The story is told from the point of view of Gray Jays, the Adirondack boreal trickster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/our-own\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sticks-and-Stones.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A short story told from the point of view of Beavers, the weavers of sticks, mud and water. This piece is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/\">Talking Rivers<\/a>&#8216;s project <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/through-the-eyes-of-rivers\">&#8220;Through the Eyes of Rivers.&#8221;  <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/sticks-mud\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time--600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Layers-of-Time-.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A short story told from the point of view of Sphagnum Moss, the guardian of boreal wetlands. This lyrical piece is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/\">Talking Rivers<\/a>&#8216;s project <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/through-the-eyes-of-rivers\">&#8220;Through the Eyes of Rivers.&#8221; <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/layers-of-time\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Crystal-Clear.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This short story is told from the point of view of Freshwater Mussels, the lungs of rivers and is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/\">Talking Rivers<\/a>&#8216;s project <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/through-the-eyes-of-rivers\">&#8220;Through the Eyes of Rivers.&#8221; <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingrivers.org\/crystal-clear\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I-Remember-When-copy.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything changes, and sometimes for the better. In this autobiographical piece, Blake Lavia describes how their home town changed when the municipality banned pesticides.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingwings.art\/i-remember-when\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Lake-Told-Me.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingwings.art\/the-lake-told-me\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-black-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:64px;padding-bottom:64px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abc1a433 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dance-with-Me.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lost in a snowy forest, this short story&#8217;s protagonist has an encounter that they are not expecting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:-25px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingwings.art\/dance-with-me\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.brownrice.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/When-We-Became-Trees.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes human hubris can lead to unexpected consequences. This speculative short story shares what happens when humans become trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-71b3a0b1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingwings.art\/when-we-became-trees\">Read<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monologue was published by The Closed Eyes Open magazine. To read this story follow the link below and scroll down to March 2026. &#8220;Monologue&#8221; 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, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":563,"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292\/revisions\/563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blakelavia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}