Darla slams the front door. Home. Finally. She greets the cat and the plant, tickles them where she thinks they like it. Says: “How I’ve missed you two!”

Darla feeds herself and Ms. Boots, waters Mr. Fern, then settles between them on the sill. They stare out the big window.

Karen writes in a basement. Her work is in Bandit Fiction, Reflex Fiction, Sundial Magazine, The Disappointed Housewife, The Drabble, Potato Soup Journal, Unstamatic, Roi Fainéant Lit Press, Five Minute Lit, and others. She/her. Follow at @MeKawalker883.