July 23, 2024

Just Not Touch

By L. Soviero

The dead man remembers the warm sheets from the dryer in winter, the velvety softness of the fur behind his dog’s ear, the calluses in the wood floor against the ones on his feet. He remembers when his wife rolled over to him in bed that morning, the sun gold rushing into the room, her eyes all the chaos of the universe, her whispering in her dreamy voice, “would you rather lose sight or sound?” And how he couldn’t answer her, how he ran his fingers through her hair, would have buried himself under it like a blanket, so he could sleep for the rest of time.

About the Author

L. Soviero is a writer from Queens living in Melbourne. She has been nominated for Best Microfiction, Best of the Net, Best Small Fictions, the Shirley Jackson Award and the Wigleaf Top 50. Her work has been included in Best Small Fictions (2021 and 2024) and Best Microfiction (2024). Her chapbook Wandering Womb made the Masters Review 2023 Chapbook Open shortlist. Check out more at lsoviero.com.

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