Russell grabs his keys and heads out into the night. He drives
toward the coastline and parks his car on a mound of sand
surrounded by eager vines. He walks out to the empty
boardwalk pier and stands for a very long time, peering out
into the vast Atlantic Ocean. The moon’s faint glow
emanates in and out of the bypassing clouds. A harsh breeze
sends a shiver down Russell’s spine. He closes his eyes. A
slow patter of footsteps approach from directly behind him.
The feet come to a silent standstill. A gravelly voice croaks
out, “The seas look rough tonight.”
Zach Murphy is a Hawaii-born, multi-faceted writer who somehow ended
up in the often chilly but charming land of St. Paul, Minnesota. His stories
have appeared in Peculiars Magazine, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, WINK, and the
Wayne Literary Review. He lives with his wonderful wife Kelly and loves
cats and movies.