from Litmosphere

Decoy

Winner of the 2024 Lit/South Awards

The Myrtle Beach Fire Department responds first. Alice is on the bathroom floor holding a towel to Lionel’s head, his spindly legs bent into the cramped space. “Talk to me,” she says. His eyes flutter. His ragged breath smells of sickness. She hears people come through the front door and calls out. “We’re back here,” she yells and struggles to her feet. They give him oxygen, bandage his head and lift him onto an orange stretcher. She watches through tunnel vision, hears herself give his name and date of birth, tells them in a trembling voice that he has lung cancer. No, she’s not his wife. Do you know what happened? She shakes her head. Read the full story