small mug

by Bryan Vale

later, 

after the dread has passed, 

i will enjoy my memories 

of a small child drinking tea 

out of my espresso mug. 

because you see, 

you don't know what it's for. 

red porcelain with a sloping 

exterior and a curving handle. 

small enough for a single 

espresso, sparkling water on 

the side — 

but you think it's for you. 

just your size. 

“i'm a lady,”

you inform us, sipping lavender 

tea mixed with water out of

the tiny mug that sits in both your hands. 

of course you are. 

soon your brother 

will be out of the hospital.

Bryan Vale is a writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He writes fiction, poetry, and (for some reason) technical documentation. His work has appeared in Trash to Treasure Lit, Unstamatic Magazine, Moving Force Journal, and Short Fiction Break. Follow Bryan on Twitter and Instagram: @bryanvalewriter