Ashlyn Kimball

WINCO

WeneedHaveBEEPyouHowBREADBEEPMILKseenher?HEAVYCREAMBEEPareyouWherea
reyou!?BEEPWATERComeoverhereBEEP!TodayICEBOLONGASitDown!BEEPBANANAS
Wow! you got a great deal on the meat!
SLAMsqueakBEEPTSSHSLAMtaptaptapBEEPHHMMSLAMcoughSLAMBEEPtaptaptapclan gsnapsmackBEEPSHRIEKcoughCRYthumpthumpthumpBEEPsnapMOANclang!squeakBEEPT SSHsplatBEEPknockknockknockHMMMBEEP
Would you like any bags today?
BANG|BANG|BANG|BANG|BANG|BANG
R U N.
blurry. afraid. knee pain. aching soles. concrete. blacktop. i’m holding a stack of bags.
i can’t breathe.
the air is thick and hot. I l
Breathe In And Out Breathe In And Out.
i cant.
pick up the phone. CALL MOM.
Fast.
Heavy.
Breathe In And Out Breathe In And Out.
“THEY FIRED GUNSHOTS!”
“WHAT!? WHERE ARE YOU?”
|BANG|
“GET DOWN! I’M ON MY WAY”

Bio: Ashlyn Kimball is a nonbinary queer individual majoring in English with a focus on literature. They enjoy creative writing and art on their free time. Currently they are employed at Winco but are working toward attaining their teaching credentials.