Five Minutes explores five minutes of a life in one hundred words. Five minutes is edited by Susanna Baird, with editorial support from managing editor Maria s. picone, newsletter editor kate meen, and founding reader bobbi lerman, plus our rotating team of guest readers, who you can meet in the latest newsletteR. Five Minutes was founded in October 2020, with the Salem (Mass.)-based writing group Carrot Cake Writers supplying the journal’s first pieces. We’d love to read your five. Submit here

14 Years Later

My son and I, we’ve been to so many doctors together. We had to go to several every week when he was little to try to get him better. Back then I didn’t know if he would be ok. Now, he sits next to me after an early checkup before school, tall and 14 years old. The morning is dim and damp with rain. He’s quiet but puts a song on for me to hear. Yes, he answers, smiling, tacos after school sound good. If I could take all these appointments away I would, but not the time we’ve shared.

 Ronit Plank's debut book is the memoir When She Comes Back. Her story collection is forthcoming from Sowilo Press. Find Ronit at www.ronitplank.com and on Twitter and Instagram @ronitplank.

Damage

Throwback