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

Joy

I don't immediately notice that joy has made my heart its abode. The realization that joy knows my name comes rather randomly, while I'm on a call with a friend. The night sky is dark, but this time, my heart doesn't mirror it. I’m up this night, and my pillow isn't drenched with tears. Laughter pours out from the same lips sobs have escaped. I'm happy. I think back to yesternights I prayed for tomorrows like this. Those tomorrows are my todays. The moon isn't blue tonight; this joy isn't one-off. This joy can last forever, and I believe it.
Adebisi Amori is a creative writer from Ibadan, Nigeria. medium.com/@adebisiamori

NCAA Finals, 2016

Tough Love