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

Lisa

I dreamt of her the night before. No idea why. Last I knew she was living 900 miles away. She got married in a cave. Now divorced. It’s been at least fifteen years since I didn't show up for our trip to Maine. I couldn't even stomach the idea. Then at the supermarket, there she is in the produce section, on the other side of the lemons. My brain skips a beat between shock and fear, worried she saw me. I avert my eyes, rush through the shopping, drive home to my family. The pandemic lockdown comes the next day.

Benjamin Kieran is a stay-at-home parent who sneaks off to his attic and writes during stolen moments. Find him on Twitter @fictionfree.

Leftovers

Kismet?