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

Stolen Glances

Haylie told me to wait for someone who looks at me the way Flynn Rider looks at Rapunzel, an expression I saw on your face post-show at Buffalo Wild Wings. The corners of your mouth barely upturned, your eyes alert but soft, your head shifting away quickly so I wouldn't catch you. I was pretending to watch wrestling but I was only looking at the screen because I could see you in my periphery and I didn't think you would stare at me if I was staring at you. I only wished my Disney-esque romance could happen somewhere slightly classier.

Kat Abdallah (she/her) is a Palestinian-American writer, teacher, and advocate for refugees. She is currently a PhD student of creative nonfiction at Oklahoma State University. Instagram: @kat.d.abdallah

My First Time

Popcorn