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

The Black House

I remember at 4 years old, walking through an unfamiliar house. It was loud and dark. Where’s my mom? I remember thinking. I don’t recall speaking aloud. I walked from room to room, the lights were off. I panicked and picked up my pace, searching. At the end of a dark hallway, a room was illuminated. I want my mom, my mind yelled. I entered the kitchen and found her. My brothers and I disliked visits to that house. I called it the black house. Recently, I found an old photo and discovered that the house it was painted white.

E.M. Panos is addicted to reading and traveling. She lives in Salem with her wife.

Super Moon

Garden Party