Latest Stories
Most recently published stories on Vocal.
The Calm Before Nothing
I woke with a headache in the middle of the night in 1981, the kind that seemed to have hands and knew exactly where to press. It was a hot summer, the kind that made the curtains hang like tired flags and the air taste faintly of metal. For four weeks the thermometer had refused to sink below thirty-five degrees Celsius, even in the shade. The sky had been a relentless blue bowl without cracks.
By Dagmar Goeschick20 days ago in Fiction
Valentine’s Day ended, but the quiet acts of care we choose on ordinary days are what keep love truly alive
February arrives with red windows, crowded flower shops, last-minute chocolate aisles, and a strange urgency,as if love has a deadline. Messages must be sent. Plans must be made. Reservations must be secured before someone else proves their affection more convincingly.
By SoftlyWished20 days ago in Families
Ginkgo Leaves, 12/11/2025
Forget touching grass. Just stand under a tree shedding its leaves. Grass brushes. Leaves slap. I'm waiting for my ride, the two of us off to enjoy happy hour at a cozy local restaurant. Traffic's held her up though, so I'm standing in a swirl of leaves and sniffling through a nipped nose.
By Nagisa K.20 days ago in Photography
