Positivity Bias

In the words of editor Gillian Burnes, these stories have “defiantly happy endings.” But what is your definition–or bias toward–what a happy ending means? I have two stories in this anthology, “Waiting for the Rapture” and “Not So Far, Far Away.” Even my own interpretation of the happy ending steered away from the tropes attached to those sickly sweet high notes we are taught to wish for. And what a treat to discover the wide range of interpretations from my fellow writers. Buy it at Littoral Books.

 

From “Not So Far, Far Away”

The moon rose higher. With each sleepless hour a disquieting loneliness welled inside the Prince until he could bear no more. At the height of his anxiety, he bolted upright and looked over toward the Squire with grave intention to rouse him. But how peaceful he appeared. His thick hands rested on his chest, which rose and fell with sleep’s slow breath. The moon’s silver fingers caressed his face with pale light. The Prince’s loneliness disappeared.

 

From “Waiting for the Rapture”

The waitress stared up at him either annoyed or perplexed, he couldn’t tell which. She straightened and set an ice-filled glass on the bar, pulled up a bottle of something clear and sparkling and began pouring it in. The ice slid against the angled interior of the tumbler. Rising bubbles captured the rose-colored light filtering through the bay window. She tipped her head sideways and frowned. “What a strange thing to say.”