Just Desserts is inspired by a true story, however it is entirely a work of fiction. All names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Special thanks to Allie Crawford, Russell Smith, Danny Dien and Nicolas Forero from Foster.co for their support and editorial assistance. Thanks also to Adobe Firefly for helping…

Special thanks to Felicity Brand, Allie Crawford, Denny Dien, Theresa Murphy and Russell Smith, the very patient and helpful editors from Foster.co who helped me pull this together. I couldn’t have done it without you!!

“Shalene4272” boomed the voice over the loudspeaker. A young girl stood up and pressed her hands together, fingers pointing skyward in the universal sign of acceptance and gratitude. Her pile of nearby friends, absorbed in their devices, looked up and returned the gesture. Shalene walked to the door marked EVALUATION. She tried to relax into…

I can feel my body start to wake up. I don’t understand. I’m lying flat, on my back. I try wiggling my fingers. I bend my toes. Slowly I’m gaining control over my body, but not my mind.The thud, thud, thud sound that I was only dimly aware of begins to dominate my senses, like…

The grey-haired, hunched lady meandered through the flea market, pushing her empty shopping cart in front of her. Nothing much caught her eye. Leah was at the end of an aisle of stands filled with bric-a-brac when a gilt-framed mirror caught her eye. She leaned in for a closer look and was pleasantly surprised. Although…