issue 65

A lot has changed in the world since our last issue. That may the understatement of the year. But in the midst of it all, we’re still dedicated to putting out a flash fiction magazine, the best material that we can assemble from a host of talented writers, and this issue is no exception. To do this, we read with interest everything sent our way. It bears repeating (which is to say, I’ve said this before) that the magazine depends on the contributors, submitters, readers, and hardworking staff here at Vestal Review. We’re also building a presence on Bluesky—come visit us at @vestalreview.bsky.social.

Here’s what we’ve assembled for issue 65:

the aftermath of grieving for a mother

a covert alliance that the husband doesn’t suspect

flowers blooming after a failed pregnancy

an enchanted bottle whose healing powers are dubious

one precocious child’s view of adultery

babies and more babies

a primer on caring for the men in your life

an absolutely fantastic dating profile

one galvanizing incident glimpsed through a coffee shop window

anniversaries commemorating a child who never will be

romance in the face of a space-time paradox

a father who still hasn’t come home from the hospital

taking the long view on employment prospects

a sexual encounter set against memories of previous ones

how depression can actually make you more attractive

a character whose favorite dessert is a freshly vacuumed living room

Also an interview with an author skilled in poetry, fiction, and cartooning, and a review of a flash fiction collection that’s been years in the making.

David Galef

Editor in Chief