J.G. Chayko

I reached out and grabbed the metal lever to the door of my apartment building, twisting it downwards to release the latch; a searing pain tore through my left wrist. I recoiled, as if the door handle had stung me. The pain lasted a few minutes than waned. I shrugged it off, continued on, making…

RA infiltrated my body like a sly adversary of war, waking me in the dead of night with scorching fever streaming through my blood; inflamed joints surfaced, swollen in the battle against my own immune system; but the war waging in my body is only a modest scrimmage in the light of the soldiers that…

Wrought iron railings with elaborate designs snaked around low-level balconies hanging over the narrow streets. Bright flowers swaddled the terraces, their pungent perfume mingling with the slightly boggy scent wafting in from the Mississippi. Small piles of garbage bags sitting on curbs emitted a stale bouquet that drifted on the breeze and melted away over…

  I swept along with the crowd surging down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The scents of booze, garbage, fried cooking and perfume mingled in the air, surrounding me with their confounding aromas. Live music blared from bars, street musicians and stages.The party was in full swing. I slipped away from the swell of people onto…

It’s a Sunday night on Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. The house is cosy, warmed by the radiating heat of the oven; winter vegetables tinted with the color of autumn leaves are steaming on stoves. We sit in front of a flickering fireplace, chatting with family, and sipping wine to warm our blood. On a chill…

I reached for the pen to sign the visa slip; it frittered out of my hand and launched across the aisle, landing with a tiny clatter at the foot of another table. I muttered an apology to the server as I reached for a glass of water, but my swollen fingers refused to grip its…

I tossed and turned, the springs of my mattress jabbing into my hip bones, grinding against my joints. My shoulders buzzed with a lack of circulation. My neck ached and I spent several nights switching pillows. Nothing seemed to alleviate the discomfort and pain. I flipped over and heard the fated crack of a spring…

The frozen bagel rolled out of the bag and wobbled before crashing down onto the counter. Bits of ice clung to the exterior. I picked it up and put it on the cutting board – its rigid body struck the hard plastic like a jackknife hitting cement. I sighed, wondering why all the gluten-free breads…

We drove the through the Okanagan valley for a weekend getaway in wine country. The mountains, smothered with verdant trees and plant life, accompanied our car alongside the narrow winding roads. The heat of the sun poked through the peaks and bored down on the dark roof of our car. We emerged from the cover…