Machine Gun/Latté
Amy Grech
Amy Grech
Poised and ready,
a tall, lean
National Guard
soldier, dressed in
full camouflage regalia,
stands at attention
on the main concourse
of Penn Station in
New York City.
In his right hand
he clutches a latté,
frothy and warm,
in a white
Starbucks cup.
His left hand
hovers above
a machine gun,
slung over his shoulder,
cold commanding,
sleek and menacing.
His trigger finger twitches,
roused by a jolt of caffeine.
Fuel for the fight.
Amy Grech has sold over 100 stories to various anthologies and magazines, including: 10 by 10 Flash Fiction Stories, Apex Magazine, Even in the Grave, Gamut Magazine, Microverses, Punk Noir Magazine, Roi Fainéant Press, Tales from the Canyons of the Damned, Yellow Mama, and many others. Alien Buddha Press published her poetry chapbook, A Shadow of Your Former Self. She is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association who lives in Forest Hills, Queens. You can connect with her on Bluesky: @amygrech.bsky.social, Medium: https://medium.com/@crimsonscreams, X: https://x.com/amy_grech, or visit her website: https://www.crimsonscreams.com.