Back in college, I was asked to write a short story only given one word: “ICE.” Read below what I came up with in my first ever published short story:

“A Summer’s Fix”

published in The Antidote

Just a sip, that’s all.

July’s blazing heat baked the house as Meagan went about preparing the drinks. Her shirt stuck to her back as she finished squeezing the last lemon and added a cup of sugar to the mix.

“Meagan what’s the holdup?”

No, it’s not ready.  “C- Coming babe!” He didn’t like waiting. Meagan frantically stirred the lemonade until all of the goops of sugar had spun away. She gingerly poured a glass, the entire time sweat raced down her neck. Just a sip, she thought, licking her lips. She ran to bring the glass outside, remembering to pull her sleeves tight up over her bruised wrists as she hurried. It’s better when he doesn’t see, she remembered. But as she grabbed the sliding door’s handle, she stopped. The ice. How could she forget? She rushed back to the kitchen and swung open the freezer door. There, pushed to the back in its perfectly concealed pack, her ice glimmered. She put on gloves and anxiously pulled out the tray. She popped four cubes into the lemonade, careful not to leave any traces out on the counter. No mistakes. You learned that from him. Meagan packed the remaining ice up, slid it back to its home underneath the peas, and ran out the door.

Frank was lying in a chair by the pool, bathing in the heat. He lifted his head when he saw her walk out, but not enough to meet her eyes.

“ ‘Bout damn time.” Meagan walked over and placed the glass by his side, praying he wouldn’t be too upset about the wait. He really didn’t like waiting. He snatched the glass without looking up, but she overlooked the typical discourtesy as her eyes had become lost in his drink. The sun had begun baking the glass, sending drops of chilled liquid trickling down the sides. The ice melted and swam laps around the cup’s brim. Meagan felt light-headed under the sun’s scorching watch. Maybe she could treat herself to a glass after, as there wasn’t usually enough for two of them.  Just a sip, that’s all.

Frank suddenly noticed his wife standing over and blurted out, “What the hell are you doing creeping over me like that? God, Meagan, you know how hard this week has been for me. Just give me some space, is that too much to ask?”

Meagan couldn’t break her gaze from the ice. Her throat was sand dry as she forced out, “Sorry b- babe, I’ll leave ya. Drink up before it g- gets too warm.” She took a few steps back, still staring down the ice. Just a sip, that’s all.

Frank rolled his eyes. “I’m a grown man. The day you stop breathing down my neck will be the happiest day of my life.” He drained the glass in a single pull. Droplets sprung from his lips and cascaded to the ground, each contact striking like a cannon. Frank finished and noticed Meagan still standing there, eyes affixed upon him. When he met her gaze with his own, she drew back from the scorn emanating in her direction

“Damn it, Meagan, are you deaf? What did I just say?” He stood up, towering over her. “For god’s sake just…” Frank stopped talking. For a moment he looked at her, puzzled. His face grew red, and he touched his throat with perplexion. Then his eyes filled with panic. His fingers clutched his throat, scraping, gasping for air. The glass shattered against the ground spewing ice across the patio. Frank fell his knees, still clinging at his throat, as veins burst forth from his neck. His body jerked and thrashed, and he stared back at Meagan until his last repulsive breath.

Meagan wasn’t looking back. She was still entranced by the ice. His footprints on the patio had already begun to disappear. She crouched down to get a better look and her lips formed a smile. Just a sip, that’s all. Meagan walked back to the kitchen and returned with a fresh, iceless glass in hand. The fallen ice had all but left her, leaving behind only a faint trail of water that soon too would be gone. She lifted the glass to her lips and relaxed her shoulders as she drew in the savor. Meagan didn’t notice when her husband had fallen silent behind her. All she thought about was how refreshing ice could be on a hot summer’s day.

Published (2021), The Antidote - Medical Humanities Journal