Pseudopod 236: Dearest Daughter
Show Notes
Music in the promo is “The Gift” by Joe Mieczkowski. See more about Joe here
Dearest Daughter
by Kate Marshall
When you call me to your room, we both know you’re going to die. Your bones are so frail I think they’ll crack under the weight of the thin cotton sheet; I think your skin will burn under the harsh lights of the hospital room. You push a shoebox toward me with a hand so withered the bones shine through. A letter for every year of my life, you say. You try to smile and your lips crack, bloodless, more like torn paper than broken skin.
“Don’t open them early,” you say, voice weak like it’s forced through cheesecloth. “Don’t read them too soon.”
After the funeral I almost tear them open all at once. I have the first one in my hand, my finger working its way under the flap, but I force myself to put it back, close the box. I wait.
About the Author
Kate Marshall
Kate Marshall is the author of the Young Adult novel I AM STILL ALIVE (Viking Children’s), coming in 2018. Her science fiction and fantasy fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Crossed Genres, and elsewhere. She writes historical romance as Kathleen Kimmel, and works in the video game industry as a writer and occasional designer. Her love of books runs through every aspect of her career; she serves as both a developmental editor and a cover designer for fellow authors.
She lives outside of Seattle with her husband, a dog named Vonnegut, a cat named after a cylon, and a baby. They all conspire to keep her on her toes.
You can find Kate’s design work at KateMarshallDesigns.com and her historical romance at KathleenKimmel.com.
About the Narrator
Mignon Fogarty
Mignon Fogarty is more widely known as Grammar Girl, and her knowledge can be accessed at Quick And Dirty Tips.com.
