My whole life, I’ve loved summer. I love the smell of the earth warming, the promise of an afternoon thunderstorm, the opportunity to slow down and do nothing but dream. Summer always felt whimsical and a little more playful to me. My childhood summers were brighter, more vibrant than the rest of the year. This summer, the gravity of our country’s decisions and policies has felt particularly heavy, which has definitely played a role on the selection of fiction pieces—I wanted to find pieces that reflect my feelings for summer for this issue.

There’s a dream in “Stephen,” the slowing down of a moment in “Passenger,” vibrancy of imagery in “Constance, failing,” a sense of hope in “Forging warmth,” possibility and adventure in “Covenants,” and the impossible in “Vision.” Though the content of these stories may be heavy at moments, their ability to capture the truthfulness of our shared human condition, the power of family, and the chance connection with a stranger that showcases the emotions I take great comfort in when it feels like the world is falling down around me. I hope they fuel your hope this summer as well.

Elizabeth De Arcos
Senior Fiction Editor
The Citron Review