by Jake Zawlacki

He always stared out the window. The doctors said he was completely blind but he managed to find the window. They’d walk the rocking chair in behind him. He said he saw the multicolored roofs, Joseph’s coat covering the earth. He said they were the most beautiful things. Hot pink and violet and gold and orange and red and indigo. A rainbow toppled over, its shards forever staining the tops of homes.

He looked at me on his last day and said, I wish you could see them. His eyes orbs filled with smoke and blood and oil. I can.


Jake Zawlacki currently lives in the Kyrgyz Republic where he studies the health impact of traditional cradle board techniques. He has been published, or has forthcoming publications in 101words, Riggwelter, Eunoia Review, Aphelion, and Litro. You can follow his research and read about his strange life at jzawlacki.com.