Mark A. Kuchta's Page

Back of fingers caress cheek, hand cradling back of head, fingers lightly tugging hair. Smiling, gentle kiss, anticipation, joining, gasp of air, tensing, relaxing. Warm, smooth, rhythm beginning, beat missed, found, harmony. Breath becomes labored, forehead on shoulder, cheek against temple. Perspiration beginning, skin slick, pungent odor, nostrils flare, hearts racing. Vision blurring, ears hum, bodies in unison, motion erratic, approaching climax. Minds cloud, higher consciousness, straining… Continue

Amber had asked him to promise that they would take a walk each day, no matter the length. Donald issued promises sparingly, as if they were very large equations that demanded great time and effort. He thought, she insisted, he promised. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they walked, Thursday they missed, and Friday she was taken from him in an accident less than a mile from their home.

For a long period of time he wandered a vast emptiness, one exit clearly marked, the other faintly lit, beckonin… Continue

Climbing into the crook of a tree always made Jeran feel like he was being cradled in a giant man’s hand.

His mother would warn him again and again “you can climb any tree you want, but not the one in the front yard, the branches are too small and you will break it.”

On his twelfth birthday his mom busy canning, he ran to the tree wrapped his arms around it and immediately felt a white hot flash of pain erupt in his left arm. Running into the house his mother surveyed the damage and looked at… Continue

Alan had been driving eighteen-wheelers for about nine years, never having been involved in a serious accident. Running behind because of his last stop he was doing those things drivers do to stay awake: smoking, singing, winding the window down hoping the cool air would coax him out of his lethargy. He thought he had been looking at something in his mirror when his head snapped up realizing that he had dozed off. He saw as if in slow motion two boys in the back seat of the car, muscle memory sl… Continue