Arthur quietly closed the doctor's office door. He unfolded the prescription slip and grimaced. "Look at all this. Where am I supposed to find the money for these brand-name meds?" He shoved the papers into his pocket and trudged toward the bus stop. He had come into the city late yesterday. His lower back had been killing him for a week, keeping him up at night and leaving him doubled over in pain. He'd finally decided to see a specialist. He wasn't one for doctors, but when the pain gets that bad, you don't have much choice. He had crashed ...

Grace didn't remember how she got home. At the hospital, the doctor had told her that her mother, Alice, was beyond hope. "The only chance is a surgery in Switzerland that costs an astronomical amount of money," he said. "It's unlikely you'll raise that kind of capital in a month... I've prescribed some injections for your mother that might at least stabilize her for a short time." Those words sounded like a death sentence. Returning to the apartment, Grace saw her mother sleeping peacefully. Tears filled the girl's eyes. Looking at her mother's pale face, Grace vowed to fight for ...

The passengers had long since boarded, stowed their luggage in the overhead bins, buckled up, and were waiting for the plane to take off. The flight attendants moved through the cabin several times, double-checking that everyone was ready for departure. A steward stopped twice by an older woman in business class, asking her to follow the standard safety procedures. She only waved him off dismissively, continuing her loud conversation on her phone. "Ma'am, please fasten your seatbelt and return your seat back to the upright position," the young man requested once more. "Honey, hang on a second, I'm almost done," ...

Lydia and Steven had dreamed of having a child for a long time. They prepared meticulously for the arrival, focusing on their health and slowly beginning to pick out baby clothes and supplies. Finally, their dream came true. Lydia became pregnant after several attempts. When she ran into Steven's home office, holding the positive pregnancy test over her head, their joy knew no bounds. During the third month, the expectant parents found out they were having a girl. Even then, passing by the displays of pink ribbons and baby blankets, Lydia couldn't restrain herself; she found herself buying almost everything ...

The night sky erupted with relentless bursts of fireworks, illuminating the darkness in a kaleidoscope of colors. The display was so magnificent that even a great horned owl, perched upon the branch of a towering spruce, stared with wide, unblinking eyes at the wondrous light show that had invaded its quiet domain. Normally, this secluded countryside estate saw little excitement, and certainly never guests of such high standing. The proprietor had recently considered closing his doors for good, perhaps even converting the grounds into a dairy farm—after all, milk and butter always fetched a fair price. But then, out of ...