We were privileged again to read a vast expanse of small worlds through our flash fiction contest. And once again, the different structures and backstories and characters made the subjective task of landing on overlapping favorites difficult work. There is no scientific formula for evaluation. Just two hearts touched in one way or another.

All of which is to say we are honored to announce that “The Cat and The Man,” by Laura Halpin was awarded first and Daniel Lowe’s “Mosaic,” second. They are both wonderful.

Thank you, thank you to all who sent in submissions. But mostly, thank you for creating art.

Erika Raskin is Streetlight Magazine’s fiction editor. Her most recent novel, Allegiance, is about a fascist take-over in America—and came out before the election. More of her words can be found at erikaraskin.com and https://erikaraskinwriter.substack.com/.

Mary Esselman has an extensive background in writing and editing. She currently serves as program coordinator and editor for Iris magazine, a student-run publication of the University of Virginia Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center. She is the author of HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?: Poems for the Not So Young Anymore, YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY: Love Poems for Real Life, KISS OFF: Poems to Set You Free, and THE HELL WITH LOVE: Poems to Mend a Broken Heart.