Alec Solomita’s fiction has appeared in the Southwest Review, The Mississippi Review, Southword Journal, and The Drum (audio), among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal. His poetry has appeared in The Ekphrastic Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, Litbreak, Subterranean Blue Poetry, The Blue Nib, Red Dirt Forum, and elsewhere.  His chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published in 2017 and is still available at Finishing Line Press. His first full-length book of poetry, “Hard To Be a Hero,” was published last April by Kelsay Press in 2021. Both can be found on Amazon. He’s working on another. He lives in Massachusetts.

Waiting Room

He leans forward
on the backless cushioned chair
as if he’s about to start a race.
His pursed lips.
His spotted fingers
spread out on his knees.

She appears at the mouth of the corridor,
blinking in the brightness
under the suspended radiology sign.
Careful not to muss up her wig,
he bends and kisses her slack white cheek,
the thin coat of perspiration.