We don’t need to be reminded about violence. If you want a “Violence Issue” you basically just need to wake up in the morning.

Still, we need to process it. And we all are, in our own ways, whether we want to or not. In our heads or in our hearts or on the page.

Here are four writers processing violence.

Non-fiction.

First, a suspenseful piece by Sarah Broderick about the dubitable journey toward buying a gun for self-defense:

The Five Phases of Firearm Safety

Second, a story about decisions and luck and making it home safe by Kirsten Alexander:

Terra Firma

Fiction.

A hard story from Joel Coltharp about dropping out. Dropping out of school. Dropping out of life. And what happened before.

Before

Poetry.

A visceral poem by Adriana Cloud about eating and being eaten.

Bento Body