"Haven't you ever noticed that the sun comes out when he smiles?"

• Peter Darling by Austin Chant

"I left my day at home. I just want this, us and an infinite sea."

• The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis

"If we were stars in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, then I would have embraced him, my hands patting his shoulder blades, violins and cellos billowing on the soundtrack as tears streamed down our faces. But Hollywood would never make a movie about us."

• Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim

"Truth is I was born in the forest, and there I ran the weather."

• New Testament by Jericho Brown