emotional restraint

Poetry·Laura Dzubay, age 11 — A father and daughter play frisbee at sunset, their throws and catches becoming a wordless conversation of connection and understanding.

Story·Kaija Warner, age 13 — A boy travels back to 1908 where a mysterious girl helps him return to his own time, only to discover she died the day after they met.

Story·Tiffanie Goh — A five-year-old helps prepare instant noodles at her aunt's apartment, finding magic in the simple ritual of breaking noodles and sharing the moment with her younger brother.

Poetry·Genna Carroll, age 13 — After a week of camping, a girl appreciates indoor comforts — shower, pillows, warmth — until she realizes she misses the stars that were her companions outdoors.

Story·Shyla DeLand, age 10 — A girl's beloved hunting dog Fern is fatally injured and crawls away to die among the sweet ferns, where a mysterious pink flower later blooms.

Poetry·Clara Bogard, age 11 — A girl meets a shelter cat whose piteous call and pale green eyes transfix her, leading to adoption and the naming of Stella.

Poetry·Nastassja Carusetta, age 13 — A granddaughter and grandfather share quiet tea on the back porch, watching the sunset and listening to the world together in companionable silence.

Poetry·Ethan Vranic, age 12 — In a dreary autumn meadow between two oaks, once-flourishing roses now lie shriveled and colorless, their sharp thorns the only remnant of former vitality.

Story·Isabella Widrow, age 9 — On a rainy day, a bored girl finds her cat Mango in a closet and shares a moment of connection that transforms her mood.

Poetry·Abby Shaffer, age 12 — A quiet moment between a girl and her aging, sick dog captures the tenderness of caring for a beloved pet nearing the end.