Noah Cole-Hassell

The Unkindness Noah Cole-Hassell

In a town still reeling from the witch trials of Salem the year before and nursing wounds of wars past, a young girl endures the lonely grip of an abusive home. However, with an unlikely group of feathered friends she learns to find her find strength and joy, but will this be enough to save her soul? As a tragic historical fiction piece this short story details the effects fear has when it over takes people, on both an individual and societal level. It highlights the often violent turn unchecked terror brings by scapegoating "the other" with the events of both the witch trials of Salem and the atrocities of Deer Island. The Unkindness is a quick read that takes you on a journey through the complexity of emotions and dynamics of relationships.