Listen to our audio presentation of “Mag, the Habitat, and We” by Lia Swope Mitchell. Narrated by Mahvesh Murad.
Lia Swope Mitchell
Lia Swope Mitchell is a writer, translator, editorial assistant, and PhD candidate in French literature at the University of Minnesota. Consequently she often feels overwhelmed by a multitude of small tasks. She lives in Minneapolis.
Mag, the Habitat and We
It starts with a bang. Those of us awake scurry for cover; those sleeping jump wide-eyed. Five peep out of shoebox nests. Only Mag remains halfway, still part-drowning in dreams.
Slow
From her mouth exhales some warm magic that sweeps the marble dust away, and this is the first thing he sees, though he does not quite understand that he sees: her lips with their red stain worn away, paled in a utility light’s blaze. Below her chin a dust mask snares her throat.