Spoonful of Summer

In a hill village where bees harvest the idle minutes of people's lives and weave them into glowing hourglass combs, Sera faces an impossible choice as her grandmother fades. Bound by the keeper's law to never take "living time," she reaches for a miracle that puts the village's delicate seasons and ledgers at risk. A lyrical fantasy about love, debt, and the true cost of borrowed moments. Told with folklore inspiration, quiet dread, and shimmering time-touched imagery. This story was selected for Issue 65 of Beyond Words literary magazine publishing in March of 2026.