Aurora in the Unfriendly Forest by Rachel Turney
September 24
I will be safe here in the woods. I have taken refuge in a cottage where I pray my godmother can never find me.
September 25
The woods are quiet and I am unsettled.
September 26
The animals act strangely here. Not the magical sort of creatures I am used to back home.
September 27
A squirrel bit me today. My blood on its face as it scurried away. I could see the others watching me from the trees.
September 28
A deer tried to enter the house today. Its eyes were red and ravenous. I am terrified.
Bio
Rachel Turney, Ed.D. (she/her) is the Writer in Residence (2026) at NKollectiv in Englewood, Colorado and runs the Trident Women’s Writing Group in Boulder. Her poems, research articles, reviews, and drawings can be found in a variety of publications. Rachel is passionate about immigrant rights, teacher support, and empowering other artists. She is a Writers’ Hour prize winner and has been nominated for Best of the Net and Best Microfiction. Her photography appears on a few magazine covers. Rachel is the founder of the popular online reading series Poetry (in Brief) and EIC of PIB (the Magazine). She is on staff at Bare Back Magazine with her monthly column Friday Night in the Suburbs. She reads for The Los Angeles Review. Her debut poetry collection, Record Player Life (the b-side) is available with The Poetry Lighthouse. Her second poetry book, Retired Wannabe Club Kid, is out now with Parlyaree Press. Website: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks Bluesky: rachelturney
Author's note
I have this vision of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty as animal horror. What if the forest wasn’t so friendly after all? This is also a deeper commentary on the world being an unsafe place for women and those who are meant to protect and defend human life actually being the perpetrators of atrocities...
