Garrett Ashley is the author of the story collection Periphylla, and Other Deep Ocean Attractions, and a forthcoming poetry collection, Habitats. His work has appeared in Asimov’s, Analog, Apex Magazine, Sonora Review, and The Normal School, among others. Garrett grew up in Mississippi and lives in Alabama, where he teaches creative writing at Tuskegee University. He can be found online at garrettashley0.wixsite.com/writer, and his social media handles are @gaashley89 (Instagram) and @gaashley.basky.social (Bluesky). The author’s latest story brings us heavenward to a prison . . . The parasites came by the thousands. They reminded me of the illustrations of viruses