Ben Chavez

Ben Chavez writes short fiction in between his full-time job taking care of others, learning to woodwork in the evenings, and raising his one-year old pup. He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he dreams about traveling to outer space and other dimensions. He was a 2026 Periplus Fellowship Finalist. More information can be found at benchavez.com.

The Conquistador

Old Francisco Gutierrez lay in his bed, his stomach heavy and bloated. A white porcelain soup bowl crusted with the remnants of lunch cluttered his nightstand, joined by numerous orange plastic prescription vials, some tipped on their sides with a few crumbled pills inside, as if defeated by the weight of their responsibilities.
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