The Cost of Living is a collection of five short stories and flash fiction pieces that explore survival, morality, dignity, and freedom through characters cornered into desperate situations. Each protagonist faces a critical decision that will define their fate, revealing the fragile humanity and fierce resilience that emerges when everything is on the line.

"The Cost of Living" delivers a pulse-pounding action-thriller. A single father risks everything to retrieve a rare flower that could cure his daughter's disease. Battling a blizzard, a ticking clock, and a relentless snow leopard, he must decide how far he's willing to go to save her life.

"At Least I'll Have a Bed Tonight" offers a stark, intimate glimpse into homelessness. Torn between clean clothes and a warm bed, a woman's choice reflects the quiet desperation of dignity in a world that rarely offers it.

"You'll Be Free Soon" strips love and marriage down to raw dialogue. In a minimalist, biting exchange, a husband and wife confront the end of their relationship, culminating in a haunting revelation whispered under the moonlight.

"The Iron Rose" unleashes Sir Eleanor of Caerwyn, a knight captured and shackled by her enemies. Refusing to accept defeat, she turns her chains into weapons and her defiance into legend, proving that even in captivity, strength can bloom.

"Keeping Score" confronts the brutal gamification of violence. On the frontlines of nationwide protests, a soldier is pressured to earn points by striking civilians. But when one blow reveals a devastating truth, the cost of loyalty becomes unbearable.