You found the valve. It will not turn. You jostle it left and right with the palm of your hand, no give, the old plastic crinkling faintly like it might… Read more »

You flushed once. Your hand is off the handle. The tank groans a low, gurgling rattle that lingers longer than it did three weeks ago, when you first noticed it… Read more »

You are on the floor. The valve is on the pipe at the wall. Your kneecap presses into a crumpled bath mat left by your roommate last night, and the… Read more »

The floor is wet. The hiss in the tank is a second problem. You kneel, press a paper towel to the base of the toilet, and it soaks through in… Read more »

You lift the chain. The flap cannot reach the hole. You run a finger along the pitted plastic of the chain link, counting how many links are caught on the… Read more »

You are in the hall. The bathroom door is shut and you still hear it. It’s a high, thin hiss, steady enough that it doesn’t sound like a draft under… Read more »

The float is up. Water is still coming in. You rest your forearm lightly on the Tank Lip to steady yourself, squinting at the narrow gap between the float arm… Read more »

You put a drop of food color in the tank. You are waiting. The cool porcelain of the tank lip rests against your forearm where you leaned over to lift… Read more »

Nobody touched the handle. The bowl level just rose. You lean in, ear pressed to the cool porcelain side of the tank, and pick up a faint, steady hissing you… Read more »

A small hose is aimed at the open pipe. Water is spilling into it. You’re kneeling on the cool tile edge of the bathroom, holding the tank lid you just… Read more »

You look down. The rubber flap is cocked to one side. You can hear the constant faint trickle of water draining into the bowl below, wasting more every second you… Read more »

The lid is off. You can see the water line and the mark. Condensation beads along the cool porcelain edge where you set the heavy ceramic lid on the striped… Read more »