Passing Ships

Passing Ships

Passing Ships

The Winners!

My Dear Friend. First Place in Passing Ships Challenge.
I. Spring It was spring when we met. I knew who you were, of course. You were the teaching fellow for my political philosophy class, and the most brilliant woman I'd ever seen. Like a great sorceress, you had a way of transforming complex ideas into simple words. Like a great teacher, you asked provocative questions which gave space for many answers. It was a challenging class for a lecture hall of undergrads looking to fulfill a credit, but I saw how deeply you cared, and realized I cared deeply too. More than that, I was good at this class. While a collective sigh of despair went up when exams were handed out, I was having fun. My papers were filled with your exclamation marks and encouragement. Walking down the street that spring afternoon after our final exam, I saw you, and I wanted to tell you all of this.
By Ava Mack3 years ago in Humans
Germany. Second Place in Passing Ships Challenge.
It didn't start with a moment. It started with a field. They don't talk about the small things you experience when you move. They don't tell you about the birds, or the bikers, or the beers the size of my head. They don't tell you about sunsets or peacocks or grass so green and so unending, it feels like living in a place that requires asking permission from nature to stay.
By Amelia3 years ago in Earth
Full Circle. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
We pull up to the curb of the school yard, in the same spot we always do. Her friends are waiting at the edge of the property for her. They're a huddle of pre-teen excitement with long strands of hair swirling around them in the wind. They spot my blue car a mile away. As we approach, they inch closer to the edge of the school boundary, waving and smiling; A greeting she has received every day for as long as I can remember.
By Christina Hunter3 years ago in Humans
Bilge Water Baptism. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
“Is it clogged?” a voice called from above. “Well,” I called back. “I’m standing in chest high water with about three inches of hydraulic fluid floating on top. Something’s keeping the pump from draining.”
By Chuck Etheridge3 years ago in Motivation
A Blind Encounter. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
The morning was damp and dreary, the kind that makes you want to stay in bed all day. But I had a dental appointment and a quick trip to the grocery store on my schedule, so I dragged myself out of bed, donned my comfiest sweatpants and hoodie, grabbed my bag, and headed out the door.
By Ashyr H.3 years ago in Journal
The Nameless Child Who Changed Me. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
A three-year-old I never knew changed how I interact with the world. Part 1 When I was barely a teenager, I told a truth about a man who had done terrible things–to me and to others. There was no way for me to imagine all that would happen next. Police. A lengthy legal case. Therapy. Corroding coping mechanisms.
By Alex Casey3 years ago in Psyche
The Final Final. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
Teaching is undoubtedly a taxing career. There are days that chip away at my resolve and I start to question everything. It’s the days when I work 16 unpaid hours on the weekend just to keep my head above water. It’s the days when what I think are brilliant lesson plans end up in chaotic confusion or even worse…a sea of blank stares. It's the days when the “friendly” reminder box on our online learning platform cheerfully informs me that I have 312 assignments waiting to be graded. It’s the days when students seem bored or tired and complain about everything—even when I’ve poured my best efforts into making the lessons engaging. It’s the days when the State Board of Education adds yet another requirement, another hoop we have to jump through. These are the days when my youthful optimism, my passion for this amazing profession, starts to fade.
By Ahna Lewis3 years ago in Humans
The Granola Bar Fairy. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
Shopping is hard for me, and it always has been. It's a little easier these days with the advent of e-commerce, but sometimes I still have to go to a brick-and-mortar store. I get overwhelmed: sensory overload, too many options, all the walking... No thank you. It was the same when I was a kid. My mom and sister could take their time shopping for clothes or school supplies. I just wanted to grab it and go, even on a good day. If I could find somewhere to sit or something to keep my interest while they did the shopping, that was ideal.
By Rebekah Conard3 years ago in Humans
The Future Tree. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
We lay naked on the bed, a little sticky. His eyes grey and serious in the dim light. He was normally so silly, but there was no humour in his face now.
By L.C. Schäfer3 years ago in Humans
A Story of Sisterhood and Activism . Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
All I see when I walk through the door to my apartment one day is my sister standing in the living room. Not the bright-eyed, brown-skinned sister I know. Colors other than the warm brown I’m used to light up her face in different shades of black and blue. I am speechless. Although she is older than me, I am the one that always has something comforting to say. My sister always teases me affectionately and says, “Tina, you talk too much,” and I don’t disagree. I’m proud of this voice of mine. Not now though. Now I stand, staring at her, mute, so ashamed of my voice for failing her. In between soapy tears, she tells my mom and me that it was her boyfriend.
By Tina3 years ago in Families
Seeing the Light. Runner-Up in Passing Ships Challenge.
Luna Moths. A tragic insect with such a short lifespan, humbled by its beauty and gentle nature. Born without mouths, these moths exist to reproduce and nothing more. Of course, if you were only given 7 to 10 days in your adult life, how would you spend it? While these moths are not rare, many feel graced by their presence due to their short lifespan - the probability of seeing one is, indeed, seemingly rare.
By Nicole Fenn3 years ago in Motivation