family
Ethan
My brother killed himself about nine years ago, when I was 17. he committed suicde, he had lost his mind two years before that event, he was only fourteen when he jumped into the rocky waters under the bridge we would play on. I didn't understand why he jumped or what caused him to, how could someone be so desperate to kill themselves in the blink of an eye without a second thought, I thought he was happy I thought he enjoyed his life, it’s all people talked about of how happy my brother, ethan was, he was baseball player, he loved art and maths, he liked to read and go out with his buddies, he was a good looking boy too, he could have any girl he wanted, what was making him so upset? He had everything. I wish I knew why he was so sad. The funeral was beautiful, he was laid in a white coffin, he had his baseball jersey and baseball cap laid on top of his coffin, his favourite song was played at the lunch, the funeral was very quiet, nobody really knew what to say, a lot of people said sorry to my parents but that didn’t help the pain they were in, Ethan really had no idea how much he meant to people the room was filled of people and they all cared about him, it’s a shame that he didn’t get to see his own funeral.
By Kathy Colbert4 years ago in Fiction
The Changeling Below the Bluffs
“The babes need to be left in the woods,” Elder Gòrdan said as Moire stared at the crumbs in his scraggly beard. “We don’t know if the faeries will even show. We need to wait on the healers from Tuathmuir,” Elder Ùna shouted with red cheeks.
By Rebekah Shupe4 years ago in Fiction
Parthenogenesis. Top Story - January 2023.
Big Claws was looking at the young ones on the beach, and felt a pang of jealousy toward the other females lying around, oblivious to their own luck. She wished she too could create youngsters. She knew she should be able to, but that power somehow kept escaping her. What did the other females do, that they were capable of creating life? What did she do, that she wasn't allowed the same faculty?
By Claire Guérin4 years ago in Fiction
Into the Woods
Where it ends The child remained nestled in the covering that his mother had placed on him before she had left. Fire scorched the forest floor around him and there was a strange smell in the air that spoke of violent death and burnt wood, although he was too young to realise that. He was scared and uncertain of what was happening but tears did not come. He lay and soon, he was approached, the shadow of the figure shrouding him in darkness. He looked up as it bent towards him and waited.
By Rachel Deeming4 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon Mother's Child
"Long ago, there dwelled a nation called Jednota. It was a nation founded by the first of the Human Gods, for the Dragons of Veldrak in the North, Dwarves of Maltrpas in the West, and Elves of Loskria in the East. For centuries, these three countries lived harmonious and peaceful lives, their economies booming and cities flourishing. The dwarves traded wood with the elves, the elves traded silk with the dragons, and the dragons traded gems with the dwarves. In this thriving peace and solitude, the royal queen of Veldrak laid three eggs. The Dragons of Veldrak were ecstatic and the country was filled with joyous celebration.
By Parti Pris4 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon Mother's Child.
"Long ago, there dwelled a nation called Jednota. It was a nation founded by the first of the Human Gods, for the Dragons of Veldrak in the North, Dwarves of Maltrpas in the West, and Elves of Loskria in the East. For centuries, these three countries lived harmonious and peaceful lives, their economies booming and cities flourishing. The dwarves traded wood with the elves, the elves traded silk with the dragons, and the dragons traded gems with the dwarves. In this thriving peace and solitude, the royal queen of Veldrak laid three eggs. The Dragons of Veldrak were ecstatic and the country was filled with joyous celebration.
By Parti Pris4 years ago in Fiction
Creativity
Lilly sat on the beach watching the waves on the sea. Her mummy had bought her a bucket and spade, though she was only five years old, and she wasn't sure how to use them. Lilly's bright blue eyes sparkled and her beautifully soft, long, light brown hair blew gently to the rhythm of the sea breeze. She was thoughtful for a while, carefully observing the other children building sand castles on the beach. She watched them carefully lift the sand with their spades, emptying the sand into their buckets, then patting the sand down and tipping up the bucket, then patting the bottom of the bucket; finally, she saw them carefully lift the bucket away from the sand castle, revealing a beautiful masterpiece.
By Carol Ann Townend4 years ago in Fiction
Becoming a Stone Skipper. Top Story - November 2022.
Ringlets formed and reflected one after the other as the sunlight beamed across the lake on my grandparent’s property. My grandfather had just cast his first stone. We both watched intensely as the smooth flat granite moved across the water lightly touching down before it bounced to another surface and formed more mirrored rings. The autumn leaves covered much of the water and rocks. Even though it was only just after six in the evening the sun was already setting, as November was bringing its shorter days. The brisk air spoke of change, and light caressed each rock that skipped to a final landing.
By C. H. Richard4 years ago in Fiction
All My Friends
Janelle once learned that we lose fat from our breath, more specifically our exhales. She thinks of that every time her side cramps while she’s jogging or when it’s -20 degrees Celsius in the winter months. She listens to podcasts through wireless Soundpeats, a knockoff brand, but they work just the same. Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstak, Lester Holt, Josh Mankiewicz, reluctantly Ashley Flowers, Delia D’Ambra, Shankar Vedantam, Whitt Missildine – they all keep her company while she runs.
By Kendra Marya4 years ago in Fiction
The Return
Someone once asked me, "What was it like, what was it like when you arrived on Earth? What were your first thoughts?" And in one breath, I replied, "It was an eerie feeling being all alone. The breezes whispered to an empty world. The morning glories climbed in abandon over disheveled old houses. No lights were on. No music echoed from the open windows on their porches. The cars seemed to be parked in eternity, with flat tires, chipped paint revealed rust, and broken glass was everywhere. Deer were always by the front steps munching on tulips. It must have been spring, and I might add, at last. A decade had passed since my parents had stepped foot on the Earth. The story began here as flowers were blooming and trees were turning green, Earth was still spinning, and new life was beginning in the wildness that humans had desecrated. And of course, I found myself here all alone. I was very afraid.
By Patty Brown4 years ago in Fiction
Those Who Discard Dragons
Tears well up in her eyes as her skin chills, the wide woods closing in. She had thought she was playing hide and seek with Mommy, just in a new place. But Mommy was never this hard to find. Signaling her defeat and calling for Mommy didn't work. She was tired, her feet were stinging, and she thought she might just die. There was nothing scarier than a world without Mommy. And she didn't even know, yet, that Mommy had left her there on purpose.
By Elisabeth Balmon4 years ago in Fiction
