Fantasy
The Rose and the Bud
The river ran backwards on the day the queen vanished. Or maybe it ran forwards for the first time in my life. That feels more accurate at the moment. Everything currently feels a bit unreal. It has been only a few days since the queen’s disappearance, and for some reason, that one thing changed my life’s circumstances drastically.
By Ashleigh Woodward2 years ago in Fiction
Murphy The Swamp Monster. Top Story - November 2024.
“Run!” I screamed, as the ground shifted and erupted around us. Still half stuck in the muck, I watched as the rest of our group, led by the glowing button, fled deeper into the forest. I held no blame for them because there was nothing they could do to save me. Large chunks of dense mud and sticks fell all around my position, completely cutting me off.
By Kale Sinclair2 years ago in Fiction
Showing me the magic
Years ago, in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, there lived a young man named Pedro. Pedro worked at a prestigious marketing firm, but despite the outward success, he felt a constant undercurrent of dissatisfaction. He had been with the company for a few months, navigating a steep learning curve before settling into a routine. Yet, the nagging feeling that he was meant for something more wouldn’t leave him.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
A Twist of Fate on a Midnight Train
It was during the summer of 2018 that Ana, a bright-eyed eighteen-year-old, returned to Brazil for her university studies. Her parents still lived in Europe, and she felt an overwhelming sense of homesickness in her first semester. Everything seemed daunting—adjusting to her new roommate, an aloof senior who barely acknowledged her presence, juggling the rigorous academic schedule, and adapting to the chaotic life in the student hostel. She found herself wondering how she would survive an entire year without seeing her parents. Adding to her woes, she had to endure the unofficially sanctioned hazing rituals of the first few weeks, which often left her in tears.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
Life Circle
My back-door neighbors disappear almost fully every summer. It’s a slow, patchy, green obscuration, courtesy of a tall persimmon tree next to the fence that separates our houses. Today morning, as I stand at the kitchen sink filling water in a small saucepan and look out of the window in the back, their seasonal eclipsing is almost at totality. Only an edge of their terracotta tile roof and part of the upstairs window remain. Come fall, the gaps between the branches of the tree, bending under the weight of many fruit, will widen. And, as I walk through the different levels of my house, I’ll start to catch glimpses of them again. An upside-down triangle view of their patio door and the periodic appearance of the man as he jogs in circles around his house. Or, of the lady sitting on the step with her back resting against the pale brown-pink walls, head tilted, and her eyes closed against the sun. I always feel a strange reassurance at their reappearance. We don’t know each other, but they’re part of a cycle I unconsciously track, and though I can never be sure of the shape their return will take, I still count on the little predictability it offers.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
Arjun and Meera. AI-Generated.
In the bustling city of Bengaluru, where skyscrapers stood tall and the hustle never seemed to end, lived Arjun—a dedicated software engineer who was always available. His phone would buzz with emails and messages at all hours, and he prided himself on never missing a call or turning down a request. This constant availability had earned him accolades at work, but it also led to a growing sense of burnout and discontent.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
Startouched. Top Story - November 2024.
"The river ran backwards the day the Queen vanished." That was it. That was all Cassie knew. The only reason she knew anything at all about the Queen's disappearance was from overhearing people speaking to each other about it at the marketplace, which mother didn't let her go to very often because she always wanted to buy everything.
By Jessica Phoenix2 years ago in Fiction
The Healing Journey of Anaya
In the bustling city of Bengaluru, where the modern meets the traditional, lived a young woman named Anaya. At 24, Anaya had a promising career in digital marketing, but her vibrant life was overshadowed by a series of health issues that seemed to have no end. She was diagnosed with PCOD at 22, migraines followed soon after, and frequent fainting spells became her new norm. Visits to multiple doctors only resulted in an endless list of medications.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
The Art of Self-Love
In the heart of urban Mumbai, amidst the bustling streets and vibrant life, lived Aakash. A successful software engineer by day and a painter by night, Aakash had everything that seemed perfect from the outside. Yet, inside, he was constantly battling a sense of emptiness and an insatiable need for validation.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
