Love
Translation Layer
The first time the earpiece failed, we were fighting about a wet towel. An actual towel. Left on the bed in a damp heap, like a small accusation with a corner folded over. My wife said something in Telugu that should have arrived in my right ear as clean English. Instead I got a soft chime, and a line of grey text floated across my glasses.
By Gautam Atmakuriabout 18 hours ago in Fiction
Sickness of the Heart
Ophelia first met Harriet at a Sunday sermon. Harriet hid in the back of the congregation with a deep scowl and the most beautiful eyes Ophelia had seen. Three years later, when they entered high school, Ophelia swore to follow her parents’ lectures about why people like Harriet were sick.
By caitodoesstuff4 days ago in Fiction
Travel Suspense
Travel — Cards against normality prompt: A change of scenery can do wonders. Take your hero somewhere new. List three reasons your hero might need to leave town right now. Brainstorm four settings that would be challenging for your hero to navigate. If your hero could call home who would she call? What would she say? In the past, did your hero travel someplace particularly important to him? Is there a reason to go back now?
By Denise E Lindquist5 days ago in Fiction
Dr Pepper Zero and Wet Grass
I stepped from the cold comfort of our home, as the central heating had been switched off; the bite of autumn soon to be winter could be felt in the air. Even seconds before when I stood on the inside of the door, bracing myself, I gasped and saw my breath drift from my mouth towards the mosaic windows. Now, settling out from the natural darkness of a home when everything is powered down, I entered the embrace of a more intense drop in temperature and luminance. My fingers ached as the atmosphere feasted on the bare skin, as the light, fine rain coated the shiny surface of my bald head. I could unlock the door, of course, and retrace my steps to the bedroom and pick up my padded waterproof gloves. But, a very deep fear gripped me, held me tight, and I knew in this state of flux I found myself in, there was no going back or I would simply never leave. So I lifted the handle and double locked, listening to the metallic mechanisms and springs clunk.
By Paul Stewart7 days ago in Fiction
Choices
If you could see how each little lie drove the spikes edging my mask, deeper into my skin. I bite my tongue as the blood pools into there mask. Rivulets of red slowly filling the edifice- until I swallow my words, lips held tight in silence. The blood threatening to drowned me. Silence lest I drowned in the reality- the reality of the imbalance in my love and the destructive force of lies. I love you- i love your brunette hair bouncing in textured waves that I run my fingers through as I listen to you talk through the path going forward, do you realize it's a path that I can't follow you on- but you told me if I comment then you leave. My heart in your hands, the rhythmic thumping of it, echos in my panicked brain. And here I sit at the impossible precipice. If I be myself and tell you the truth- I lose you. So I don my mask for you again, so you don't leave. I'm that selfish. Selfish in my love. I love him. His warm arms and fragile heart. I love holding him, i love his range of emotion, his passion, his fire... If I hold your secrets I lose him. It all the pain all over again. So the mask goes on again. If she takes over then I can be here for you, quiet, loving, so in love with you. I drive the spikes into my face- knowing that it can never come off. My heart in your hand hemorrhage and I can feel the hollow spot in my chest. And I betray you by telling him because I love him- and I can't carry a lie to him. My heart sitting in his hands I can feel the frosty air burn as he pulls away. His words cold, his heart broken. I'd hold all the pieces, but he would never choose me. You would never choose me. So I bleed instead. And I kill myself over again to keep you- I silently weap, standing right where he pulls away because I am not his person. But the mask goes on and I swallow the pain cause why would I choose me either.
By Maili Paul8 days ago in Fiction
