Love
Toxic
I stood there, too warm from the alcohol to feel the cold March air, a cigarette between my fingers. “You know what Ange, you’re being an asshole. I’m leaving,” Lia stared, waiting for me to stop her. It was 2009, the night of my twentieth birthday, and Lia had been in a mood long before we got to the bar. “Cool. You’ve been anti-social all night. I don’t know why you came if this is how you were going to be,” I waved the smoke as I spoke. I knew she hated when I smoked. “You didn’t wait for me to finish my Starbucks before we went in!” “I wasn’t going to let all our friends, who came here together with me, WITHOUT an unnecessary frappucino, go in without me when the room was booked in my name. You came in and sat at the opposite end of the table as me, with people you don’t even speak to, and just stared off into space all night. You could have stayed home.” I put my hand to my mouth, ready to take a long drag.
By Alex Boone2 years ago in Fiction
Sixty Seconds
Matthew lay very, very still, and thought of his mother. He had anticipated being more out of it than this, less painfully aware. He had imagined some liminal space in which he would transcend the strictures which had both paralysed and lubricated his life to date. He had expected to mind less. Now he closed his eyes and tried not to focus on how he could feel every single thing. Instead, he thought of his mother, of the day she had yelled at him for treading water across the hall after he had run naked from the shower to fetch a forgotten towel. She hadn’t seemed to notice his nakedness, or his wet, goose pimpled skin, but she had noticed the watery footprints alright. Why that memory, of all the memories?
By Hannah Moore2 years ago in Fiction
Shadows of Sorrow Between The AssHole
In the quiet town of Willow Creek, nestled amidst rolling hills and thick forests, there lived a family haunted by shadows of sorrow. The Jacobs family, once the epitome of happiness and harmony, now found themselves trapped in a web of tragedy and despair. At the heart of this tale of woe was Sarah Jacobs, a woman whose radiant smile once lit up the darkest of days. But now, her eyes were dull and haunted, reflecting the pain that gnawed at her soul. Ever since the accident that claimed the lives of her beloved husband and youngest daughter, Sarah had been consumed by grief. Her eldest son, Michael, bore the weight of his family's sorrow on his broad shoulders. Once a carefree youth with dreams of a bright future, Michael now toiled day and night to provide for his mother and siblings. But despite his efforts, the bills piled up, and the creditors grew increasingly ruthless in their demands. To make matters worse, the town of Willow Creek was plagued by mischievous monsters that prowled the streets after dark. These vile creatures, born of darkness and malice, struck fear into the hearts of the townsfolk with their wicked deeds. They vandalized homes, terrorized children, and spread chaos wherever they went. Sarah and Michael did their best to protect their family from these malevolent beings, but their efforts seemed futile against the relentless onslaught of evil. Night after night, they barricaded themselves inside their home, praying for the dawn to chase away the shadows that haunted their dreams. But the monsters were not the only threat that loomed over the Jacobs family. They also faced intimidation and harassment from a group of ruthless thugs who sought to exploit their vulnerability for their own gain. Led by the sinister figure known only as "The Boss," these criminals demanded tribute from the townsfolk, using fear and violence to maintain their stranglehold on the community. Sarah and Michael knew that they had to stand up to these bullies, but they also knew that doing so would put their family in grave danger. With heavy hearts and trembling hands, they resolved to fight back against the tyranny that threatened to consume them. But tragedy struck once again when Sarah fell gravely ill, her body weakened by grief and despair. As she lay on her deathbed, her family gathered around her, their tears mingling with hers as they bid her farewell.
By Chuks Gad Nwaigwe2 years ago in Fiction
Rain
Rain pelts your windows, smudging panes, making what's familiar look a masquerade. Single-minded droplets streak single file toward your soggy soil, but they'll find no answers here. Nothing's planted. What grows here was kin, and our time here has reached its end.
By Christy Munson2 years ago in Fiction
Finding light in the midst of darkness
Once upon a time, in a small coastal town nestled between rugged mountains, there lived a young woman named Maya. Maya had always been known for her warm and calming presence, even in the most challenging of times. She had a serene aura that seemed to bring comfort to those around her.
By Syahrul Klk2 years ago in Fiction
Arthur's successor
In the verdant hills of Avalon, where the mists swirled and the ancient magic of the land thrummed in the air, there existed a kingdom shrouded in legend and mystery. This was the realm of Camelot, where the noble King Arthur had once ruled with justice and valor, his name forever enshrined in the annals of history as a beacon of hope and inspiration.
By Icun gaming2 years ago in Fiction
Crossed
Long ago, before the sexes were born, two equally different humans existed. Then, they shared the V chromosome, until one day the V unfolded itself into an X. For one human the X doubled, but only one prevailed, barring the other. When the other's V unfolded Y slipped into place, perfectly aligning itself within X, determining a new pathway. Female and Male formed, along with their bodies' mindful voices.
By Thavien Yliaster2 years ago in Fiction
Every Second Counts
Leaving work late one evening, Lizzy decided that she would take the back way home, avoiding the potential perils of downtown traffic. She typically didn't like to travel those roads on rainy days, they were rough and curvy, and as the sun set, made it difficult to see the lines. But after the kind of day she'd had, she couldn't bear the thought of dealing with other drivers.
By Kelli Sheckler-Amsden2 years ago in Fiction
Aurora. Content Warning.
Stars glittered across the moonless sky. Millions of brilliant points of light, more than Yusuke had had ever seen before. He marvelled at them, despite often having gazed at the night sky before, mesmerized by them. It had always been a dream, one that he had come to share with its original dreamer, to be in that place and see the stars in their seemingly infinite multitude.
By Alexander McEvoy2 years ago in Fiction
Don't Blink
Carl and Jeni saved and scrimped for years to afford a small sailboat for days like this. When they met their senior year of high school, they didn't like each other at first, but their friend groups collided regularly. Eventually, they began to see each other in gracious light. Begrudging civility advanced to the talking stage in time for graduation, and they spent the summer working at a local golf course as their friendship threatened to blossom into something more.
By Mack D. Ames2 years ago in Fiction
