Short Story

Baxter
Once upon a time in the quaint town of Sawyersville, nestled in upstate New York, there lived a charming little dog named Baxter. With his fluffy golden coat and big, soulful eyes, Baxter was known by all as the unofficial mayor of downtown. Every day, he’d settle into his favorite spot at Bella’s Boutique, a charming little gift shop filled with handmade crafts, quirky trinkets, and the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
The Color in Her Heart
The Color in Her Heart Lily sat on the edge of her bed, tracing the patterns on her comforter nervously. At twenty-two, she had dated several guys -- from the charmingly awkward Lucas to the suave Ethan -- but none felt right. Deep down, she had known for years that her heart belonged elsewhere. It was time to embrace her truth: she was a lesbian. As she stared at the walls filled with memories, she recalled countless childhood afternoons spent with her Barbies, staging extravagant weddings -- between two brides, of course.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
The Hermit's Heart
In a small town nestled by rolling hills and vast plains, lived a man named Jake. He wore a rugged leather jacket that had seen better days and a wide-brimmed cowboy hat that shielded his deep-set eyes from the sun. Most days, Jake roamed the wild landscapes surrounding his cabin, lost in thought and the pages of his well-worn journal.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
If I were a Cat
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" -Martin Luther King, Jr. To say it was surprising would be a lie. I am shocked they did a courtesy knock rather than the bursting through my door. However, placing a hood over my head, and being confined into what I can only assume is a van, filled with an overpowering smell of body odor, is unexpected.
By JBazabout a year ago in Fiction
When the Sun Didn’t Rise for 30 Days
When the Sun Didn’t Rise for 30 Days A Tale of Survival, Fear, and Hope in the Longest Night The sun is something most of us take for granted. We wake up with its first light, and we rest when it sets, knowing it will return the next morning without fail. But imagine a world where one day the sun doesn’t come back. Not for a few hours. Not for one long night. But for thirty days in a row.
By Farooq Hashmiabout a year ago in Fiction
The Lights in Their Eyes
*Thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk* The knock on the door made Dylan jump. Not many things scared him, but he wasn't used to visitors. He popped the thick plastic lid closed on his toy box and threw his blanket over the top before meandering over to the door and swinging it open. "What do you want?" he asked the man standing on the porch.
By Sara Wilsonabout a year ago in Fiction
The Anonymous Giver
The city was a machine of concrete and indifference, and Silas was its secret repairman. By day, he was a quiet, unassuming tenant in a dusty apartment. By night, he was the Anonymous Giver.
By Habibullahabout a year ago in Fiction
The Last Call From My Father
The Last Call From My Father A Story of Love, Regret, and the Words Left Unspoken The night was heavy with silence when my phone lit up with a familiar name Father. It was late, almost past midnight, and I hesitated before answering. We hadn’t spoken properly in weeks. Work deadlines, city life, and my own stubbornness had built an invisible wall between us. But something in me, perhaps instinct, pushed me to swipe the green button.
By Farooq Hashmiabout a year ago in Fiction
Letters From The Front. Winner in A Knock at the Door Challenge. Top Story - October 2025. Content Warning.
The uniformed man knocks at her door while winter winds roll down her dusty street. With trembling hands, she takes the letter he holds before her.
By Matthew J. Frommabout a year ago in Fiction
Samuel’s Room
When Clara inherited her grandmother’s house, it felt less like a gift and more like a responsibility. The estate was old, sprawling, and sagging under the weight of time. Its walls leaned inward like listening shoulders, its corridors were narrow veins through which only silence traveled. Every step she took echoed in a way that made her imagine the house remembering who had once walked there.
By Muhammad Ilyasabout a year ago in Fiction
The Wedding That Turned Into an Unexpected Adventure
The Unexpected Wedding Adventure Khalid Mahmood Five close friends—Saad, Talha Saeed, Abdul Muiz, Abdul Rafay, and Faizan Rasheed—studied at the same school and spent most of their free time together. They were inseparable, whether it was playing cricket, walking home, or simply chatting under the shade of the old trees near their school. One day, Talha received a wedding invitation from one of his relatives. Without thinking much about it, he excitedly gave four extra wedding cards to his friends—Saad, Abdul Muiz, Abdul Rafay, and Faizan. He hadn’t asked permission from his relatives, but the joy of attending a wedding together was too tempting for him to resist. The four friends were thrilled. They began making plans, talking about the food, the fun, and the adventure of traveling to Talha’s village. Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. The four boys packed their best clothes, combed their hair with extra care, and caught a bus heading toward Talha’s village. The journey itself was exciting. The bus rattled along bumpy roads, and the friends laughed and joked about who would eat the most at the wedding. When they finally reached the bus stop near Talha’s village, they realized that they would still have to walk a long way to reach his house. But being young and full of energy, they didn’t mind. Singing and teasing each other, they walked until they reached Talha’s home. Talha welcomed them warmly, though a flicker of worry appeared on his face. The wedding, as it turned out, was to be held in a very simple manner, unlike the grand feasts the boys had imagined. Still, Talha made them comfortable and asked them to wait while he brought food. The friends waited eagerly. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then half an hour. But Talha did not return. “Yaar, I’m starving!” Abdul Muiz groaned, clutching his stomach. “He’ll be here soon,” Saad replied hopefully, though his voice lacked conviction. Another thirty minutes passed, and still there was no sign of Talha. Anxiety began to creep in. “Maybe something’s wrong. We should just leave,” Abdul Rafay suggested. “Yes, let’s go,” agreed Faizan. The group finally decided to head back home without even seeing the wedding feast they had dreamed about. By now, night had fallen. The path back to the bus stop looked darker and lonelier than before. As they walked, they suddenly noticed a dog sitting on the roadside, its glowing eyes fixed on them. Fear gripped them immediately. “Run!” Saad shouted, and he, Abdul Rafay, and Abdul Muiz sprinted away in panic. In the confusion, Saad and Abdul Rafay stumbled into a water-filled ditch, their clothes splattered with mud and filth. They struggled out, trying to clean themselves with whatever water they could find. Meanwhile, the dog began charging toward them. Everyone froze—everyone except Faizan. Known among his friends as brave and fearless, Faizan quickly picked up a piece of brick from the ground and hurled it at the dog. The dog yelped and ran off into the darkness. “See? Nothing to be afraid of,” Faizan said confidently, brushing the dust from his hands. The boys continued walking, but their troubles weren’t over yet. A little further ahead, Saad suddenly spotted a large, dark shape moving near the roadside. “Ghost!” he screamed, trembling with fear. But Faizan, as usual, refused to be scared. He threw another piece of brick toward the figure. To their surprise, the dark shape didn’t vanish—it let out a loud snort. “Relax, you cowards,” Faizan laughed. “It’s just a donkey eating grass!” The friends burst out laughing, their fear melting into amusement. “Donkeys are useless animals,” Abdul Rafay commented. “All they ever do is eat grass.” “Not so useless,” Abdul Muiz joked. “Hey donkey, why don’t you give us a ride to the bus stop?” “But how will all four of us fit on one donkey?” Abdul Rafay pointed out skeptically. Just then, Faizan noticed a rope tied around the donkey’s neck. “Look! There’s a rope hanging. We can lead him along.” Without wasting time, Faizan grabbed the rope and guided the donkey toward the road. One by one, Saad, Abdul Rafay, and Abdul Muiz climbed onto the donkey’s back. Though the poor animal stumbled under the weight, it began walking toward the bus stop. Faizan, always the leader, walked beside them, holding the rope. After a short journey, they finally reached the bus stop. From there, they managed to find a rickshaw that took them home. They were exhausted, hungry, and covered in mud, but also full of laughter. Despite not eating a single bite at the wedding, they had gathered memories that would last a lifetime. Later, when they recalled the story, they laughed at their fear of the dog, their fall into the ditch, and their strange donkey ride. What had started as a plan to enjoy a wedding feast had turned into an unexpected adventure. And though things had not gone as planned, the journey itself had become a story they would tell again and again. Sometimes, life doesn’t give us what we expect—but it often gives us a story worth remembering.
By Khan about a year ago in Fiction
A Day in the Life of Amy
The evening air in Napa was warm, carrying that faint sweetness of vineyards that seemed to linger even in the city streets. Amy had curled up on the couch with Max at her feet, scrolling through her phone when Fiona’s name lit up the screen.
By Crystal Bowieabout a year ago in Fiction