Short Story

You Should Not Be Here. Content Warning.
The Situation: You shouldn't be here. We don't want your type. We just want someone who can clean the filth. Someone who can do the donkey work.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 months ago in Fiction
Echo In A Music Box
Rowan was nearing the age seventy. She could feel the years slowly creeping up on her as she looked through the attic, which contained her childhood memories: an old doll here, school papers there. There were still old boxes, blankets, and clothes scattered around the floor.
By Crystal Nicole3 months ago in Fiction
Make New Friends
Monday, August 29 Noah walked into the house just as happy as he could be. He was the average 6-year-old, the type without a care in the world.
By David E. Perry3 months ago in Fiction
Over and Over. Content Warning.
On the fifth loop, Emilian realized he wasn’t in a dream: Marc died. Or rather, he was in the process of dying, many times over.
By caitodoesstuff3 months ago in Fiction
Lightweight Glass Hearts
Mara couldn’t help it. Sometimes things just came over her. Feelings. Urges. One day, the urge might come via a random realization that if she felt like breaking into full-throated song in the middle of a grocery store, no one could actually stop her. Another day, she might be standing on a bridge, admiring the view, and suddenly wonder what would happen if she decided to jump.
By Shannon Hilson3 months ago in Fiction
After the Generous Gambler The Devil was there. He was simply not worth the bet
Yesterday, I found myself reading a short story by an author who was, to me then, unknown: Charles Pierre Baudelaire. In his prose piece, The Generous Gambler, there lingered a depth few seemed to notice until cinema modernized its whisper through Verbal Kint:
By LUCCIAN LAYTH3 months ago in Fiction
Out of the dream. Content Warning.
Sunny blue skies, spotted with white puffy clouds. What a beautiful day to be on a boat. Well…. A naval boat, but a boat none the less. I shrug to myself. I don’t know how I ended up on this craft, but I am here and will have to make do with this situation. Warm but dry winds blow with moderate intensity. I stand there awkwardly, under a small protruding roof by a steel door, clueless of what I must do next. I am not in the military, yet I have been ordered to come aboard this boat as the team chiropractor. Don’t ask. As I take glances of the deck, shielding my eyes from the sun under the shaded overpass; I huff out a big sigh and freeze. My throat and chest tighten. My heart feels like it fell a few centimeters in my rib cage and I have a deep, seeding pit of doom forming in my abdomen. WHAT. THE. FUCK.
By Dani3 months ago in Fiction
Anthonyverse© Faith Lee
On earth one, in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, an airplane is landing. A woman named Sergeant Faith Lee is returning home after several military tours across seas. She takes a bus from Charlotte to the city of Gastonia, where her family lives.
By Frank Anthony Maldonado3 months ago in Fiction
The Five Friends of Willow Creek. AI-Generated.
The Lesson of Five Friends In a quiet and beautiful town near New York, five teenage friends lived: James, John, Alex, Amma, and Anna. They all studied in the same school and had been friends since childhood. Their bond was strong, and everyone in school knew them as the “Five Hearts.” James was calm, respectful, and hardworking. John was energetic, funny, and a little competitive. Alex was quiet, intelligent, and observant. Amma was kind, responsible, and always helped others. Anna was cheerful, confident, and friendly with everyone. For years, their friendship was full of laughter, school projects, and memories. But as they grew older, emotions started to change everything. Feelings Begin One day, James realized something surprising—he had started liking Amma. At first, he tried to ignore it, but every time he saw her helping others with her soft smile, his feelings grew stronger. At the same time, John developed feelings for Anna. He liked her confidence and the way she made everyone laugh. But there was another twist. Alex, who was usually quiet and serious, also started liking Anna. He never spoke about it, but deep inside, he cared about her a lot. So slowly, the simple friendship began to change into confusion. James liked Amma. John liked Anna. Alex also liked Anna. And Amma and Anna, unaware of this silent competition, continued to treat everyone as close friends. The First Signs of Distance At school, small changes began to appear. James started spending more time near Amma, helping her with studies and group tasks. Amma noticed it but thought he was just being kind. John tried to impress Anna by making her laugh and talking to her during breaks. Anna enjoyed his company but did not think much about it. Alex stayed silent, but he often watched Anna from a distance. He never expressed his feelings. Soon, John and Alex started noticing each other’s attention toward Anna. A quiet tension began between them. James, on the other hand, felt happy with Amma, but he also sensed that something was changing in the group. The Problem Grows One afternoon, the five friends were working on a school project together. Everything seemed normal at first, but small arguments started happening. John said, “Anna should lead the presentation. She is the best speaker.” Alex replied calmly, “We should decide together, not just follow one person.” John frowned, feeling Alex was trying to challenge him. Meanwhile, James was focused on Amma, and they worked peacefully, but they noticed the growing tension between John and Alex. Anna felt confused. She noticed both John and Alex acting differently around her, but she did not understand why. Amma tried to keep everyone united. “We are friends first,” she said gently. “Let’s not let small things break us.” But emotions were already getting stronger. The Breaking Point One evening after school, John directly asked Anna, “Do you like spending time with me?” Anna smiled politely and said, “You are a good friend, John.” But John misunderstood her words. He thought she might like Alex more. At the same time, Alex quietly helped Anna with her notes. John saw this and felt jealous. Soon, John and Alex stopped talking properly. Their friendship turned cold. James tried to stay out of conflict, but even he noticed that the group was breaking apart. Amma felt sad seeing her friends slowly drifting away. The Unexpected Event A few days later, the school organized a hiking trip to a nearby hill. All five friends joined. At first, everything was normal. They laughed, took pictures, and enjoyed nature. But suddenly, the weather changed. Dark clouds gathered, and heavy rain started. The group got separated on the hill due to slippery paths and strong winds. Anna slipped near a steep area and almost fell. John rushed to help her but also slipped. Alex quickly grabbed John’s hand, saving him from falling. James and Amma worked together to guide everyone back to safety. In that moment of danger, all jealousy and confusion disappeared. They realized how easily they could lose each other. The Real Lesson After returning safely, the five friends sat together quietly. John broke the silence. “I think I let my feelings make me selfish.” Alex nodded. “I also forgot that friendship is more important.” James looked at Amma and said, “I was lucky to have true friends like you all.” Anna softly said, “I never wanted anyone to get hurt because of me.” Amma smiled gently. “Feelings are natural, but they should not destroy friendships.” A calm silence filled the moment. Ending From that day, things changed. James and Amma continued to grow closer in understanding and respect. John and Alex slowly rebuilt their friendship. Anna remained a close friend to all of them, but everyone learned to respect boundaries and emotions. The five friends stayed together, but now with more maturity and understanding. They learned a powerful lesson: Feelings can come and go, but true friendship survives only when we choose honesty, respect, and control over jealousy. And in that small town near New York, the story of the “Five Hearts” became a reminder for everyone about love, friendship, and maturity.
By Hafiz afridi3 months ago in Fiction
The Last Voice on Channel 13
The Last Voice on Channel 13 The rain had been falling for three days without stopping. Detective Ryan Carter sat alone in the communications room of the abandoned Blackwood Police Station, sorting through old evidence scheduled for disposal.
By BrightSteps3 months ago in Fiction
The Captain of the Dry Land
On a high, windswept cliff overlooking the roaring Azure Ocean lived a brilliant naval architect named Arthur. Arthur didn't just build ships; he designed vessels that were mathematical masterpieces. He could calculate the exact curve of a hull to slice through a wave, and the precise height of a mast to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Yet, despite his genius, Arthur had a deep, paralyzing secret: he had never actually sailed on the open ocean. Arthur was terrified of the unpredictable. He believed that the sea was a chaotic monster, and the only way to conquer it was through flawless, absolute preparation. For fifteen years, he had been building his masterpiece a magnificent galleon named The Invincible. Every day, Arthur would sit on the deck of his dry-docked ship, surrounded by thousands of charts, weather logs, compasses, and structural diagrams. He spent his hours running simulations in his mind, calculating every possible disaster. “What if a rogue wave hits from the northeast while the wind shifts south?” he would worry, spending weeks rewriting his safety manuals to account for a one-in-a-million scenario. The Arrival of the Old Voyager One morning, an old, weathered sailor named Captain Barnaby walked up the cliff side. Barnaby was a man who wore his life on his skin his face was lined by salt and sun, his hands were calloused, and he had a wooden peg for a left leg. He looked at Arthur, who was sweating over a pile of complex geometry charts under the blazing sun. "That’s a fine ship you’ve built there, son," Barnaby barked, spitting a bit of tobacco juice onto the grass. "When does she taste the salt?" Arthur looked up, irritated by the interruption. "She will sail when she is perfectly ready. I am currently recalculating the stress tolerances of the rudder in the event of an unseasonal whirlpool." Barnaby let out a booming laugh that shook his belly. "An unseasonal whirlpool! Son, you can’t calculate the ocean. You can only dance with it. If you wait for the water to be perfectly predictable, you’ll rot on this cliff." "I am a man of science," Arthur replied coldly. "I do not leave my survival to 'dancing.' I leave it to control." The Storm of the Mind That very evening, a massive, unpredicted storm rolled in from the horizon. The sky turned ink-black, and lightning cracked across the heavens, illuminating the churning sea below. Arthur didn't seek shelter. Instead, he locked himself in the captain’s cabin of The Invincible, which was still securely bolted to its dry-dock cradles on the cliff. He brought out all his charts and books. As the wind howled outside, Arthur’s mind went into overdrive. He began to calculate the wind velocity against the wood density. He tried to chart the path of the lightning. But the storm was too fast, too chaotic. The wind changed directions every few seconds. Arthur's equations collapsed. The more he tried to mentally control and predict the storm, the more his panic grew. He felt like he was drowning, even though he was completely safe on dry land. His chest tightened, and his mind spun into a terrifying vortex of anxiety. Suddenly, the cabin door swung open. Captain Barnaby stepped inside, dripping wet, holding a simple wooden lantern. He looked at Arthur, who was clutching his head, surrounded by torn papers and shattered inkwells. "Look at you," Barnaby said softly, his voice cutting through the roar of the thunder. "You’re shipwrecked, Arthur. And you haven't even left the shore." The Leap into the Deep "I can't map it!" Arthur cried out, his voice cracking with desperation. "The variables are changing too fast! If I can't control the environment, the ship will sink!" Barnaby walked over, grabbed Arthur by the shoulders, and forced him to look out the cabin window at the raging sea below. "Ships are safe in the harbor, Arthur," Barnaby said, his eyes reflecting the lightning. "But that is not what ships are built for. You think control keeps you safe, but it is actually your cage. Survival doesn't come from forcing the sea to match your charts. It comes from adjusting your sails to match the sea." With a sudden burst of strength, Barnaby dragged Arthur out onto the deck. He handed Arthur the heavy wooden handle of the ship's massive rudder steering mechanism, which was connected to a training weight simulator. "Close your eyes," Barnaby commanded. "Stop calculating the wind speed. Just feel where the ship wants to lean, and lean with it!" Arthur closed his eyes. He stopped trying to count the seconds between lightning flashes. He stopped trying to measure the wind. He simply felt the raw, powerful vibration of the storm against the hull. He loosened his grip on the wheel, allowing it to move slightly with the pressure, guiding it rather than forcing it. Slowly, the tight knot in his chest began to unwind. The storm hadn't stopped, but the storm inside his mind had. He wasn't fighting the chaos anymore; he was responding to it.
By Kamal ali3 months ago in Fiction
Beneath My Tongue
"I keep your name beneath my tongue and bite on it each time it tries to escape I can hardly bear the ache, but I love the salted metallic taste." - Sadness in June by Imola Tóth.
By Paul Stewart3 months ago in Fiction