Young Adult

The Letter I Never Sent. AI-Generated.
The first time Elias saw Nora, she was standing on the train platform, lost somewhere between a song and a dream. Her headphones were in, her eyes half-closed, the wind tugging playfully at her hair.
By shakir hamid11 months ago in Fiction
Character Island
Unknown to any explorers’ mapmaking location finder devices, mysteriously perched atop the imagination peak, an unidentified creative force field protected the inhabitants, using distorting magnetic detection busting equipment, confusing compass readings. Future opportunities await a young teenage girl emerging from a centuries old cabin.
By Marc OBrien11 months ago in Fiction
The Train I Almost Missed. AI-Generated.
The 7:45 train was late again — just like it always was on Mondays. The platform was crowded with tired faces and the smell of burnt coffee. Everyone looked impatient, as if being late was the greatest tragedy of their day.
By shakir hamid11 months ago in Fiction
The Last Voicemail. AI-Generated.
The first time Ethan heard her voice again, it was by accident. He had been cleaning his apartment — or pretending to — when he pressed play on an old voicemail.
By shakir hamid11 months ago in Fiction
Imprisoned. Top Story - October 2025.
The sea, the sky, the stars, the sun; all look within reach, within the realms of possibilities. Like I can reach out with mine own hands, and pluck the glittering lights from the night sky. Or caress the gentle white lines of foam that scatter themselves across the vast endless sea.
By Liam Storm11 months ago in Fiction
FruFru and Pootzygirl
Frufru was born in Yonkers, New York. Pootzygirl was born in Thonotosassa, Florida. Frufru was raised by European immigrants who were naturalized Americans. Pootzygirl was orphaned at a young age and grew up with guidance counselors and guardians. Frufru went to Fashion and Design school and was the Personal Apprentice of Cruella Deville. Pootzygirl took classes at many different schools learning from many teachers and considered herself a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. Frufru wears the most expensive name-brand garments, drives the most expensive cars, always has her hair, make-up, fingernails, and outfit, worn to perfection. Pootzygirl forgets she has hair, loves a good cape, and is happy when she has a comfortable pair of shoes that make her feet happy. Frufru likes gourmet restaurants and shopping at elite specialized boutiques. Pootzygirl likes art and beauty, and feels satisfied when she can accomplish fulfilling a need without complications or heartache. Frufru is scared of animals that are not pets like cats or dogs. Pootzygirl loves all animals and prefers being outdoors if the weather allows. Frufru thinks everything said or written is just nonsense. Pootzygirl thinks everything said or written is absolute truth. (In the comic book depictions of these two characters, Frufru is depicted as the "Villain" and Pootzygirl is depicted as the "Hero".) The writer does not think of them that way. The creator of these two characters is a "Bipolar" woman, who struggles with her own "Frufru" self, and her own "Pootzygirl" self, every day.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman11 months ago in Fiction
The Mischievous Monkey of Sat Fatah: A Tale of Friendship, Chaos, and Redemption
The Tale of the Mischievous Monkey of Sat Fatah BY: Ubaid They say that in the old village of Sat Fatah, there once lived a wise and pious man named Allama Ikram Hafeez. For some time, Allama Hafeez chose to live in a nearby forest, seeking peace and reflection. During his stay, he befriended a group of monkeys who, over time, grew deeply devoted to him. These monkeys were unusually disciplined — each one had a specific duty and performed it with great care. Every morning, they brought the old scholar breakfast — coconuts, figs, bananas, grapes, and other forest fruits. In return, Allama Hafeez would feed them flaxseed sweets prepared by his mother in pure desi ghee. The monkeys adored these treats and became even more lively after eating them. The wise man also had a daily habit — he would chew fennel seeds early every morning to keep his digestion and mind clear. When the time came for Allama Hafeez to return to his village, he decided to leave the monkeys a gift — a circle drawn on the ground that acted like a sun clock. Whenever sunlight touched its center, it revealed the time of day. The monkeys were delighted with this magical gift and buried it carefully under soil to protect it from damage. As the scholar departed, the monkeys presented him with a small, clever monkey as a travel companion. “This will make your journey joyful,” they chattered. The scholar accepted the gift happily, glad to have some company on his long trip home. When Allama Hafeez arrived in Sat Fatah with the little monkey, the villagers were fascinated. His two loyal students, Mazhar and Ahmad, prepared a grand welcome and even arranged a comfortable room for the new guest — the monkey. Soon, word of Allama Hafeez’s return spread, and his old friend Allama Abdul Salam came to visit. Seeing the monkey, he laughed and said, “Now your days will be cheerful, my friend. This lively creature will keep you company.” He even invited them to his own village for a visit. Days passed peacefully — but then, Allama Hafeez passed away. Mazhar took responsibility for caring for the monkey and treated him kindly. The monkey would often ride on Mazhar’s shoulder as they visited the nearby village of Solah Murad, returning every evening. The monkey, now spoiled with affection, grew more mischievous by the day. One morning, he went to the house of an old woman known as Aapa Bee Jamalo, a miserly lady. “Aapa,” he said sweetly, “do you know how to make rice pudding?” “Of course I do!” she replied proudly. “Well,” said the monkey, “we monkeys make the best pudding. We cook it in the open air so that fresh breeze adds a wonderful flavor. You should try it too — keep your kitchen doors and windows open while cooking.” The next morning, Bee Jamalo followed his advice. She made a pot of pudding with the windows and doors wide open. But she grew tired and lay down for a nap. The sly monkey crept in, ate most of the pudding, and carried the rest to Mazhar. When Bee Jamalo woke up, she was furious to find her pudding gone. She screamed so loudly that the entire village gathered, demanding justice. A council meeting was called before the two village elders, Syed Ashfaq Shah and Syed Tabassum Shah. The monkey calmly sat beside Mazhar, reading a newspaper, pretending to be innocent. When people accused him, he scoffed, “Shame on you! Do you have any proof I ate your pudding?” The crowd fell silent. No one had actually seen him do it. The elders dismissed the case, and the monkey smugly offered Syed Tabassum Shah a treat: “Come to our house sometime, sir. My master and I will serve you milk with jaggery and fennel — and a fine hookah too!” The elder laughed and agreed. From then on, no one dared to scold the monkey. He became bolder, snatching Syed Ashfaq’s new kurta one day and tearing the postman Abdul Salam’s letters another. Finally, the villagers held another meeting. Ahmad Rahmani suggested, “Let’s marry him off! Maybe that’ll settle him down.” Everyone agreed. The monkey was told: marry or leave the village. Panicked, the monkey ran to Bee Jamalo again. She was getting ready for a wedding, covered in gold bangles and silver anklets. “Aapa,” he begged, “lend me some jewelry so I can find a bride in the jungle.” Touched by his plea, she gave him a few ornaments. The next day, the monkey, along with Mazhar and Ahmad, went to the forest and returned with a beautiful female monkey. The village rejoiced. “Now he’ll behave!” they said. For a while, peace returned. But soon the monkey couple had four children — and chaos came back. One child jumped on the school roof, another stole the milkman’s bicycle, a third snatched the imam’s stick, and the youngest tormented Bee Jamalo and the postman endlessly. Finally, the elders decided to drive the monkey family out of Sat Fatah. Beaten and humiliated, the monkey and his family fled to Solah Murad, where Mazhar’s friend Adeed Sarwar lived. Adeed offered them a small room and said kindly, “Stay here peacefully, or my grandfather will drive you away. Eat all the guavas and bananas you like — but behave.” For a time, they did. But soon, the monkey’s children broke the spectacles of an old man named Saddam and pulled down the turban of Khushi Kajla. The angry villagers beat them, and Adeed had no choice but to send the monkey family back to Sat Fatah. When they returned, bruised and broken, the people of Sat Fatah felt pity. The monkey apologized humbly for his mischiefs, promising never to trouble anyone again. Bee Jamalo took in his children and cared for them, making them swear to live in peace. From that day on, the once-mischievous monkeys lived quietly among the people of Sat Fatah — a lesson for all that even the wildest hearts can find peace through kindness and forgiveness.
By Ubaid 11 months ago in Fiction
The Wise Minister and the Mirror of Truth
The Wise Minister and the Test of Companionship BY: Ubaid Centuries ago, in the ancient kingdom of Yemen, there ruled a just and noble king. He was kind-hearted, fair in his judgments, and deeply loved by his people. His most trusted companion was an old, wise minister who had served not only him but also his late father. The minister’s wisdom was legendary, and his advice always brought peace and prosperity to the land. However, age had begun to take its toll. One day, the minister appeared before the king and said gently, “Your Majesty, I have grown old and weak. My health no longer allows me to serve you as before. I suggest you appoint a young, intelligent minister in my place.” The king immediately protested. “My dear friend,” he said, “how could I even think of replacing you? There is no one as wise and loyal as you in this entire kingdom.” The minister smiled. “Your Majesty, wisdom is not meant to die with one man. I wish to leave behind a worthy successor—someone who will serve you and the people with honesty and intellect. Please, announce a search across the land. I will test the candidates myself.” Reluctantly, the king agreed. A royal announcement spread throughout Yemen: “The King seeks a young and intelligent man to serve as his new minister. Those who believe they are worthy should appear at the royal court.” Dozens of hopefuls gathered at the palace. The old minister met each of them and gave them three gold coins. “These coins,” he said, “are part of your test. I will ask two questions. Find the answers and return with them. If you cannot, do not waste your time coming back.” Then he asked the two riddles: 1. “In human life, which has a greater influence—blood or companionship?” 2. “What is: now is, then will be, and neither now nor then?” The questions left everyone puzzled. They returned to their homes, scratching their heads. A month passed. Then, one morning, a young man entered the palace and said confidently, “Your Majesty, I have the answers to both of your questions.” The court was astonished. Many had failed even to understand the riddles, yet this man claimed to have solved them. The minister smiled. “Let’s hear them.” The young man bowed. “I will answer the second question first,” he said. “I used the three coins to discover the meaning of now, then, and neither. With one coin, I bought sweet cheese—taste it, and you will know it exists now. The second coin I donated to the mosque—that reward will come then, in the hereafter. The third coin I gave to a juggler—it benefits neither now nor then.” The court murmured in admiration. Even the old minister nodded with approval. “You may answer the first question tomorrow,” he said. The next morning, as the king slept, he was awakened by a parrot calling out, “Wake up, Your Majesty! It’s time for prayer!” The king smiled, wondering where this intelligent bird had come from. For ten days, the parrot woke him up for prayers. The king grew fond of it. But on the eleventh day, the parrot shouted, “Wake up, you lazy ones! Play the drums and the sitar!” The king was furious. “Who taught this bird such nonsense?” he roared. The servant brought the parrot before the court. The king demanded, “Explain yourself! Why does this bird speak both good and bad words?” The young man stepped forward. “Your Majesty, this is the answer to your first question. These are two parrots—brothers, of the same blood. One was raised by a pious scholar; the other by a musician. The first speaks of prayer, the second of music and leisure. Blood may be the same, but companionship shapes character.” The king smiled, deeply impressed. The minister said, “Your Majesty, I have found your next minister.” A few months later, the wise old minister passed away, leaving the young man in charge. Not long after, a neighboring king declared war on Yemen. The new minister advised, “Your Majesty, either lead the army yourself or send a skilled general.” But the king ignored his advice and sent his young son, the prince, instead. The prince stayed in his tent while the soldiers fought without passion or leadership. The army suffered a humiliating defeat. The king was heartbroken and ordered the minister to find out why the army had failed. A few days later, the minister announced, “The man responsible for our defeat has died. Whoever wishes to see him may come to the army camp.” Everyone—including the king and prince—rushed to the camp, eager to see who the culprit was. In a tent, a white shroud lay on the ground. When the king lifted the cloth, he found a large mirror beneath it. His own reflection stared back at him. Beside it was a note: “Your Majesty, we are often the makers of our own defeat. You ignored my counsel and sent the prince instead of a trained commander. He rested in his tent, and the soldiers followed his example. You all became your own enemies.” The king was humbled. Realizing his mistake, he took command of the next battle himself. Inspired by his courage, the army fought bravely and won a glorious victory. From that day on, the king ruled with renewed wisdom. He often reminded his people: “Good company leads to goodness, and laziness leads to failure. Work hard, seek wisdom, and choose your companions wisely.” And so, the kingdom of Yemen prospered again—guided by the lessons of a wise minister and the power of good companionship. Moral: Our company shapes our destiny. Just as the parrot learns from its master, so do we become what we surround ourselves with.
By Ubaid 11 months ago in Fiction
The hotel laundry has been running itself after midnight
I work laundry for a mid-range chain hotel — the kind with fake marble floors, “continental breakfast,” and carpets that smell faintly like wet dog no matter how often they’re shampooed. My shift’s usually 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., but I’m often the last one here. Nobody wants to be the person closing down the laundry room at night.
By V-Ink Stories11 months ago in Fiction
[FINAL UPDATE] I was the only one working the night shift… so who checked in Room 409?
Okay, I don’t even know why I’m posting this. I just need someone to see it in case I… I don’t know. If you read my last two posts, you know what’s been going on.
By V-Ink Stories11 months ago in Fiction
The Mirror Draft. AI-Generated.
Ethan Ward was a literature professor at Hillcrest University — a quiet man who loved solitude more than social events. His students called him “The Ghost Teacher” because of how silently he moved through the halls. He wasn’t rude — just lost in thought, like someone living between two worlds.
By Ghanni malik11 months ago in Fiction
[UPDATE] I was the only one working the night shift… so who checked in Room 409?
Hey everyone, I didn’t expect my last post to blow up the way it did. I just needed to vent about something weird that happened at work, but apparently, it freaked a lot of people out.
By V-Ink Stories11 months ago in Fiction