Young Adult
The First Threads
Preface ❧ Before the keeping of time, before even the stars had learned their names, there was weaving. This tale is said to be among the oldest remembered by leaf and river, whispered by silence, carried by wind, and guarded by stone. It is not the song of gods nor of men, but the weaving that gave birth to both. Preserved in the hush of branches and the glimmer of stars, it is given here as it was first spoken:
By Rebecca A Hyde Gonzalesabout a year ago in Fiction
Unwritten on Their Graves. Content Warning.
In a cramped California apartment, eighteen-year-old Leo lived with his mother and two younger siblings, twelve year old Jasmine and eight year old Marcus. Their mother, a woman of quiet grit, had been left to raise them alone, scraping by on the meager wages of a diner job.Life had dealt her a harsh hand, and the family’s fragile balance was further shattered by Marcus’s battle with anemia. The medical bills drained what little they had, while the constant worry gnawed at them all. Leo watched his mother fight each day with unyielding determination, and though his heart burned to ease her burden, he was just a high school senior, too young, too powerless, yet aching to do more. To ease his mother’s burden, Leo had taken a part-time job at a local diner, slipping into an apron right after school while his classmates rushed off to sports or friends. Whether it was scrubbing greasy grills, bussing tables, or running orders, he did it all without complaint.The pay was barely enough to make a dent in their mounting expenses, yet Leo clung to it with quiet determination. Every shift was not only a reminder of his struggle, but also of his dream, a dream to rise above these barriers, and build a better life not just for himself, but for the people he loved most. One evening, as his mother returned from another long shift, Leo pulled her aside. His SAT results had arrived, good enough for college. Her tired face lit up with pride as she embraced him, certain her sacrifices were paying off. But Leo’s voice wavered as he confessed the catch: his scores weren’t high enough for a full scholarship, and he refused to drag the family deeper into debt. She pressed his shoulders, assuring him they would find a way and that he should focus on his future. Still, even as she smiled, Leo couldn’t ignore the worry lingering in her weary eyes. As graduation crept closer, Leo’s excitement was overshadowed by a growing weight of anxiety. The future loomed uncertain, with college slipping further from reach. Then one afternoon, a notice on the school bulletin board caught his eye, a career fair was coming to the gymnasium. It felt like a chance, to carve out a path forward, a way to bridge the gap until college could become more than just a dream. On the day of the job fair, Leo wandered aimlessly from stall to stall, scanning pamphlets and half-listening to pitches about door-to-door sales jobs, trade certifications, and odd apprenticeships. None of it felt like a future worth chasing. His steps slowed before the U.S. Army booth. Two recruiters in crisp uniforms greeted him with practiced smiles and a confidence that set them apart from the rest. They spoke of opportunities, college scholarships, steady pay, health care for families, benefits that struck directly at the heart of Leo’s worries. But it wasn’t only the promises that drew him in. The idea of wearing the uniform, of serving something greater than himself, stirred a sense of purpose he hadn’t known he was searching for. By the time he walked away, Leo no longer felt uncertain. He had found his path: the Army would be his way forward, and he was ready to take it the moment high school ended. When Leo told his mother about his decision, her reaction was far from proud. Fear and anger flashed across her face as she called the Army a path toward a coffin. She reminded him of all she had sacrificed to protect her children, of Marcus’s illness that already kept her awake at night, and insisted she could not bear to see another son chasing death. But Leo’s resolve did not waver. The arguments grew louder and more frequent in the days that followed, yet no amount of pleading or warning could pull him away from the choice he had already made. At last, the day of Leo’s high school graduation arrived, and for a brief moment the family allowed themselves to breathe. Laughter filled the small apartment, and even his mother set her worries aside to celebrate her son’s milestone. But the reprieve was short-lived. Soon after, Leo sat for the Army’s recruitment test; and passed. The letter that followed was swift and decisive: he was to report to Fort Benning for basic training. The weight of reality returned, heavier than ever, as the course of Leo’s future was sealed. The day Leo left, his mother wept as she begged him to remember he could always turn back, that home would always be waiting. Jasmine hugged him tightly, whispering for him to take care, while Marcus received the firmest embrace of all, as if Leo could somehow protect him from afar. At last, his mother stood before him, her tear-filled eyes heavy with fear of what lay ahead. With a final goodbye, Leo stepped away, his heart burdened yet fueled by the dream of building a better life for himself and the family he loved. And so began Leo’s journey, one that would carry him to the other side of the world, into the unforgiving landscapes of Afghanistan. It was a path that would shape him and shatter him, forcing him to witness and endure things he had never imagined. In the heart of war, Leo would be tested not only as a soldier but as a son, a brother, and a man torn between duty and conscience. Follow his story in the novel "Unwritten On Their Graves", a haunting tale of sacrifice, morality, and the human cost of war, now available on Amazon. Get your copy today.
By Munawar Sheikhabout a year ago in Fiction
The Cog-Boy of Aethel. AI-Generated.
The Alchemical Academy rose from Aethel's academic district like a Gothic cathedral made of metal and glass. Spires twisted skyward, crowned with aether-collectors that fed the building's vast experimental laboratories. Students in brass-buttoned coats hurried across courtyards where fountains danced with liquid mercury and crystalline trees grew in perfect geometric spirals.
By Shane D. Spearabout a year ago in Fiction
The Shadow Painter
The Shadow Painter The first time Elara discovered her gift, she was only nine years old. She had been sitting cross-legged in her grandmother’s attic, where dust floated in beams of late-afternoon light and the smell of turpentine lingered. Her grandmother, once a painter of modest renown, had left behind dozens of cracked canvases and jars of half-dried paint. Most children would have found the place eerie, but to Elara, it was a sanctuary.
By Numan writesabout a year ago in Fiction
Under Three Moons - Chapter 2 - The Story of Fyonai
Tomerys brooded in the back of the night school classroom. Her rune tiles lay neglected upon her desk. Alchemical Runes was never her best subject. She could never remember what symbols correlated to each element. The rest of the class was setting up their ritual stars, placing the proper occult items and runes in the spires.
By CT Idlehouseabout a year ago in Fiction
Guardians And Angels | Chapter Five | Part 20
One My father stood at my bedroom door buzzing Hard as Fuck. That Friday night, when he decided to walk into my bedroom, I was still at the dance with mirror ball lights spinning across my freckles not knowing back home the robot cicadas from the fucking Jungle were screaming at him again.
By Christopher Dubbsabout a year ago in Fiction
The Hidden Library
The Hidden Library Max had always loved books. His room was stacked from floor to ceiling with novels, short stories, and dusty encyclopedias he’d inherited from his grandparents. But nothing in his collection compared to the thrill of the local library—the scent of old pages, the quiet hum of readers, and the promise that somewhere, in the middle of those shelves, a story might reach out and grab him.
By Numan writesabout a year ago in Fiction
A Proud Man
When the pen landed on the desk, Garther Binkins sighed. He had just closed another multi-million-dollar deal for credit cards. He leapt out of his seat with the last few ounces of energy he had left in his body. His dark skin contrasted with his tan suit. He wore expensive clothes that looked frumpy and didn’t fit him well. Instead of getting them tailored, he just let them look like his suits originated from the rack. He gathered his briefcase and headed out of the door. The Wilmington, Delaware air beckoned him to go out onto the street. It was the fall of 1996.
By Skyler Saundersabout a year ago in Fiction
When It Sinks In
Oh ye who tempt fate, for what do I owe this pleasure?Is it the chase of desire? A cruel kiss upon chapped lips. The stars do not bend for men, Beware for the threads are thin, woven together with thread. Oh ye who tempt fate, What are you serving us today?
By Chloe Unfilteredabout a year ago in Fiction
AI for the Mind
The Rise of Digital Therapy Tools In recent years, mental health has become a central topic across Europe, with rising awareness about depression, anxiety, and burnout. Traditionally, access to therapy has been limited by long waiting times, high costs, and stigma. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) has stepped in, offering new ways to make mental health support more accessible.
By Muhammad Ibrahimabout a year ago in Fiction
