literature
Whether written centuries ago or just last year, literary couples show that love is timeless.
Cardinal
From the minute my foot broke through the wooden board, I was sure I'd be caught. It was all I had in me to carefully slide my foot back out and peer through the previously boarded up window. The house was silent, not even the breeze blowing through the holes in the walls made noise. Though it did blow up dust with each gust, clouding my vision with a dull brown cloud.
By Olivia Cucinella6 years ago in Humans
314
Akil’s snarky comeback was rudely interrupted as another right cross slammed into his jaw. The men beating him nearly senseless chuckled as they pummeled him with repeated punches, kicks and profanities “Get up motherfucker! Not so funny now are you, bitch?” said the largest of the group. “Yeah homey!” said another sarcastically as he pulled Akil up by his long dreadlocks, “We’re just getting started here.” The third man then landed a solid kick to the kid’s midsection causing him to reflexively double over in pain and gasp for air. All this because the 23-year-old found it exceedingly difficult to simply walk away when confronted by an asshole (or three) on the street. He did, additionally, since childhood, have a thing about being made fun of, and the men now violently accosting him, apparently found his disheveled manner of dress especially humorous on this particular cold and soggy San Francisco evening. Akil, slight in build but stubborn in attitude, did his level best to fend off the three much larger attackers, but to little avail. What felt like a brutal, half an hour-long ass-kicking (but in reality, was like, seven minutes) eventually came to a painful end as his assailants seemed to grow bored and threw him headlong unto a wet, smelly, decomposing trash heap in the dark alley where they had just pummeled him. Lying flat on his stomach, he could hear their laughter slowly fade as they walked away giving each other congratulatory high-fives, satisfied that they had sufficiently silenced the mouthy young punk. As Akil attempted to stand and steady himself, he fell forward to his knees clutching his stomach which had just been used as a heavy bag. Just then, something caught his eye when he noticed a glistening object in his peripheral vision. He spotted what looked like a small black, antique-looking notebook, the water droplets sparkling from the light coming from above the back door of one of the alley’s businesses. What caught his attention was the fact that in the dark and dirty alley, the notebook stood out as it was in uncharacteristically pristine condition. He picked it up, briefly inspected it, shrugged, and shoved it in his pocket as he staggered home.
By Will Waller6 years ago in Humans
Chester's Interest
It is night time, not too late judging by the position of the moon. There is a light autumn breeze and I can smell the remnant scent of Lexi's supper wafting in our backyard. I am lazing at my usual spot in the darkness, waiting for Him to show up. I know He will, humans are creatures of habit and He has been coming by every night for the past week.
By Verity Greene6 years ago in Humans
The Soldier's Story
The Soldier’s Story Marvin leaned against the brick wall and muttered to himself. He had just had his money stolen again by some of the thugs who infested this part of the city. They were like termites in rotten buildings, he thought bitterly, devouring everything with no thought for what it had cost someone else. And the city was rotting. Too many people had forgotten. To add insult to injury, the young men had kicked his metal bowl across the street.
By roger Crane6 years ago in Humans
A Price to be Paid
As Kiera sat in the small corner cafe combing through the want ads, she could feel the panic rise in her chest. If she didn’t starve to death, the anxiety would likely kill her. That thought actually manifested a quiet, albeit physical, giggle. This made people look. Look at the strange girl, tears occasionally streaming down her face as she giggled. As if no one had ever seen someone fall apart before. She buried her head back into the paper. The words all became a blur as her thoughts rolled over the events of the recent past. It had all started when Sadie went missing. She had always been an indoor cat, never straying far from the window of their 16th story apartment building. That was over 2 months ago. She stills worries herself sick over what has happened to her closest and most loyal friend. Then a month ago, give or take, she was called into the office of Bill, her supervisor at Applestand Inc., where she worked in the accounting office. She was informed that her performance was no longer acceptable and they would be letting her go. She remembers standing there at a complete loss for words. Her supervisor sat there at his big supervisor desk, looking at her with about as much compassion as a hungry lion has for a gazelle. It was a crap job and she was always looking for a better opportunity, but she had always given this job her best. She wondered if it had anything to do with Larry and his unwanted advances on her. As she exited the office there stood Larry, smirking at her. This just drove that feeling home even more. All this she could bear, but when David, her fiancé of 2 years, just walked away last week, she crumbled.
By Iago Black6 years ago in Humans
Blue Paper Stars
The cold, Appalachian air rolled down the mountain, filling the valley with a frothy-white mist, so quickly, that it sloshed back up the barren, winter hills like a hastily poured bowl of milk. The mist seeped through Brennan’s gloves and into his knuckles just as fast. Resting a palm on the shovel’s rust-eaten handle and another pushing on the small of his back, He stretched and gazed into the cloud covered sky. The air smelled thick with remnants of last night’s storm, harrowed earth, and iron. Leaning an elbow on his shovel, he began massaging circles into his palms, rubbing off fragmented rust and dried blood from the deep lines in his hands. Noticing how much blood was left, he began to rub his palm feverishly, panting so hard his breath was visible in short bursts, so thick he couldn’t see his hands, so red all he could see was red, so loud all he could hear was -- until a blister popped. The sharp pain brought him back into his body and all he could do was stare at his hands, rubbed raw, pulsating in harmony with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
By Jenna Calamai6 years ago in Humans
Dreaming
I saw her standing in the corner of the subway station, she was holding a camera on one hand and what it seemed like a Polaroid photo on the other. Her face expression seemed vague, a little sad I suppose. She rushed inside as soon as the subway train came to a halt, I couldn't help but rush after her. I sat down beside her; I had no idea where the destination of this train might be but I knew I had to talk to her. So I sat. I introduced myself and tried keeping a conversation although she seemed uninterested.
By Pita Gomez6 years ago in Humans
