Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
The Infinite Adventure
It was a peaceful night for the times they lived in. James and Lynn have been traveling for quite some time. All forms of transportation have been reduced to walking. The city, Beachville, used to be a beautiful city until the collapse of society. Everyone was taught about the dangers of nuclear bombs and the mutually assured destruction that they bring. But not everyone was taught how to survive after society falls. James and Lynn had been through a lot. Before society collapsed they dated and they were happy. They liked to surf and have fun. Lynn is an adventurous free spirited woman, who’s also a badass. She knows MMA and she could probably even beat James’ ass, and that’s impressive because he’s 6’6. Before the fall of Society James was an entrepreneur who ran a couple of different businesses which were all successful. He made good money but all of his businesses had no value to him after the fall of society. All the money he spent his life making was now worthless. Sometimes things and circumstances change and you just have to adapt. That’s the kind of person James is, an adapter. James and Lynn are on a journey, a dangerous one at that. It has been five years since the fall of society. A lot of fortunate people were able to find shelter in the hidden bunkers. Fortunately James was able to reserve a spot in one of these bunkers for himself and Lynn before the fall of society. In time they were able to come back above ground and they established their territory. They didn’t know that there were survivors above ground who adapted to the situation of a nuclear fall out. Life was interesting before the collapse of society, but now it’s just bizarre. You could throw a rock in any direction and the rock has the potential to die, it could get slain by either faction the bunks or the grounders. Both sides hated each other and were constantly at war and competing for food and resources and overall survival. Another danger was the radiation. There are some spots that no one can go to, except for the grounders because they have adapted to the radiation. Some animals have also adapted and grown to be extremely dangerous. But luckily James and Lynn learned to survive. There were many times on their journey where they had to kill animals or other humans to survive. It was dark times, it was eat or be eaten. They are on a journey to talk to a tribesmen of the grounders. He is said to be a mystic of sorts that has magical healing capabilities. Lynn had seizures since before the fall of society, there wasn’t much of a solution before the fall of society, but the only option now is a magic healer. James would do anything for Lynn because he loved her. And she loved him just as much. They’ve been through so much together, they survived so much. James just wanted Lynn to be well and that’s why they were going to the healer. Not all grounders and bunkers hated each other. A lot of grounders would trade and help some of the bunkers. In fact they wouldn’t be on this journey if it weren’t for a helpful grounder. They didn’t know his name. He didn't give it to them but he did give them directions on where to go to receive healing. So that’s what brought them to the cave.
Nadia HydingerPublished 3 years ago in PsycheA Mother's Love
I could feel the glass shards sinking deeper into my feet each time they hit the ground, but my urgency never faltered- I regret my decision to wear heels this day. Now barefoot and terrified, I was running as fast as I could from my job to my home- it didn’t feel fast enough. I contemplated why I had never prepared myself for doomsday; but of course, I never expected it to happen at all… let alone, like this.
Samantha EvansPublished 3 years ago in PsycheCold Turkey
He cigaretted the space between his fuck-you-finger and the one he used to use to point at things he wanted. It was his last cigarette, the last cigarette, an American Spirit, their apparently ethical farming practices weren’t enough to save the bees it turns out. “Should I half it?” the complex question arises with enormous implications. “I could save the short for later when it gets really bad.” He takes a long full drag and watched the ember eat the paper and touch the eagle's wing. A big exhale adds grey smoke to the brown-black landscape. “I miss green.” Now the only greens are the useless bills that sometimes blow across the soil and can’t buy kale. Horrified he watches himself take another lusty drag off the ultimate stogie and the eagle turns to phoenix whose final form is ash. He tastes the cotton fiberglass filter and wretches at the golden band. Tossing the pretzel butt feels familiar, stomping the heat out of habit though nothing’s left to burn. “It's quittin’ time.”
Sam PrickettPublished 3 years ago in PsycheSo Exploding Head Syndrome is a Real Thing
Author’s note: It has been almost three years since I had these strange experiences. The oddness of it sticks with me to this day.
Everyday JunglistPublished 3 years ago in PsycheSleeping With Myself
Sleeping With Myself I’m still told the same bedtime stories I used to hear as a five-year-old - it’s the same voice too. I’m nineteen now. The stories told to me never helped me sleep, rather they kept me up all night. These tales lacked demons, princesses, heroes, or villains. Well, perhaps there was a hero and a villain but if I were to say that I would also have to admit that they were one and the same and I’m not ready to do that.
Tyler PhilbrookPublished 3 years ago in PsycheLesson
Life as I had known it had been destroyed. Nature had delivered twin knock-out punches to the island state in quick succession. A devastating earthquake had flattened out every structure, most of them wooden single stories. A couple of hours later, when the survivors were out in the open thanking their gods for sparing their lives, an earthquake induced tsunami, probably the biggest known to man, had struck going right through the island from one side to the other sweeping everything in its path into the ocean. Pacifasia, formerly a heart-shaped island of about 28400 square kilometers with a population of 1.1 million inhabitants was destroyed more effectively by nature than any WMD attack ever could. Symbols of civilization were completely wiped out. Nothing remained but an uneven barrenness –remnant of a once flourishing nation. If you happened to have survived and looked, chances were you would not see any signs of life – human or anything else. Dead fish lay everywhere. The stench would have overpowered you if you had a half-way decent sense of smell. Fortunately, I could not smell anything because I had a nasty cold. It was two days since the apocalyptic event and there had been no apparent rescue attempts from the nearest continent 1700 kilometers to the northwest. I wondered if the whole world had been destroyed.
Venkat ManiPublished 3 years ago in PsycheFree will
If you start exploring the question of existence of free will, you are caught between an undeniable experience of it and an inability to make sense of the concept intellectually. To make anyone's inquiry into free will concept more fun philosophers use numerous definitions which opens the doors for confusion, talking past each other or dismissal of the free will concept entirely.
The One Eyed KingPublished 3 years ago in PsycheUnconscious Adventure
The wind blowing above the tippy treetop, shaking the leaves, allowing flecks of sun like confetti to move and remain in place. Baby green leaves, sprouts of life and complimentary smells of manure are all sure signs of spring. A sultry 86 degrees makes my blood push hot through my veins into my heart and then the extremities and back to center, always back to center, circumventing all of my internals, signaling perspiration to collect on my forehead, my breast and the back of my neck, and then the wind is caught briefly twirling in another direction over the grass, like seaweed on the floor of the ocean dancing with affectation, giving into the pressure of the water passing over, like a good dance partner. Here, in this field there is no water, only wind and yet I can’t help noticing the effect is precisely similar from a gust on the tall grass, to the edge where the farmers alfalfa meets a lazily manicured lawn. The in-between where the grass has not been cut, and the alfalfa ceases to grow, this small line of land on maps recorded at the country clerk is so clearly marked but realistically, it is a thin strip of unknown; one foot trespasses, the other safely at home. I straddle the unknown, and this is the place that I dig my hole.
Whitney CarmanPublished 3 years ago in PsycheI Met a Woman
I met a woman today. I work in retail, my job isn’t fulfilling, I'm depressed, I'm tired, my bones hurt, my soul is suffering, my passion is gone and I want to die. I feel these things every single day, and I hear poor solutions to my problem. “Just find another job,” “work harder.” This advice doesn't do anything but pile weight on my heart. It's hard to even call it advice. I call it privileged suggestion.
Oriaxel KnightPublished 3 years ago in PsycheDear Amy
Dear Amy, Its been four years, and I still keep wondering about your final breaths. Were they deep? Were they shallow? Did you hurt? I'm too scared to ask anyone what exactly happened, even after so much time has passed. I feel like it's more than I'm entitled to know, since I wasn't in your life when you needed it most, but I gathered from the sentiments I saw that it was quite a shock for everyone in your immediate circle. Do you regret it, or was it a relief? Either way, I really do hope that your spirit is sent to us again somehow. We really needs a lot more "Amys" in the world, if you ask me.
Sydney ChapmanPublished 3 years ago in Psyche5 Steps To Become Nietzsche’s Ubermensch (Superman)
Friedrich Nietzsche was a german philosopher and is considered one of the most important and influential philosophers in the world. His philosophy was particularly special to occidental philosophy.
Julian DiepPublished 3 years ago in PsycheI Thought I Was Going to Die at the Office
I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop while I write this. It's been well over a year since I've been inside this cafe. I was (and still am) diligent about social distancing, stopping the spread, washing my hands, masking up, and all that. But now that the vaccines are being widely distributed, I feel more confident in leaving the house for a bit.
Rachael DunnPublished 3 years ago in Psyche