fact or fiction

Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about women's health issues, sexism, gender roles, and the female experience.

Insanity at it's best
Part 1.... Tears rolled down her little pink cheeks. She was hunched over in a ball in the back corner of the hotel's stairwell. If only the school bus would show up, then she could escape the pain at least for a few hours. She was hiding from him, hoping he wouldn't find her in time. She was only four years old but in her mind she felt much older.
By Jeanie White6 years ago in Viva
Fortunate
The pandemic hit hard in the small Midwestern town where Veronica lived. The population was predominantly older, and the township was already struggling financially. Walmart had moved in and killed off most of the mom-and-pop shops. Add insult to injury; now Covid-19 was killing an already dying town. Most of the county lived below the poverty level, so when the governor decreed a shutting down of stores and restaurants, the financial strain fell down hard on the townspeople like a sucker punch right to the town’s already empty and aching stomachs.
By Breanna LaMonte6 years ago in Viva
The Lion's Den
“In other news, updates in the investigation on the heinous attempted kidnapping of the Mayor’s 11-year-old daughter. We now go live to Taylor Adams outside the mayor’s office for further details on the ongoing investigation.” The announcer nodded as the screen panned to a young reporter.
By Bisi6 years ago in Viva
Bunny Cried When the Rabbit Died
Arley was anxious. The main conference room of the auction house was spacious, yet full to capacity. The event had been well advertised and her item was one of the featured lots. Her pulse tripped up a notch when the little black book appeared on the large video screens flanking the dais, signaling the bidding for her auction was about to begin.
By Kathy Greene6 years ago in Viva
Siren
They threw me from the ship and I met the angry sea with my lungs. It’s bad luck to have a woman aboard. My hair swirled around me in dark tendrils as I struggled. Sinking, always sinking.
By Allison Moore6 years ago in Viva
Guess How Much I Paid?
Every month, I eagerly awaited Saturday bargain hunting with my younger sister, Shelia. Not the kind of bargain hunting you did at the Dollar store or basement of Macy’s and Filene’s. Sure, those places have good deals, but nothing like those in the thrift shops on the north shore of Chicago. Here, you could discover new, never-worn clothes with tags intact at second-hand prices. I suspect they were gifts, which rich people discarded instead of exchanged. Finding a bargain was only one of the things I was certain would happen on our trip. The other was that Shelia would wander off, causing a delay in our travel plans. She insisted on hunting alone, but she couldn’t drive.
By Sheryl Williams6 years ago in Viva
Figuratively Speaking
My shirt is neatly folded on the stool, demurely hiding my panties and leggings. From the exam table where I sit, paper crinkling on the inhale, crushing on the exhale, the olive knit looks alive, a patch of moss growing a bed of green atop a metal blowdown. I wore it for our first date, when I met Alex at the airport and he presented a notebook wrapped in butcher paper emblazoned with the nickname he’d called me on the phone every day for months: “Pookie.”
By Amanda Mercedes6 years ago in Viva
Love in a Black Book
LOVE IN A BLACK BOOK Lily cranked the heater up in the van, the icy wind confirming her decision to head south. She already got gas and snacks and was anxious to get going. Winter storms were common in March in Billings Montana and usually didn’t faze her, but this year she was determined to vacation in a warmer spot. Her friend Ann was going but now couldn’t. It was pathetic she was going alone.
By Donna Varnes6 years ago in Viva
The Almighty Hand
Blinded by the flashing and ever circling lights, I paused for a moment just before the ante to take a second look at my cards. Unfortunately sunglasses don’t always hide the twitch in the right eye of the enormous man sitting beside me. I threw in my ante.
By Angela Ebell-Solomon6 years ago in Viva
Having Kids is Not a Mandatory Stage of Your Life
Contrary to popular belief, no you do not have to have kids to complete your life. I never gave much thought to having kids when I was growing up. I hated those stupid dolls that you could take care of as if it was your own baby. Who thought that was a good idea? Toymakers were already trying to shove that "have babies" mindset into little kid's faces, huh?
By Xennariel Revenlyr6 years ago in Viva
Professionalism in the Women's Movement
Beginning in the 60's, with both the Civil Rights and "Free Love" movements, American Culture has been dominated with by the illusive promise to break "archtypical" or "sterotypical" roles, whether in relation to gender or race or sexuality.
By Samir M Goradia6 years ago in Viva
No going back
Sitting in the flowerbed, in her mud stained ballgown, looking back to the castle & hearing her mother call her name, Elizabeth knew she couldn’t go back. This was time to leave, for real this time. Tired of being bound by restrictions and control Elizabeth knew escaping from her current life, required faith, strength & courage. Elizabeth started running her hands through her tightly held ringlets and putting her hair up in a tie, meant she could run without her hair in her face. Tears falling from her face, she reached into her corset dress to pull out her little black book, she read over her pages again, nodding in agreement, as if the pages were giving her the pep talk she needed, the comfort, the strength & reassurance that she needed to flee. This book had been Elizabeth's most prized possession, this was her like bible, her manifestation book of secrets and plans. The book no one knew of, her only sense of freedom she has had, kept hidden for years under the floorboards in the castle. Her executed plan for freedom was finally in action. Putting the book back into her corset, like a crystal to a bra, she wiped away her tears and let out a huge sigh, as if breathing out all of her burdens and worries. Elizabeth looked around for her little Tigers Eye crystal she left in the mud, then started digging into the mud until silver started appearing through the earth, she pulled out scissors & smiled. Taking her scissors she cut the bottom of her dress, so that she could run easy without the ballgown being a trip hazard. She learnt this on her practise escape run, long dresses and running don’t go hand in hand. It was the reason for her capture, so she knew this had to be executed differently. With her ballgown cut to knee length, Elizabeth buried her scissors back to her usual spot, in case she needed them again one day. Elizabeth liked to think she was strategic, staying steps ahead meant she was smarter than her mother and one step closer to a life she desired.
By Jada 2736 years ago in Viva