Potter Street
He can go out when the kids are asleep. They’re still young enough to be put to bed before ten. That’ll change in a few years, and then he doesn’t…[...]
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No love for a wicked soul
Warning: Mentions of sexual violence, bullying and suicide. Humans are the most wicked beings on planet Earth. I know, unbelievable observation. Totally unique worldview. The thing everyone says once in…[...]
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Apologies Seem to Come and Go.
Many years in the future. I'm no longer the twenty-three-year-old kid that I was when there was no need for letters because we would talk in person face-to-face. I would…[...]
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On Reflection
Probably I shouldn’t have opened the email. But I did, and couldn’t stop reading and rereading it, to the point that I can recite some of it verbatim. I shouldn’t have…[...]
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The Name He Left Behind
The room was quiet, except for the faint beeping of the heart monitor, he gripped my hand with more strength than I expected, it was almost time, I could feel…[...]
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Sailor’s Song.
What are you looking for, she asks me, and I've never met her before. She sits in front of me cigarette smoke obscures everything but her black eyes that have…[...]
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A Great Lesson.
Remember when we used to come here all the time? You remember?Yeah. Wasn't that long ago...it's still the same ain't it?It feels the same--I mean it's just the JackRabbit.Yeah. It…[...]
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The Olive Tree Assignment
Bangkok. Last week, it was Delhi, before that Tokyo. Matthew plonked his traveller’s case onto the hotel bed and opened the envelope given to him at the reception counter. Just…[...]
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The Fag That Saved You.
“Hey Sis, it’s Christmas. You can cross me off of your wish list. Call Santa Claus and the Missus. We gon’ have the best Christmas that ever existed.” RuPaul’s Christmas…[...]
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Stranger for a day
This story contains profanity and minor sexual content. 1. Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.Strangers No MoreThere was little I could…[...]
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Dead Hours
I woke up to notifications. My sister is one of those people who doesn't send messages in one go. Instead, each sentence arrives in strokes. That morning, nine rings anticipated…[...]
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Imperfect Strangers
He lay naked on the dishevelled bed, a twist of limbs, sweat cooling on his skin. The air hung low and heavy, permeated with the heady odour of exerted bodies,…[...]
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My Friend Freddy
MY FRIEND, FREDDYA true story The year was 2009 and Janet Napolitano was Governor of Arizona. The political buzz was that she wasn’t doing a good job of managing the…[...]
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Summer In Winter
Summer never quite seemed like it did when you were imagining it curled up in your blankets every winter morning before school. It was always a little hotter, slightly too…[...]
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Blossoming Kiss
‘Hi. Excuse me? Hello. I’d like one large coconut latte please.’Chris, who had been staring at the garden through the window, jumped at the voice, bringing her back tor reality.‘Of…[...]
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Love Bites & Sweet Tea
High above, passing over Jacksonville, flutters a bizarre sight for those who bothered to look up into the starry sky. A cloud of bats fly overhead in formation. One hauls…[...]
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Wretched Creatures
**death, poison, suicidal idealization** Not every storm feels the same.This is a truth that Xavier finds comfort in. Some rains are a light mist gently kissing his cheeks, while others…[...]
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The Last Kiss
The heavy oak doors of the funeral home swung open to reveal a quiet space bathed in soft, muted light. Candles flickered along the walls, their gentle glow casting long…[...]
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The Retreat
“The Retreat” It’s strange how the mind, once you give it a few moments of quiet, can circle back to things you never thought to examine. Or maybe not strange…[...]
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Brushstrokes and Blushes
With a giant stretch towards the heavens, Amelia wriggles her fingers and slowly lowers them to the plate before her. The pillow-like touch of the burger and the gentle scrape…[...]
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rainbowless
"Ughhhhh!"I threw my phone on the sofa. Not aggressively—I couldn’t afford that. But maybe medium strength? It bounced around the cushions a few times. I froze in the middle of…[...]
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A Loss For Words
Dear Jim: I’m at a loss for words. This is a problem. I’m a writer – at least I’m supposed to be. How can I be a loss for words?…[...]
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Caught in the 4k
3/17/25 The Accidental Post: It’s been a few days since I put my feelings about you in my notes app, but here I am again. Maybe that means I’m learning to…[...]
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The Weight of Silence
Words. They slip through my fingers like sand, elusive and fickle. I reach for them, but they scatter before I can shape them into meaning.I have so much to say,…[...]
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Lying in Wait
He wanted nothing more than to take out his pocket knife and cut the tension that had built up in the room. Danny imagined it was something you could see.…[...]
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Arcadia Forging
There was a fire. They’d felt it before they saw it: a looming danger somewhere close, crawling towards them, trying to swallow them. Like a beast in a forest, a…[...]
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Perchance to Dream
Hot desert night, the Northern Lights and a hunky guy—I’m there. Or, I’m almost there, because he’s driving my old Falcon wagon and we’re forty minutes out of Tucson, and…[...]
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In the Den of the Lion
You had to ruin everything, didn’t you? With just a few weeks to go, I almost made it out unscathed and undetected. None of you had a clue what was…[...]
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Leave A Message
“Hey.”The space heater buzzed in our room, the dim sound hanging in silence. I stared at the reflection of my face in the phone, warped by the screen protector. I…[...]
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The Crowned Son
“Wake up,” I hear the gruff voice of my knight, Arthur, say. I groan, glaring at him. “It’s not even daylight yet. Can’t we wait?” I pull the covers up…[...]
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The Fool and the Donkey Track V
TRACK 5 - “For Isadora” - Lewis, Lynsi - The Album(TW - substance use, one sided relationship, mentions of grooming, internalized ableism)She’d been at the end of the impulse aisle,…[...]
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The meat that tears
The frozen body with red hair (Rouge) sits still against the tree as the snow falls and the winds get stronger. A girl with black hair (noir) stares at the…[...]
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Old Town Memories
“Hey, Mom. I was planning on taking a trip to Delhallow soon.”“Oh, that sounds fun. Where’s that?”I scoff, “What?” and laugh, “What do you mean?”“Sounds midwestern.”“It’s Oregon, Mom. What are…[...]
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The Promise
Note: This story contains a brief mention of sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and mental health. As President Cook stepped into the church gymnasium filled with missionaries in their black suits…[...]
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Fire catchers
In a Fire Overseers’ tower, full of nothing but stairs, there was an attic room for recess, right under the rooftop. It was just a lazy hour before noon, streets…[...]
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The Wreck of the Sæbjörn
Pulling up to the house, the first thing I noticed was the pirate on the front lawn. If I told you I remembered the name of the boy in my…[...]
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For you, my love
I stared at Julian, feeling like my chest had been caved in. My best friend, my world… He looked like he was sleeping. I knew better. I knew what my…[...]
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1. Talking to Grass and Granite
Shook. Kevin was "shook," once again, just being here. 55-year-old Kevin Woodward sat in the grass before a well-established grave and lowered one red rose to the headstone in the…[...]
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Who do you choose?
As we sat on the bench, over looking the sunset, the crisp dry air burned my eyes. I nuzzled up to Sam, rubbing his head with my chin. His soft…[...]
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Do I Know You
Brian’s eyes were sore—formulas and numbers swirled in a galaxy through his head. He could already spot a few stars in the night sky when he shut the door of…[...]
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The New Kid: Zak
“Tada! Snack time!” I announce as I set down a plate of fruits and three cups of tea. “Thanks, but we don’t have time to sit around and eat. This…[...]
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How I Trained a Mermaid
After nearly a month stranded on this island, she was by far the ugliest mermaid I’d ever seen. I felt sorry for her. It. Is it is an it or…[...]
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Graduation Gift
Graduation Gift by Sue Baughman 6/27/25 (1070 Words) Franklin D. Roosevelt High School’s Gymnasium was dressed in it’s finest for the year’s Home Coming Dance and Class Reunion. The same…[...]
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Food – A Love Language
Warning: Violent intrusive thoughts, brief discussion of softcore pornography By the time I finish making the food, I’ll definitely be warm enough and A1 to drive. I hum as I…[...]
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Mr. lovermen
He hated him, no- wait, he loved him. No… it was hatred right? The only thing it could be is hatred, there was no room for love in Suguru Geto’s…[...]
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Tom’s Doing So Well in Denver
The first wound appears on Tom’s back. A little below the neck. He panics, because Tom instantly assumes this is it. The big one. He was born after the epidemic…[...]
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Do I Know You?
I had a dream last night of a past life, not my own past life, but that of an older man from the past who lived in a shack near…[...]
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The husband plottwist
Casey is hunged over his computer when a knock on his office door brings him back to reality. He looks up to see his husband walk toward him with a…[...]
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Take up your sword
“Are you all right?”“Gods, will I be again?” “That. Well, I can’t be sure of.” “Hold your tongue then. Please.” “You don’t have to be alone right now. It’s not…[...]
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People Don’t Haunt Houses
"...These perturbations, this perpetual jarOf earthly wants and aspirations high,Come from the influence of an unseen starAn undiscovered planet in our sky. And as the moon from some dark gate…[...]
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Being Brave
(The following story includes contemporary themes dealing with violence and immigration raids. The main character suffers from anxiety and has a pronounced stammer) Jacob looked long and hard in the…[...]
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What Matters
“Ugh! I can’t find the letter for Sam’s summer camp.” Brent brings his fist down abruptly on the small desk, making the keyboard hop. “Why do you need it?” Rob…[...]
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Blood and pearls
I am wrong. There is no word written there. The cacophony in my head is only getting worse, driving me into an abrupt madness. My mind is buzzing, the same…[...]
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The Walls Are About Us
“You've reached Jaxon, leave a message.”I sigh and put down the phone, only to pick it up again. Ellis: He still isn't answering his phone Maz: Let him have his…[...]
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I Can’t Sleep
The first time Elio heard the voice, it was 3:12 a.m.A buzz. Then a hum—low, like someone breathing through static. And then: “I can’t sleep.”He blinked at the sound, half-asleep,…[...]
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The best papi
"If you mix the milk and the flower then I'll crack the egg", Ryan suggests as he smiles at his son. "But I wanted to do the egg", Art, his…[...]
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Birthdays and funerals
1. The ice cream cake was watery. The hot summer sun split the blame with my father, who insisted on crying into the Baskin Robbins dessert he mutilated with a…[...]
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Dorchester
Two months before I ended a three-year relationship with my boyfriend, we went over to his best friend’s apartment and convinced ourselves that we were deeply unhappy. We were deeply…[...]
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Truth Be Known
Truth Be KnownBy Sarah L. Riggs Since they had been reassigned, it was not often that Kansas City Homicide Detective Christopher Andrews visited his ex-partner. Katy looked up at him…[...]
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Serial Lovers
Warning lots of violence. Not for the weak at stomach. Serial Lovers Who am I? I’m Scott Warner. A serial killer. Have you ever walked alone or felt someone watching…[...]
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The Steel That Slaughters The Lamb
To prepare is to steel oneself. To prepare is to practice smiling in the mirror, laughing, crying. What once took hours to perfect now takes only minutes. I have learnt…[...]
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Double Surprise
Natalie could handle secrets. What she couldn't do was surprises. The anticipation of the excitement was always almost too much to bear. The thing is, she was also a master…[...]
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The Hidden Path
The Hidden Path The sun dipped low behind the ridge, painting the trees in honeyed light, and the group finally sprawled into their mismatched campsites like an unruly family reunion.…[...]
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Durchdenwald
Content warning: this story contains depictions of self harm, implied suicide, domestic violence, and mental health. “Then leave, Adam. I know you want to.” Truman is wrong. He always is…[...]
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Hard Conversation
“Thanks for letting me stay here tonight, I wasn’t ready to go back to the dorms yet.” Justin said.“No problem. I can only imagine the rumors going around.” Will replied.“Yeah,…[...]
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bite the hand that feeds you
Ishmael spent most of his life as a human. Grew up an orphan, collected PhDs like comic books, built and invented and perfected. Machines are the future, his creations will…[...]
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I know something you don’t
Sandy squints at the people on the sidewalk as he walks out of the subway. Yes, he is aware that it’s a universal fact that parents of newborn babies usually…[...]
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To all the words we never spoke
(There was originally 4500 words in this) Dear Stranger, We haven’t met but I’m Theseus King, I live next door to you. You're moving in today, as I write to…[...]
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Ferraria Crispa
Content Warning: death, grief, mild violence (poisoning) “Where are you taking me, Mikhail?” Kwaniki asked as we walked through the forest. This was my favorite place—where the trees whispered the…[...]
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Still Waters
I’ve been a sinner from the start. It’s me, Eli. I should have introduced myself first, but I wanted to admit it to you again so you would know I’m…[...]
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The Monkey and the Leprechuan
The Monkey and the Leprechaun The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach may have hosted Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald during its heyday of the 1930s, but the most spectral of Palm…[...]
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Dream Connection
Harry was a normal guy. He had a normal job. He drove a normal car. Suffice it to say that he wasn’t the most exciting person. If he was a…[...]
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The Violator
*This story contains strong language* “And then I said,” I say to my growing audience at the coffee machine, “if you're too tight to give your staff a single coffee…[...]
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After Images of Summer
TW: Swearing, implied violence People always said that he was a bit odd, of course no one would bother explaining why or how - but in a town this size…[...]
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Horse Thief’s Conundrum
Fog from Heaven's mount rolled across the field as a furtive figure crept between haystacks. When hooves sounded through the haze, the man dropped beneath his drab cloak to the…[...]
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Taking The Shot
Finally, they were outside and away from the Saturday night crowd. Erik reached out his hand, his back to the midnight energy of U Street, and signaled Auri to come…[...]
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they caged you in gold, let me break the lock
Iago Otho had been Master Blacksmith for the kingdom of Letrell for decades. He revolutionized armor and weapon designs, worked on his own inventions and was developing possible methods of…[...]
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Vincent’s Kiss
Vincent’s Kiss I was thirteen the first time I got kissed. I mean by someone other than family. It was early spring – the end of March or early April,…[...]
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A Short Story About A Very Long Love
A Short Story About a Very Long Love Curtis didn’t die alone. He died exactly the way he wanted to. Eddie made sure of that. He promised Curtis he would.…[...]
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Final Broadcast
Entry 01 Mission Time: +23 hours since impact Personal Recorder — Manual Activation Mission Specialist — Dr. Adrian Hale The ship groaned. It made a long, dragging sound, like nails…[...]
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Daughter, Daughter
Mothers are supposed to love their children. It's just how it's meant to be. The sun rises every day, grass is green, and mothers love their children.But sometimes it's dark…[...]
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Family Christmas
Josh stared out of the window as his train left Runcorn Station and began making its way over the Mersey River, heading towards Liverpool. The morning light struggled to filter…[...]
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breakfast and beginnings
(italicized dialogue=speaking in Chinese) They’ve been playing chess for about fifteen minutes before Ishmael realizes Stone’s been gone for too long. Another ten minutes go by, and his inward fretting…[...]
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DJ + RJ’s 21st and Final Date Night
VOICE NOTEDECEMBER 23RD, 2019 - SAN PEDRO, CAThere is a shuffle smothering the microphone. The muffled sound of voices, clinking plates, and shifting of leather dominate the recording. This continues…[...]
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