April’s Fool
I just received my tax bill. Are you serious-a penalty? A late filing fee? Excuse me. For what? Everybody knows there's no April 31, and April 1 doesn't count. Why?…[...]
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The Weight of Silence
At first, she didn’t notice it.Silence wasn’t loud. It didn’t knock or announce itself. It didn’t arrive with warning signs or sudden shifts. It didn’t come crashing into her life…[...]
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Fiction meets Reality
Lester Dent—author of the famous pulp-fiction series Doc Savage—finished describing his favorite character for his next installment in the series, The Submarine Mystery, and leaned back in his chair. “Good…[...]
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He That Began A Work In Me
I don’t know what to do. I pace in my cozy, blue-walled bedroom. It’s just after 8am and I’m not ready to go anywhere. I have an itinerary that I’m…[...]
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The Potter
“I don’t really want to go anywhere. Plus, my garden needs attention and that landscaper made a mess of my tulips”, Menzi explained himself to his persistent colleague. “You’ve been…[...]
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The Last King of Rome
If he stopped remembering, the world would forget Rome. Romulus was tired of carrying it. He stared at the colossal statue of Augustus, daring those below to look upon its…[...]
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Between the pages
“What do you think, how long will it take her to acknowledge us?”Romy watched Adele chew on a pencil. She clearly hadn’t moved a bit forward in her writing. What…[...]
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An Inland Sea
emotional and financial abuseI am in my regular spot this morning, the navy blue chair-and-a-half, staring out at the big lake. From here, it looks like an inland sea, a…[...]
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The library of imagination
The wind rustles through the forest. Above my head the trees crack like old bones in a body. The crisp morning smell of the pines enters my nose. One of…[...]
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The Easter of Colors
I went out into the garden this sunny morning and saw that the yellow plum blossoms had opened, dazzling white flowers. The lawn was green and the leaves on the…[...]
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Call Your Father
The wall stared without question or expectation.There were scars hidden beneath its caked layers of paint, every one a silenced story consumed by the beige expanse. It stood despite them.…[...]
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Lost Irises
*Note: Story contains references to mental health, grief, loss, and self-harm. The azure skies descended into a blaze of bronze, copper, and Chardonnay that stained the cotton candy clouds above…[...]
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There is no Color
Withering willows and gentle breezes, leaves falling and moving seasons. Life once had a shape and an enchantment, but lately everything feels as though it's turned into ashes. The sky…[...]
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The Shadow of the Almighty
There’s nothing quite like a starlit sky, Mvelo thought to herself and smiled as she stared right into it. The navy blue to black background was perfect for the stars.…[...]
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Exceptionalities
Driving has always been my quiet reset button—the place where my thoughts finally line up instead of running into each other. The other day, I got in the car with…[...]
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SPECULATION
understanding- - Start ‘on’ the beginning “Write…..write….write about me” …. “and let people know that they’re not wasting their time”! ‘And so I will’! To my few followers, I apologise…[...]
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Greater Than Fear
GREATER THAN FEAR Today is April 31 and the northern hemisphere should have been celebrating spring and rebirth, instead the whole world was mourning the death of civilization. A whole…[...]
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The Monster’s Question
The hum started the day Specialist First Class Zoe Toussaint stopped being a man and became a weapon. It followed him everywhere now—a low, growling frequency beneath the skin of…[...]
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Craving a Mind
CW: Violence, self-harm, mental health Hurt. Sick. Pain. I can barely see. Every minute, I hunch over to sink my teeth into something. Something that makes me feel…alive. Good. The…[...]
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Echoes of the Hillside
I sat upon a hillside, all my life before me and behind me, somehow it is possible to already have lived your future, did you know that? When you grow…[...]
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Left but not Forgotten
Left but Not Forgotten Blue and soft pink streaked across the horizon on an early May morning, colors blending like brushstrokes across the sky. Birds gathered at the feeder, fluttering…[...]
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Promise keeper
Today is April 31, 2020. I’m not sure why I care but I peep at my phone screen and take note of the date. It’s a Saturday. The sun is…[...]
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A Strange Cure
Jonathan glanced out the window at the sunset developing in the West. Fog had rolled in earlier, partially blocking the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. On any normal day,…[...]
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The Lone Traveler
Beneath barren trees that loomed high in what remained of the forest, Roddy held his breath and pushed his face deep into the wet mud as he crawled toward the…[...]
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At thirteen I defeated the weight of silence in Rome and took to the streets
They attacked me with a brass knuckle, and I am only thirteen years old. I have always lived in Rome; I am a volunteer of the Youth for Peace who…[...]
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they might steal The Son Because The Priest is bunting
I hope one day they’ll raise the draft age and I can die somewhere outside Tehran, as a conscientious objector, subjected to helping the wounded of the current administration's policies,…[...]
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Thoughts I Couldn’t Silence
I don’t understand why the sky is blue.I’ve heard explanations—about light, reflection, and the vastness above us—but none of them ever quieted the question inside me. Because what I was…[...]
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Me the Fish
There was an incident at the office opposite my shop today. I don’t know whether ‘incident’ is the correct word for what happened as it has such negative connotations. And…[...]
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Among the wild reindeer moss
Trigger warnings:mental healthdeath, graphic words describing someone dying Chapter 1 As I’m sitting on my squeaky bed, the wind knocks om my wooden door; inviting me to go outside. The…[...]
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The Last Prayer
According to the Internet, belief is the acceptance that something is true or real, often without requiring complete proof or evidence. In other words, it is the feeling of certainty—trusting…[...]
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A Handshake Above
I sit paralyzed on the sofa with my phone in hand, my thumb hovering over the login button to my Instagram account. I draw in a deep breath and coax…[...]
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Chasing Hope
I wouldn’t say that I’ve been tossing and turning and that’s how I ended up feeling the need to get out of bed. It’s deeper than that. Something is pulling…[...]
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IS IT TOO LATE?
Ba-dump, Ba-dump, Ba-dump, is all I can hear, but not all I can feel. I can feel the soft pressure of the mattress pushing against my back, and gentle caress…[...]
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Vessels: Through Smoke and Shadow
“Riders are on their way, we have to move. I sense them coming near us.” Amaya stated in a stern voice, pouring her water onto the campfire and extinguishing it.…[...]
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What it Really Means to be Human
What it really means to be humanUnclean. That word has plagued my life for the past 12 years. It’s become more who I am than simply what I am. Unclean……[...]
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The Weight of a Name
Thump. Thump. Thump. Somewhere between twelve and thirty, Daryl Whitecloud figured out that your body doesn’t care about your uncertainty. Your mind can turn a question over and over in…[...]
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The Sound of Her Heartbeat
‘You’ve got this!’ Rachel heard the voice cry out, encouraging her, pushing her on. Rachel worked hard. The novel was almost there. Eighty thousand words, that’s all she needed. Yet…[...]
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Broken Promise
Huddled in the cave, behind the boulder, as small as he could make himself, Carson could hear footsteps approaching. Closer. Closer. Closer. Carson caught a whiff of the stench that…[...]
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I Was Here
thump… thump… thump…That is where I begin.My heartbeat.Small. Fast. Certain.I didn’t know the words yet, but if I did, I think it would be called living.It is the first thing…[...]
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A Stranger in the Garden
Joseph Merrick awoke in the light of Easter dawn, already excited. All through the dark days of Lent and Holy Week, he’d been looking forward to this day. While he…[...]
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First & Last
First The water won't sleep. It lifts and lowers the boats all night long. It slaps the sides of each. I do not understand the sound. It is like a…[...]
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A Good Day
1.As I sat at the bar, I slowly realized I had no idea how I got there or what I had done the rest of the morning, leading up to…[...]
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Bucket of Joy.
Rhiannon had been totally blindsided by her unexpected reduncancy. She was always regarded as one of the rising stars in her field of expertise. Until that afternoon, she had an…[...]
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What Happened To Father?
Chris Flynn2,135 words What Happened To Fatherby Chris Flynn It seems like it’s been forever in the desert. My mind and my heart are in two totallydifferent places. My emotions…[...]
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The Sinner’s Angel
It now seems unfortunately ironic to say her house was full of life.The little stone walk that led from the street to the porch meandered through the garden. The first…[...]
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The Love of Time
As a woman of twenty-three, I find life is too full and the days are too short for family condolences or family memories. This is a life of lust. A…[...]
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From a false truth to a lie the path is blurred: in search of the truth for the manager of a property
This is a story that draws on an authentic experience.It is a story that hides a fraud and a false belief but let us start from the beginning. The story…[...]
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Paulo Perez
For Paulo these were no new feelings, the lump in his throat from the shortness of breath, the electric like tension he feels all over his skin, and rise in…[...]
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But I have prayed for you
The sanctuary is packed. I'm already sweating and it's only been ten minutes since I arrived. I'm waiting in the doorway and pretending to be busy with my phone as…[...]
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The Heart Posture for True Love
Vikie and Tonya have been best friends since they were 5 years old. Their parents always told them that when they got older, they would become wives and have a…[...]
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Chicken Noodle Ice Cream
Sharron looked through the frosty glass at the ice cream shop and took in the six options. “This is all you have? Vanilla…that's creative. Look, to go along with it,…[...]
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CHRISTIAN-ISH by Brittney Gathen
I couldn’t have heard him right. Tonight was supposed to be the night that Eden Aimes life changed for the better, the night that all of her mama’s coaching and…[...]
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Grandma’s Gin and Coke
My grandmother did everything with a cigarette in one hand, a gin and Coke in the other, and a ready joke on her lips (often a crude one). In the…[...]
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Wife and Mother
TW: Contains themes of sexual violence and religious reinterpretation Wife The way that the rainstorm can turn sideways and knock me off my feet is the way that he came…[...]
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Cain and Abel (And Aclima)
Abel called the name of I, his dear sister, and joined me on the rock in front of the river. And he breathed in the warm air and said, “I…[...]
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Starting Over
CW: Mental health, physical violence The morning sun crept through the bedroom window and slowly engulfed the bed where Angela was sleeping. Half opening her eyes, Angela silently rubbed the…[...]
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A Mother’s Love
May 12, 1985, New York University Langone Hospital The doctor said a prayer before walking into the waiting room to speak to the family. He had done his best, but…[...]
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“Ah,” said God. “My last cigarette.”
God reached for his thunderbolts, an extra pair of Greek leather sandals, two white robes, and his trimmer. It was all he could fit into his suitcase. Everything else would…[...]
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The Education
I’m not really the college type. But my parents said if I want to ever make money, I need college. And they paid my way. I nearly flunked out. Probably…[...]
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About religious addiction
There is not much practical advice on how to escape from the clutches of religion. Religion is a source of peace and life, but at the same time it can…[...]
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“Sometimes, paths cross sooner than one may expect.”
The train couldn’t depart sooner, could it? Stella sprinted through the Kufstein train station, dodging people like a professional alpine skier, her trench coat flying behind her. She was already…[...]
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The Surgery That Changed Everything
The alarm rang loudly in the quiet room.Beep. Beep. Beep.Rolling over slowly, I reached for my phone and turned the alarm off. I stayed lying there, staring up at the…[...]
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Vessels: Where the Sun Smiles
I sat on a rock, observing everyone with a quick glance. Kaelith and Amaya seemed to be deep in conversation. Amorette was practicing her lyre. She had placed a spell…[...]
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In The Most Peaceful of Places
“McGraw…” Miles whispered as he ruminated on the meaning of his own surname. “I wonder what that would mean to anyone else if I asked them.” He leaned back in…[...]
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An Adventure with Bob, Fred, and Doctor Dill Pickle
Once upon a time in the land of Snackville, Bob the Cheeseburger, with his cheese self and Fred the Taco with his spicy salsa, and their wise friend Doctor Dill…[...]
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The wanderer of Nod
The Wanderer of NodThe odometer on the dash of the ’74 sedan had stopped turning centuries ago, frozen at a number that looked like a long, tired sigh. Cain didn’t…[...]
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Access Denied
Trigger warnings- Views on Religon and politics may not align with all readers. “Knock, Knock. You got a minute?”“Sure, Peter, come on in. What Can I do for you?” “I’m…[...]
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Window To Heaven
She woke up with the first streaks of sunlight hitting her bed. It was a beautiful morning outside, the sky a perfect tone of blue, but Serena felt an inexplicable…[...]
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What would you call it?
Dear Heavenly Father Do you think I’m a fool?, like how most people say that I am. They call me stupid and gullible and yet my grades prove that I’m…[...]
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Seaside Redemption
John Norton loved the peace and quiet of his palatial home on the bayside of 94th Street in Ocean City, Maryland. After a busy day filling prescriptions at Atlantic General…[...]
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Time Stops
This story begins with the day I was born. This is not your usual day of birth. On this day, I am 41 years old. I’m in a gay bar…[...]
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Love is the Answer: My Second Chance at Life
My life hasn’t been easy. You see, I should have been dead a long time ago. As Langston Hughes says, “My life has not been a crystal stair.”I was an…[...]
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The Pregnant Baby Boy
He wakes everyone up at 7 am every day. He screams and screams until he is picked up and fed milk. He is rocked back and forth, held, and poops…[...]
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Alessandro and the Greenhorn Kayaker
Our timing couldn’t have been worse! The large water-taxi launch was bearing down full speed straight towards us as my date, Sandro, and I, struggled to get ahead of its…[...]
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The Margins of Rock Bottom – Based on My Lived Life Experience
She didn’t mean to make a ceremony out of it. It just happened that way. The first page tore too easily. The sound surprised her with a soft, almost polite…[...]
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My Troubled Bridges
By Frances Gaudiano “I can’t come visit you at university,” I told my daughter. “Why not?” She wanted me to take her shopping and out for a meal – a…[...]
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The Day at Golgotha
I’ve made a mistake. A robbery that went wrong. You see, my brother and I took many riches from our master. We were supposed to give it to our families.…[...]
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Human Composting
Includes sensitive content of death and burial Father Gianpaolo, I am sending this article to you and as we have previously crossed paths and will surely do so again. I…[...]
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No Angels Came
I never wanted the money. I only wanted the miracle he promised me would happen if I forced his hand.People will say I sold him. They will say I was…[...]
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One Life So Others May Live
Prompt: Write a story that includes the words “déjà vu” or “that didn’t happen.” An obnoxiously loud alarm sounded jarring me from a troubled night of dreams. The ringing only…[...]
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The Absolution of Judas
Max knew it was a bad idea. He knew he was obsessed. He knew the repercussions were catastrophic. He no longer cared. He had spent all his adult life on…[...]
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Peter, Paul & Merryweather
PETER, PAUL AND MERRYWEATHERNow faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 ESV*** You almost certainly surely remember the worst bad news.…[...]
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Sans Neige
How am I supposed to know if it was for the better or the worse? I grew up ordinary—middle-class, suburban home. There were trees and streams, but being in the…[...]
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The Maverick
“Come in! Nozwelo? Yes, Come in please.”Nozwelo walks in with her potential boyfriend and manages a formal smile when she locks eyes with Dr. Khoza. The young man who follows…[...]
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Broken Homes
The house's exterior was neat and clean. The porch swing tipped back and forth without a creak. All my good memories seem to have lined up beautifully out here. I…[...]
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5000 miles (五千英里)
Five thousand miles is the kind of number that sounds clean until you try to live inside it. It’s a number you can Google. Taipei to Seattle. The little airplane…[...]
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My Mother’s Book
My mother held the Book. She held it against her belly the way she never held any of us. Both hands on it. Her thumb crushed against the edge so…[...]
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