Romance Short Stories

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…[...]

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…[...]

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,…[...]

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.…[...]

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…[...]

My Love

Why isn't he dead? He's supposed to be dead. For five fucking years, he has been gone, buried under the ground. Which usually means not living. Non-breathing. No shit to…[...]

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…[...]

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…[...]

(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…[...]

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…[...]

violence is another form of toxic love

This story includes themes of consuming blood, withdrawal, and bloodlust. Being a vampire is grueling. Being a vampire around humans is even worse. We’ve been discriminated against since the start…[...]

The Pyramids of Broadway

The man who came over left a box of doughnuts on the coffee table. He’s been over before and he always brings treats. Not treats for me. Treats for the…[...]

The Good Dancer

Trigger warning- this short story contains strong sexual content, and mature themes. The Good Dancer. Introduction- Slow Motion. As he danced, the whole world stopped for me. I watched as…[...]

Charlie’s Closet

Charlie never feared her closet the way most children do.To her, it was a wondrous place; a kingdom where imagination ruled and magic existed.Sometimes, she'd pretend it was a way…[...]

Squad 546

The bullet had pierced through the supposedly “bullet-proof” vest. She looked at me in horror as she hit the ground. Before I could even move, she was lying in a…[...]

Is it me or is it me ?

Can I tell you what happened to me yesterday? Ok so I woke up around 1:30 in the afternoon. I know you’re judging me but listen my circadian rhythm was…[...]

Crossings At Dawn

Oneiron’s heels clacked against the pavement as he trotted down the silent streets of Ailinn City, his short silken robe swishing as he went. With a magnificent yawn, he paused…[...]

No Do Overs

CW: Strong language, sexual references The last of my folding chairs scraped against the floor as I set it down in Adam's elegant living room. Twelve in total, hauled from…[...]

The Well-Known Stranger

Five.The neon sign bathed the phone booth in soft hues of orange and pink. It was the only light that illuminated the key pad in the phone booth. Years of…[...]

My perfect muse.

Knives clattering, fire crackling, the sound of bacon fats burning, the imperfect harmony is powerless in breaking past the pounding music. Twirling and humming, my art is exemplary. The grill,…[...]

Rug Stains

THIS STORY CONTAINS DEPICTION OF KILLING/MURDER AND SUICIDE TOWARDS THE END!!There is a leak in the roof.Water drips down from a crack smack dab in the middle of the ceiling…[...]

the vibes are here and nothing else

Laughter erupts, bubbling and bright, into his room from outside. The sound is familiar. It sounds like Renée. M finishes tightening the knot on his tie and gives himself a…[...]

The Notebook

CW: Themes of obsession, stalking, sexual content and sexual violence. June 5, 2023 There is nothing more hurtful than knowing in your very core that you are not important. To…[...]

I’ll do it tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll do it.

SaturdayEvery Saturday me and my buddy Mikey always go for a walk together in the park as long as it doesn't rain. It started a few years back with us…[...]

A Heavy Sort of Small Talk

The room was heaving. Surprising considering it was just an industry party on a Wednesday night. A few free drinks she thought, an outing for the new dress she had…[...]

Another God

CW: Hate speech Another God Letters to Lundy: Whenever Daddy’s squeaky truck pulled into the driveway from work, fear washed over me like being doused with a pitcher of ice…[...]

Rise: Missed Opportunities

CW: This story contains themes or mentions of physical violence, gore, and homophobic sentiments. He takes one last look at his reflection before putting the intricately painted, gold ornate hand…[...]

CHE354 Final Research Paper

TW: This story features mentions of sex, pornography, and slight suicidal ideation Search historyJanuary 27th 1:00 pmCHE354 Final Research PaperSteven Bautista, microbiology cell uptake pdfSteven Bautista, microbiology cell uptake free…[...]

Unraveled Strings

There’s a story the stars guard within their bright light, blinding you to its existence far before your time. It strings together the gold and silver to light a vow…[...]

Plane To See

TW: Some homophobia. I sigh and heave my bag into the overhead.I look down and I’m stunned, then the person behind me asks, “If you’re done, may you please sit…[...]

Therevin’s Journeyman and The Colors of the Forest

TW: Grief My phone rings. I look to see Thomas’ Mom calling. She knows he and I broke up. Should I let the machine get it?After the third ring, I…[...]

In Good Company

There are three kind of cadets. The tough guys, who swagger around intoxicated by their own bravado. They have wet dreams about guns and wielding power that only a weapon…[...]

My Dearest Simon

My dearest Simon,War is hard without you.I thought the hardest part about being a soldier would be what they warned us about – trauma, death, sacrifice. And yet I sit…[...]

Second Chemistry

Vance Caldwell noticed Timothy Hargrove on the third Tuesday of September 1987, in Room 214 of Jefferson High School. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like trapped insects while Mr. Delaney…[...]

Two for Two

Alex lounged on the balcony of his second-floor apartment. A bit of sun slipped past the patio umbrella he’d zip-tied to one of the wooden posts, and, for the fourth…[...]

The Indent

A man stands before me, not paying attention to me at all, with lovely dark hair that holds soft curls and just a hint of silver. His eyes crinkle as…[...]

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…[...]

How to Help

“I don’t know what to do anymore.” Sierra pinched a tuft of her frizzy hair between her fingers. Split ends. Each strand ended in in a fork, with two lightning…[...]

MICHAEL AND THE WIDOW LADY

MICHAEL AND THE WIDOW LADY. ELK RIVER, CANADA, 1923 Michael Lynch returned from the Great War with sunken cheeks and a face as white as birch bark. He was still…[...]

he ate the goose in his ass

CW: References to suicide and homophobia. There once was a man named Jessie O'fallon, and as long as anyone knew him, his butt quacked every time he took a step.…[...]

Picture You

I’ve had my eyes fixed on the molten orange light from inside the kitchen window since the sun went down. In fact, I can’t remember if the chair below me…[...]

A Study in Daffodils

“Two, three, five, seven, eleven, thirteen, sevent—” “Hey!” Her shout cut through my counting, and I could feel the way my eyebrows knit together. “Hey!” she said again, this time…[...]

Moon Landing 2026: Sequins in Space

The Crew2026, and humanity has decided to revisit the moon. But this time, the mission is not just about science — it is about style, inclusivity, and proving that history…[...]

For the Love of Mankind

Billy lay in the wet grass and watched the wood and canvas aircraft circle in the sky above the fjord. It was a warm day, the sun beamed down on…[...]

The Sun’s Great Descent

The only thing I can manage to do in this moment is look at the sky, at the sun, at that over-encompassing plaster of color, and grand, imposing ball of…[...]

Second Chance

Trigger Warning: Mentions of neglect, substance abuse, abuse and abandonmentAsh was your regular college school student, he had decent grades, he had a few friends and as well had a…[...]

The 2:37 AM Club

*This story contains the use of homophobic slurs. The glow of the flickering open sign hanging crooked in the window. The whining creak of the door in harmony with the…[...]

Super Nature

“Here’s to you, my forbidden sweet” 10/06/1842. Magnus We've finally done it, seven weeks and we finally have it right here. I can smell the sparkles of their glitter residue.…[...]

Santo, Pero No Libre

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, forever and ever, Amen.” I stared at my mother after reciting…[...]

Coming Apart

“You swore you’d never fall apart on me like this.” “I know.” My fingers trembled around my dagger. Charya stood just a few feet from me, but I knew that…[...]

Longing for my Reason

“Good Morning Handsome”… “Good Morning Handsome”. I’m tempted to play the recording one more time, but I’ve been indulging in this for 25 minutes now and if I continue, I…[...]

She Calls Herself Carmilla

Warning: blood and suggestions of violence She calls herself Camilla after some long forgotten tale. As she stands outside the motel room door, she listens for signs of life inside.…[...]

I am a gay Italian real vampire, I drink blood , nice to meet you what do you drink?

This is a true story that appeared in some small Italian newspapers, in a village called Meldola. The protagonist is Horus, born Jacob Dimitri, an Italian gay vampire, head of…[...]

Match Box

Match Box Chapter 1My leather trolley bag followed like a puppy on a leash as I fast walked the concourse at Louis Armstrong Airport. I had to get out of…[...]

The Curse of Knowing

Perhaps it’d been the air, or something to be imagined by the attendees, but it felt as though a thick miasma had been cast over the processions. “He’d been a…[...]

You’ve Got Mail!

*TW mentions of suicide, homophobia, and mental health* [Thursday — 9:42 PM]PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, serious question.unsunghero80: This already sounds dangerousPeppermintMattie2323: If a substitute teacher dies during attendance, do we still have…[...]

Breathe

BREATHby Jer Long jer.long.author@gmail.com “Breathe. Just breathe,” Clark, my therapist instructed. My mind scattered that snowy afternoon; I focused on his wooden wristwatch. Its luminous green face shimmered like a…[...]

Graduation, Dreams, and Ospreys

TW: LanguageThe living room smells of smoke, cloying ash lodging into my sinuses. The misty heat from outside wafts down the chimney and creates a palpable shift in the temperature…[...]

All I Want For Christmas

It was a long way to Ezra’s parents’ vacation home. The road was narrow and winding, the switchbacks crawling up the snow-laden mountains. Darkness seeped over the horizon and the…[...]

The Well-Known Stranger

Five.The neon sign bathed the phone booth in soft hues of orange and pink. It was the only light that illuminated the key pad in the phone booth. Years of…[...]

Frozen Lemonade

Trigger warning: Contains underage sexual content, mentions of assaultYou know the movie Dirty Dancing? The one where Baby goes off to that fancy resort with her parents for the summer,…[...]

The World’s on Fire

Trigger: Cancer My head rocks back, long hair sticks to sweaty shoulders and my tank barely holds my jiggling A-cups as I pound it out, dancing. I’m that “Girl on…[...]

The Key

It was a key. An ordinary key. I found it when I was getting your books ready for Goodwill. It was taped to the inside of the back cover of…[...]

Villa Capri II

What it said:It isn’t anything fancy. If you are looking for good, fresh pizza, Villa Capri II is a good stop for a pie or a slice. Okay parking and…[...]

Sue’s Hot and Spicy Week

Sue’s Hot and Spicy Week.One sunny morning, Sue was sitting at her dining table in her quiet unit, eating her breakfast. Sue was on a week’s holiday from work and…[...]

Le Coucher de Soleil

The dark, cold rain clouds rolled over the city, blocking the sun from reaching the earth. It was a typical day in Paris, the rain just starting to fall gently…[...]

a little fish.

On this their fourth and final night in this magical place, they had plans to go back and eat at a restaurant they had already visited, which was generally against…[...]

That Hits the Spot!

Thomas just moved into his new apartment. He was fortunate enough not to have any roommates. He was as introverted as they come and yet even though he liked being…[...]

HUNGER

Present DayMy name is Laura Watson, and I'm the head chef at Riverside Restaurant in Ohio. But this story isn't mine to tell—it belongs to the man who taught me…[...]

For the Love of Beige

“Mom!” Ellie shouts into the clothes dryer, her voice muffled by a tangle of cheap, oversized sweatshirts and her favorite Viori sweatpants. “Mom!” She stretches the word onto multiple syllables.…[...]

Cooking for Gucci

This story is based upon true events. Some of the names were changed for accuracy Cooking For Gucci I picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello” “Hello, Mr…[...]

Words Hung Overnight

The shoemaker’s workshop went quiet the way small places do, all at once. The night’s work lay finished on the table. Shoes stood paired and straight, soles pressed smooth, stitching…[...]

Snow Cookies

“As the grey skies shed their first snowy tear, these snow cookies come only this time of year.” Charlie looked at his Auntie skeptically as she finished her recitation, hands…[...]

K-nine and my human

I woke up this morning feeling groggy and disoriented. I looked around and saw my human, bob, still sound asleep. I let out a big yawn and stretched my legs,…[...]

Wake, Wake

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, before the happily ever after, there was a crow, and a dove. The winter that year had been bitterly cold,…[...]

A Serendipitous Encounter

Rain tapped gently on the windows of the small downtown coffee shop, turning the city outside into a blur of shimmering lights and muted colors. Inside, the air was warm…[...]

A Mark

She loved herself first. Not always in a loud way. And not in an extreme way, but in the quiet way you love a place you finally know how to…[...]

The Inspection

Mr Percival Hemsley took quiet pride in rules, order, and correct procedure, which was unfortunate, as none of them had ever met Rose Cottage. Mr Hemsley arrived at Rose Cottage…[...]

Are you real?

Are you real? “Are you real?” The little girl whispered. Curious blue eyes just inches away, staring intently at the figure sitting motionless on the shelf in front of her.…[...]

Doing the Limbo

Doing the Limbo“Wake up, Meredith. I'm meeting Mark downstairs for breakfast if you want to join us. Then I'm going for a massage at the Vail Hythe Well and Spa.…[...]

Two More Days

Two More Days“Most enjoyable lunch experience, ever! You and this local place have a knack for entertaining, Ian.”“Thanks, Mark. Doing the limbo really conditions the core muscles you're gonna need…[...]

Maybe Tomorrow

“Can you read me another book?” she asked. “Maybe tomorrow,” her dad said. She got a hug and a kiss and laid quietly as she watched him walk away, turning…[...]

Found!

Have you ever felt truly lost and lonely, even when surrounded by people? I know I have—more times than I can count. Growing up is hard, and often I find…[...]

ever after, at last

Long ago in the land of everafter, Elowen sat in her bay window pondering why she couldn’t seem to fall in love. All of her loves before ended in tragedy…[...]

The Book Robber

Book Club Robber I pat at my hip where it always sits and clutched my bag tighter to my side.I can see through the glass, a normal crowd for a…[...]

A Written Rescue

Sam looked across the silent room in the institution where patients stayed who were said to have serious problems in their minds. There he saw his brother, Jim, whom he…[...]

Finding Myself

At first, I wasn’t going to go visit my dad for the summer break. Then the thought quickly dissipated and I decided to book that trip. A knock suddenly at…[...]

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED HER LIFE FOREVER

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED HER LIFE FOREVERTitle PageTHE BOOK THAT CHANGED HER LIFE FOREVER A Short Story by RhondaleeDedicationFor every woman who has ever felt lost, tired, or forgotten —…[...]

For Want Of A Macaron

Prince Landyn of Fenwick stood at attention for his father, King Henrod. The Silver Jubilee, mere weeks away, had stalled when the original designer, Count Philippe of Macadaria, eloped with…[...]

Aunt Donna’s House

Donna Baker never planned on becoming anybody’s “everything.”At forty-two, she had built a life that fit her like a tailored blazer—sharp, structured, dependable. She was a successful attorney in Philadelphia,…[...]

The Last Botton

The following Sunday, the tin was heavier. Mr. Alvarez noticed it the moment he lifted it from the shelf. Not heavier in weight, but in meaning. It carried something new…[...]

Mama’s Kitchen

“Get out of my kitchen!” Mama yelled, gently swinging a wooden spoon at the offspring, clogging her work surfaces and floor. While her voice was loud, her tone was joking…[...]

Barista Bubba

Barista Bubba finished swirling the whipped cream on top of the drink, placed it on the bar, and called out, “Half-caf triple grande hazelnut nonfat with whip mocha.” As the…[...]

GERALD THE DISAPPOINTED PLANT

GERALD THE DISAPPOINTED PLANTI once tried to improve my life by buying a houseplant. This was ambitious because I am a person who has apologized to a cactus. I named…[...]

What’s the Tea?

What’s the Tea?Sabrina Finch “Good morning listeners. I know you can’t see it, but I just settled down with a fresh cup of this new hibiscus herbal tea that my…[...]

Coffee Grounds

"I'm just so scared that I won't see it coming." Her back was turned to me, fibers from her fluffy, muted yellow sweater floating in the rays of sunlight shining…[...]

The Only One Who Can

Run.Don’t stop.Don’t slow.The air behind me still feels wrong, like the moment after a loud crash when your ears keep ringing even though the sound is gone. That hollow feeling.…[...]

The Dock

He stood at the edge of the worn dock. Gazing into the dark lake, he watched his reflection wiggle, distort and warp his figure like a funhouse mirror. The setting…[...]

The Ballad of Tom and Jerry

The Ballad of Tom and JerryBy Shana Salt “I’m really glad you decided to meet up with me after your shift at the hospital ended,” said Jerry to the pretty…[...]

Eggvolution

“HELP!! I’m trapped! This hard oval is surrounding me and I barely have room to move.” My cries echoed back in bleak silence.I keep brushing up against the curves of…[...]