Romance Short Stories

The Beginning of Writing

It was 7:45 in the morning, and I was already late for school. I only had fifteen minutes left to arrive, but it always took me around thirty minutes to…[...]

Reloj

Reloj “Can you afford that?” The calories, The pounds, The time, The money. The time The money The time The money The time The money The time The time I…[...]

Perdidos

Mamá's lost her mind again. It happened sometime last night. I know because it's Saturday morning and her station wagon is gone, and the house doesn't smell like huevos rancheros,…[...]

The Misery in El Rábano

Luis grabbed the menu the waiter had placed in front of him. His week had been particularly hard and he had been looking forward to this dinner for a long…[...]

CONTENT WARNINGS: Implied sexual violence (not explicit), mentions of child abuse and domestic violence (not explicit), kidnapping, cultural erasure, alcoholism. The photo that sat on the fancy fireplace with the…[...]

A Conversation Between an Immigrant Parent and American Daughter

I am bathing in the realm of darkness, after dusk there is no goddess that lives within the sky to shine light. As I go to undress for peace my…[...]

The Desert of Truth

Alexander trudged across the flat desert. Guided only by twilight, he was startled when he heard a call not far from him on his left. “Ahoy!” Alexander flinched and turned…[...]

A Sober Thought

“My name is Alvaro Vasquez and I am an alcoholic.” About twenty solemn eyes were fixated on me as I forced the last hard ‘c’ out of my mouth…[...]

Julia

Her name was Julia. So classic, yet pronounced so differently depending on who said it. It was that pesky ‘J.’ It sounds different in Spanish. She never thought about its…[...]

The Factor I Once Understood

Each word spoken ignites in my ear, warm and wet. “Oh - kay, Abuela. I get it, but do you need to yell? I hear you.” I glance at the…[...]

Once a Revolutionary

Once a Revolutionary By A.G. Ortiz The late afternoon was thick with humidity, the sky a blazing haze of blood reds and burnt oranges. The leather straps that bound her…[...]

Only Paranoia If You Are Wrong

The three most common things you’ll hear about from a Houstonian, the traffic is some of the worst in the country, the heat (enough said), and oil is king.The traffic…[...]

Trust & Advantage

PART ONE: “I’m sorry Henry, I can’t do this again.” “I thought this was what you wanted.” “It is. Or, at least, it was. Things between us were easier when…[...]

Silver Linings and Golden Grief

Trigger Warnings: Death & Homophobia Zoila wasn’t invited to the funeral. She received the call when her grandfather had only been a day cold. She could’ve stormed in as they…[...]

Gutter vs. the Universe

Gutter almost skipped out the door. Tonight was finally the night! Gutter had been thinking about this moment for 10 years at least, since that fateful morning in third grade…[...]

Adventure tale by candlelight

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. The young Bell girls gasped, “The power went out.” Vicky and Allison had colds, and were soon…[...]

18 East

“Someone grab her legs! Me and Allen have her arms. And watch it, she’s a spitter. And--- I’m sorry------ you.” Santos had no hands free, so he nodded towards another…[...]

Unlikely Bonds

Jose and Amelia inhabited two separate worlds that seldom intersected. Jose, a middle-aged construction worker with weathered hands and a tough exterior, had spent most of his life working long…[...]

Flowering Desert

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Hate crimes - mental health - terrorist attacksI was a 15 year old teenager living in Texas when I saw in the Rider's Digest magazine, back in 1984,…[...]

Today is Going to be a Good Day

The smell of fried dough reaches the upstairs washroom where I run my fingers through my curls. My stomach grumbles, pleading for a bite. Today should be a good day.…[...]

The Ungentling

Bill’s disappeared upstairs with the little sickly girl but me I’m here to see the blind woman. I hear she did it on purpose, tore donkey tail out of the…[...]

MEDESTO HAD TO DIE

“Wake up, Christo. We’re about to land.”Christobal stirred, though his eyelids barely moved.“Love, you’re exhausted. I hope this trip there will be time for you to rest.”“We will see, Jovana.” Christobal yawned and…[...]

The Turning of the Bones

My mood had changed drastically after hearing the big news. Nothing could ever prepare you for hearing about a loved one dying, even when you know it's coming. That was…[...]

Tears For No One

“This place is perfect,” said Felix Radman. We were driving to through Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. I wasn’t recording him this time. “Thieves, gangs, prostitutes, beggars, murderers. Drugs—so…[...]

Sins of the Father

WARNING: *MENTION OF WAR AND CONFLICT* His trembling hands opened the door, where he found the room where he lost his innocence. The wall’s plaster drooped down to the floor…[...]

Gender Reveal

The slam of the car door instantly cuts off the music coming from the backyard. Slumping into the driver seat, Gustavo waits. Feeling the glare of Gloria’s gaze, he knows this routine. No…[...]

Love in the Time of Asthma

The mask swam elephantine and bug-eyed in the dark glass. After several years of passing the auto shop, whose empty windows were the only ones between the drilling fields and…[...]

Isabella; A life

Nothing really happens for an old lady in her 70s. All she has is her memories, even as they fade away. In the heart of a small village in southern…[...]

Craved

These story hints at physical abuse in a domestic violent relationship. The theme is breaking a cycle of abuse and struggling with the mental health ramifications of a prolonged abusive…[...]

Speak of the Bruja

“It isn’t likely that she will recover,” said the doctor. Her dark brown hair was tied back tightly so that she could appear to be smiling, even when the corners…[...]

Siblings Reunion

“Where to?” She slides her finger on her phone as it pulls up a green hologram of a map of the forest. “My guy says there have been sightings of…[...]

Lydia

The taste of the bar of soap used to hand wash her father's trousers injected bitterness into Andrea's cheeks. Floral notes of artificial jasmine mixed with the taste of battery…[...]

Stopped at the Light

The air outside my car registers a scorching 91 degrees. Nevertheless, there is a team of performers and street vendors standing at the intersection of Via Espana and the little…[...]

I can’t sleep

I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep, but I can cry. I can’t sleep, but I can still breathe. I can’t sleep, but I can still worry. I can’t sleep, but…[...]

Watercolors

He tells me to sit still.It is not hard to do. I am lost in thought, lost in my reasons for being here.I keep thinking of that woman I never…[...]

Because He Likes You

My mother once told me about a time when she and Papí were arguing, and he got so angry that he raised a lamp to hit her with. Those were…[...]

Honey

HONEY By Emily Lozano Today, I’m going to my grandmother Rosa’s funeral for the 5th time. As I lay in bed with my little dog Rico, I think over the…[...]

Paolo’s Pinchos

Paolo’s PinchosPlease Be Aware of Sensitive Themes: Physical assault, cannibalism, murder, suggestive language and themes. A Pincho. A Puerto Rican street Kebab, tender, mouth-watering, barbecued meat on a stick. My…[...]

The Death of Kuvé Hwanuk

Accustomed as we are to cell phones, CNN, video games, it is difficult for us to conceive that, in one of the most remote regions, in the 18th century, José…[...]

From and Towards

There’s no way people actually eat this shit. I ladled the brown goo onto the plate and handed it to the person waiting in line. They accepted it gratefully, giving…[...]

Colonialcore

He looked up and the sky was full of rats. It is such a trope: the old city, the ancient pigeon shit. A whole park dedicated to the avian rodents.…[...]

The Biggest Shoes to Fill

Maritza had quite the reputation around the taco truck, Tacos Andrés, that she frequented after work. It was hard not to, when her work uniform consisted of a brilliant pink…[...]

Mr. Alvarez

My dear children, If you are reading this, I am dead. Hopefully you will read that part with an ominous voice, like a Morgan Freeman type of narration, I always…[...]

First Pitch

“A guest of a Blue Jays team player will throw today’s first pitch. The announcer says. “That lucky person is Paula Jimenez.” My sister and I look up from our…[...]

A Calling in the Wind

Mira’s silky black hair was braided back the way her mother used to do it for her when she was a little girl living in Mexico. Around her face a…[...]

Chan Chan

It crept up her spine like a malevolent spirit, leaving a clear path of prickled skin up her back. She had not heard that song in over 30 years and…[...]

Me, Myself, and Mexico

The wings of the plane obscured the view of the mountains below, only feint blotches of white peeking through the corner of the window. The seat beside me was empty,…[...]

A lifelong prophecy being fulfilled

‘All of these damned roads look the same, I’ve probably been going in circles this whole time’ My thoughts were the only thing keeping me company, considering that my radio…[...]

Murphy’s Law

Nayeli usually loved the bustle of Downtown LA in the morning. It was frantic, panicked; packed with pedestrians and cars, fighting for the privilege of moving first. The air was…[...]

The Moments We Keep

Sol sat on one of the benches in front of her school, waiting for her mom to pick her up. It was 1pm. They’d had a half-day since the teachers…[...]

A Plane Ride Away

There’s a sigh at the other end of the phone. Silence stretches out over the three-thousand miles between us. “I’m sorry,” I say again. “I just can’t get on the…[...]

Ana Rosales

Ana Rosales In a once quiet village in Oaxaca, the late afternoon sun sets, trucks amble in the dusty streets, feet stroll languidly, a feeling passing between brown faces of…[...]

The Lady in Blue

She woke up, letting out shaky breaths and clutching the sheets. As she wiped off the sweat from her forehead, she felt her legs bare and stared at the linen…[...]

Underneath Fernando

Ricardo followed Jorge reluctantly up the stairs to their section of the stands. Jorge turned to Ricardo, saw the expression on his face and rolled his eyes. “Why did you…[...]

The Janitor

[Note: Contains themes of gore, violence, inappropriate language, and substance abuse]Bus stopMario Perez always takes the 9:30 bus at 9 South down Prairie Blvd to work. He is a janitor…[...]

From Shame to Desire

I’d routinely go through my old belongings like clockwork. This time it was specifically because I’d be moving to New York for college soon. Birthday card after birthday card ranging…[...]

Foe or Friend

When someone yells "duck", one should lower his head, rather than turn around to see why he should duck! At least that is running through Doug's mind as he recalls…[...]

A Casual Look

Center your story around two people who meet at a wedding.A casual look, a little wink Can reveal just what you think …(The Six Teens, 1956) My name is Daniel…[...]

La Mesa de Abuelita

It was past 3am when Lucia awoke to a commotion in the kitchen. She went downstairs, drawn toward the sound of a wooden spoon scraping a pan. “Mateo, it’s after…[...]

Petrichor Enchantment

Ever since I remembered, everything’s been different. Running away has become a daily occurrence. But as an adult, the only thing you can run away is from your own shame,…[...]

Take Your Mask Off

How can a child be so afraid that everyone around them was given a guide to life that they seemed to miss out on. Well that’s how it feels. As…[...]

Night Of The (Unfortunately) Living Clown

In all my twenty years of working at 7-11, I had never seen some shit like this. Seeing the reptilian-looking corporate owner in the scaly flesh came close. I hated…[...]

Erase the Past

Jose Manganes, associate professor at Lima University on social anthropology, spoke to an attentive class of undergraduates,‘Good afternoon, everyone! Today, I want to pose a question that may seem bold,…[...]

working title and new emotions

One The air grew heavy at the nursing home. People come in and out. The sound of the wheelchairs being spread and folded, footsteps and chatter. This air of movement…[...]

The Outsiders Dance

She grew up in the in-between. In between the vibrant culture of her immigrant family and the unfamiliar life of a young teen in America. English wasn’t her first language,…[...]

Dance of Death

A gust of wind rushes into the room, and I sit up, shivering. The velvet curtains twine themselves, dancing among each other as the wind howls. The old wooden windows…[...]

A Stranger to Me

Ricarda dates the header of a new page in her journal, October 9th 1978. “Today, I met a man at the market. He was picking through the green chile peppers. I…[...]

The Ripples of The Comandante

Angela blurted out from the shore of the marsh: “I really didn’t think it was your ring when I picked it from my purse. I-I thought it was just a…[...]

By reason or by force

It came slowly, insidiously, like a fascist spider weaving its web, planting its threads from the peaks of the Andes to the beaches of the Pacific. It slipped into our…[...]

i hope it’s not too cold, wherever you are

It always seems to be that Nadine and I remember Mom's funeral very differently.I don't blame her--not really. Elena had been born that autumn,and although she was my sister’s second,…[...]

Dial Tone Dirges

[Tijuana, Mexico - Pay Phone outside Mercado El Popo, 1999] [Sound of coins clinking, dialing tones] "¿Aló? ¿Quién habla?" "Meire? Es Leah..." "¡Leah! ¡Dios mío! I can't believe it's you!…[...]

Messages for Tomorrow

The diagnosis paper trembled in Eduardo Ruiz's hands as he pressed record on his phone in his small Phoenix apartment. Since moving from Guadalajara five years ago to be closer…[...]

The Scissors and the Baby Blanket

The photo album is a no brainer.Too heavy and too big for a twenty-three kg suitcase. If I take it with me, I’ll have to pay the extra money for…[...]

Longing for Familia

Warning: story of immigration and deportation. It was Sunday again. The one day Misael looked forward to all week. It was also the day he dreaded the most, but he wouldn’t…[...]

La Angelita

Rita tightened the thin shawl around her shoulders, though it did little to keep out the night's biting wind. The cold gnawed at her skin, creeping into her bones, but…[...]

Chinese resteraunt Tea

The one thing that she did enjoy , was to watch the Jasmine tea leaves in a freshly poured cup, swirling lazily as they sank down and danced to the bottom. “Chinese…[...]

Cielo

Day 1 It started on a Saturday in mid-May. The normally cool May breeze had stagnated. The blue skies were cloudy and grey. Rain, perhaps. That’s what they thought, anyway.…[...]

Night of dominó, pulque & tricks

The waitresses went from table to table carrying mugs full of pulque and trays of green and red picaditas, dodging their way among the people who were dancing to the…[...]

This is Halloween

“Tienes Todo?” Mama says as they exit the house. The six year old, excited for her friends bounce house party, runs to the car not answering. “Wait! The gift!”, Sara…[...]

The Colours That I Took For Granted

A soft crunching emitted from the cold white snow as two large boots step onto it, a cold, silent wintry night, nothing but cars driving by, the occasional person walking…[...]

Emelin

Emelinby Oleg Bazylewicz The late Monterrey-Chicago flight was half-empty. Jennifer, a pleasant-looking flight attendant with big grey eyes and thick curly hair, was pushing her duty-free shopping cart down the…[...]

No place to live

What was normal for Sofia, was strange for everyone else...She saw the world in HD, vivid colors all around, sharp vision like an eagle’s, she was able to see auras,…[...]

Palo Santo

NOTE: This story deals with an ugly social bigotry, and thus some terms and phrases may be offensive to some readers.Probably the black pine tree that set her off.It wasn’t…[...]

El Ave Detrás del Mar (The Bird Behind the Sea)

Fernando hadn’t expected a full house, especially since nowhere in the promos or playbills had he mentioned his father’s name, the great Agustín Martínez Del Corral. In fact, Fernando had…[...]

The Good News

He was only 6 when mom and dad called him up to tell him the good news, except to him the news would not be good until many years later.…[...]

The Moth

I don’t understand; what inherently makes me more entitled to living than the moth I just killed? Alone with it now in the dimmed silence of my empty apartment, I…[...]

Cuentos de la Novia

1. Knocking on Doors I am unemployed, so I count the states. I lie in his bed in his apartment in his city while he goes to his job. I…[...]

Folds

INT. RESTAURANT, SERVER STATION We start with a static shot focused on a long stainless steel counter, a neat stack of white linens atop the surface adjacent to four large,…[...]

Graduating to Haitian

“Bonjou everybody!”“Hello Everybody!”“I am so proud of you.”A thunder of claps came from the crowd and I waited for it to tame down before I continued.“Wooh!” “You have made it…[...]

bed

It was the dead of night. I couldn’t see anything, and I was trashed, so it took me a while to get the key in. Our house was above average…[...]

The Eighth

Marisol Reyes had never broken a rule in her life, until the night in the library when she heard her name.Well, it wasn’t really her name. More like a random…[...]

Where is Laura?

Where is Laura?When my older sister, Laura, left home to go to university, Mom had to adjust to her absence. I saw her often viewing our old picture album. Maybe…[...]

Bad Gas

Marge Curvello brewed up the darn-best chili in the entire nation. It was rich, spicy, and filled with ingredients even the Devil wouldn’t know. She often joked that a bowl…[...]

The President’s Night

Daniela can’t stop smiling while watching the spectacular fireworks light up the dark night sky. It’s 10pm and the votes just came in. She will be the first Puerto Rican…[...]

Alama

Alama was born on July 12, 2025. Seven pounds, six ounces. Her mother said she “flew out,” like a bird being released from a box at a wedding ceremony -…[...]

The Lesson Plan

CW: Murder, violence, child abuse (referenced), strong language I always thought it’d be difficult to end someone’s life. Turns out it's easy as fuck.I imagined my morality would sprint in…[...]

St. Pablo

Fernando tipped his head to watch the clouds come into the town of Retiro over alto San Miguel and thought about money, the rain, and drowning. Which were really one…[...]

Dog Food

The front lawn of the Florida home on the golf course had become a 21st century dumpster fire. Tablets, 8K OLED monitors, game consoles, Alexa speakers, Google Home hubs, smart…[...]

I wish things turned out different

Note: various mentions of miscarriage, religion, and death. Apologies for the grammar and any punctuation errors. “Are you there, God? It’s me, Violet”, I whispered hoarsely. With my eyes closed…[...]

Walenco’s Shoes

When I was eight years old I shined the shoes of a boy named Walenco. Walenco had 24 pairs of shoes, a number I find impressive even today. It was…[...]