Romance Short Stories

Surmount

I was falling. This was the end—and yet as I plummeted towards the dark depths, it felt like…flying. I heard that when a person was about to die they saw…[...]

What parts of us remain

Dr. Penrose is a dumb fucking name, Owen thought. It’s a dumb fucking name on a dumb fucking face in a dumb fucking hospital, and if Owen had to listen…[...]

Ying Yang Magic

*self harm, dark thoughts of murder, mental health, animal harm Nobody believed in me. That was their first mistake. They did, however, believe in my sister. That was their second…[...]

Daphne

They were butterflies, just butterflies. To Daphne, that’s all they were.All those flimsy name tags were quickly snipped off and flicked away. They fluttered through the air to join others…[...]

The Horologist

TW: death Tick. Tick. Tick. It is the old pocket watch on the counter to his right that Alistair can hear the loudest. The one he has just fixed. It…[...]

Chocolate and Nietzsche at the end of the world

The following is the re-telling of history as only the witnesses can tell it. Humans became putrid in these lands and died in droves. Doctors failed to diagnose the peculiar…[...]

Six Home Runs

VIDEO: Most Valuable S3E7 “Six Home Runs” air: 6 October 2016 dir. Henry Yang CAROLYN GENNARO: Welcome to “Most Valuable” on Showtime, interviewing the athletes at the heart of the…[...]

Blindsight

I wish I never got my sight back.That thought crossed my mind sitting outside the hospital, in the green Chevrolet Camaro my father left me. The sun rose, bathing the…[...]

The Funeral and the Feast

The old woman in a white lace dress had appeared in Claudia’s dream three days before her grandfather died. The dress was so crisp, so white, so beautiful it actually…[...]

A Love Story Between the Moon and a Wolf

The skirt of her kimono snakes a blue fluorescent zigzag through sparkling waters, teasing the surface with silk-like fingers to create a few moments of chaos on otherwise still waters.…[...]

Hagwon Hero

At 38, Jeong-min decided to enroll in an adult English class at a hagwon in downtown Daegu, South Korea. “A hagwon is like a for-profit cram school for anything. English.…[...]

April 20, 1939 – Tokyo, Japan Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara sat stiffly in the anteroom outside Ambassador Hiroshi Oshima’s temporary office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His expression was calm,…[...]

The missing dog

“Misa!” Mai shouted. “Did you climb on the sofa again?”Hearing his owner’s angry tone, the dog quickly scurried to a corner of the house. Mai grabbed a broom and approached,…[...]

Princess Putri

Princess Putri Mbak Dewi, came home, back to our village in Indramayu. Dewi, my sister, she is sick. She got alat bantu and must take a lot of medicine. But…[...]

A Lady By Birth

The rising sun - On a warm, summer morning, the sun stretched lazily as a mother experienced her first contractions. The nearest medical care was miles away and there was…[...]

Letters to Surabaya

Letters to Surabaya Dearest Daniel, 28/8/93 I‘ve just got home from the airport, and I miss you already. When you left, you took the better part of me with you.…[...]

Kamikaze

Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan–June 23, 1945 The scent of damp wood hung in the air as Mariko Yamaguchi finished wiping down the table tops at the café. The owner, Mrs. Takahashi,…[...]

Seoul Music

Autumn was seeking refuge from her reflection. She struggled to accept those almond eyes carved by the same hands that bruised her. Her shoulders quivered as she traced over her…[...]

In Memory of Rajkumari

When I was younger, I was quick to idolize people. Reverence came easily to me. I loved my mother for her soft voice and her quiet, pleasant nature—the way she…[...]

After Edith Left

I once knew an attractive young Chinese woman, well, quite a beautiful young woman was she, who had a special gift. When she changed into someone else’s clothes, she took…[...]

I am a Kathakali Dancer

I am a Kathakali dancer Kayalvizhi gazed at the piece of paper pasted on the mahogany-framed mirror in front of her. The words rang like the rustic bell in the…[...]

Eternal

BEEP BEEP BEEP Sept. 21, 1999 1:47am“Told you the floating glass shelves are as fragile as a broken heart.”“Why would you ever buy art just to stack them in a…[...]

The Last Letter

A Xiang, I've been thinking about the birds on campus—how they sing whatever comes to them, without hesitation. My professor stopped mid-lecture yesterday when I asked about the Hundred Flowers…[...]

Five Minutes

Higher and higher. Numbers are climbing up the scale. Almost every minute that goes by, another number increases. One minute, the radio read 36.9℃, the next it read 38.3℃, and…[...]

Convenience Story

Contains ideas of racism and xenophobia. Cherry blossoms only bloom in the spring. No one had thought to tell James. His dream of a blossom-filled life in Nagoya had withered…[...]

Sorry

“Lu, a wonderful news!” The doctor said on the phone, his voice brimming with excitement. “Your younger brother was regaining his memory. We gladly inform you that his cognitive function…[...]

Lola

(I realize the prompt is for something, but this story wanted to be written for this prompt.) The flight from Kansas City to Manila was a long one. Twenty-seven hours…[...]

As Beautiful As a Dream

In the backstage makeup room, Wen sat before the mirror, its row of glowing bulbs casting a sharp light that left his freckles nowhere to hide. The mirror seemed a…[...]

The Marlon Show

The cicadas screamed like the world was ending. No one paid them any mind. Nagoya Station buzzed, a collective hum of travellers transferring to towns they’d rather be in, salarymen…[...]

A Farmer Without Land

My father and mother had me one year after their marriage. In countryside, if a man or woman hadn’t married by the age of twenty-four, they would be called “leftover”.…[...]

Nian, The Ancient Monster

(The story contains theme of bullying) The clouds gathered, growing heavier. Ying’s tears had already dried, leaving faint streaks across her face. She squatted down, blood seeping from her scraped…[...]

Storming Into The Good Night

In downtown Beijing, the chilly draught marched alongside the rain, which battered the pavement ferociously. The chill seeped through Ling’s coat and into her skin, making her tremble. She stood…[...]

Tomorrow is Another Day

My work was done. I rode the elevator down to the hall, where people hurried past, their footsteps echoing around me. My ears, attuned to every nuance, allowed me to…[...]

The Gesture

The Gesture The station concourse was neither loud nor quiet. Sound moved through it the way air did—present, unnoticed unless something interrupted it. James stopped near a narrow counter set…[...]

Umami Kiwa — The Edge of Reduction

The smell reached her before the sound.It wasn’t smoke — not yet — but the broth had tightened, the umami deepening into something heavier than it should have been at…[...]

Bukubuku Cha, and the General’s Osettai

Fujinomiya lane was a dirt uphill road that came straight from coastal route one. It was a pleasant April morning in Shizuoka, and Kajifuchi wasn’t expecting any visitors to his…[...]

Sesame Chicken

A mother’s love language is in her cooking. A love language I thought were little gestures but as I grow older I’ve come to realize just how not so little…[...]

In the Garden of Love and Malice

Once upon a time, so the story goes, there was a petite young girl with doe-eyes named Maya who lived in this village. She had a beautiful garden. Her greatest…[...]

Mama, Don’t Go

Beijing’s lanes stretched astonishingly wide, overwhelming most pedestrians. Crossing from one side to the other took nearly ten minutes. From the overpass, you might be captivated by the grandeur, but…[...]

Shika Nee-san, or, Sister Deer

七月一日2001年July 7th, 2001 It was four months after moving to Hokkaido that I met her, the deer. She was timid at first, never venturing past the railing of conifers at…[...]

Bangkok coffee shop

Mook paid the driver, her money ready in hand before he’d even stopped. She wanted this to be over. Rejection was best done quickly. She climbed out of the taxi…[...]

The Hermit Encounter

Tenzin met a wild sage one time in the eastern Himalayas, where the winds were said to whisper strange and ancient secrets. This hermit lived in a cave. Tenzin knew…[...]

Dog Days at the Shrine

In the sweltering embrace of the Dog Days of Summer, the ancient shrine of Inari Okami baked under the relentless sun. Cicadas buzzed with a frenetic energy that only amplified…[...]

Torandot Redux

"Forget her, Cefalu," Gayle consoled. He lit up his pipe and turned back to face his friend. "Turan's a goddamn princess and you're just a--"Cefalu was no longer behind him…[...]

Cave Bug

GEORGEAre you there, God? It’s me, George Song, the most influential explorer in the 21st century, sweating his butt off at the bottom of a cave. I know you haven’t…[...]

You Watch Your Words

TW: Parental conflict, verbal/emotional abuse, comparison, self-depreciation, internalised pain “That’s it! I’m done talking to you! ”That’s your mother, in Mandarin.“You’re absolutely absurd!”That’s your father. In Cantonese. Then he murmurs…[...]

She Who Brings the Rain

Nobody seemed to notice that the rains came exactly when Miyo arrived in the small, rice paddy village of Minori. Nobody except Akira. *****Miyo floated in, signs of long travel…[...]

A Flower Once Bloomed

A Flower Once Bloomed Trigger warnings: Implied sexual violence (rape) physical violence and gore suicide (seppuku)This is somewhat inspired by The Crow and Blue Eye Samurai :) The snow drank…[...]

Goodnight Ong Ngoai

Dancing around my room dressed up as an ancient Chinese nobleman’s daughter while watching hong kong dramas was a regular occurrence for me when I was 12. I put chopsticks…[...]

The Twisted Child

The Twisted Child He was walking so quickly, I had to struggle to keep pace with him. Prashant Gupta, was a tall, heavily built, fleshy-faced gentleman with cruel eyes. At…[...]

Burn

“Do you still believe magic?” my daughter asked. “Yes, I do,” I replied. “This world is full of wonders.” I pulled the blanket up to her chin. After she drifted…[...]

A Day In The Life Of A Tokyo Witch

Everyday is the same. I work at the gas station convenience store. The customers come in. They pay for gas, cigarettes, vapes, or other snacks that are so full of…[...]

The Love

My mother lay motionless in the bush, showing no trace of life. I wept until every tear was gone, and until I was left exhausted and starving. I had no…[...]

LOTUS SLIPPER

I remember reading a story about binding the feet because the reader was never asked her hand in marriage, and following the story made her realize that a man doesn’t…[...]

which one does it make friendship better?

After I worked as an actor at a small local theater, I rushed out of the theater to meet my best friend, Mari.I arrived first and I turned around.“There she…[...]

The Garden of Lonely Fools

A century from now, it will be burned to the ground by a horde of zealots. They will believe in modern fashion and old-fashioned ideals. I’m glad I’ll never get…[...]

The Wandering Donkey

THE WANDERING DONKEY “Let me carry those bags for you, Mama Mu.” Mama Mu glanced at her slight companion with a baby strapped to her back. “San-nu, I may be…[...]

Beneath It All

The emaciated corpse lay cloaked under a Union Jack flag, the dried blood staining the cement beneath. It was an odd scene, even for the eyes of seasoned Hong Kong…[...]

Eur Ok?

There are 492 one star reviews of the miniprogram and 678 for the app. It’s my job to respond to each new bad review. Of all the things we’ve replaced…[...]

A Tragedy at Sea

SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING: Death, GriefTamae Mitsufuji had just turned nineteen. It was the sixteenth of December, 1946.Tamae and her grandfather had just spent the night at her aunt’s house on…[...]

Midsummer Rain

Jin- seon inhaled sharply, groped weakly at the long spear pinning her to the ground, blood spilling from underneath her iron chestplate, shirt already soaked with blood. The demon stood…[...]

Between The Lines

Elena Santos gripped the armrest of her seat as the plane descended into Tokyo’s Narita Airport. The hum of the engines vibrated through her, amplifying the nervous energy that had…[...]

The perils of assisted living

It was all a huge misunderstanding. And Marnie had started so well. The concierge had rung the bell at the back door. She had struggled with the heavy frame and…[...]

They Will Learn My Name

Lakshmi found it quite easy to sneak into the palatial coastal compound of Visakhapatnam. How those so otherwise observant can ignore the hired help on many levels was astounding to…[...]

Inheritence

(This story features mentions and minor descriptions of abuse, death, wish of murder, and suicide.)Kaito stepped off the evening train into the humid breath of Kyoto, the cicadas screaming from…[...]

Show Him Hell, Yeong Kim

When my hands were coated with blood for the first time since I left, I knew he couldn’t be forgiven. The beautiful girl I made a promise to marry laid…[...]

Conundrum

A moment lived is a moment loved. We don’t think about past memories as children. We simply live it. It was as present as we could have ever gotten. Now,…[...]

Underwater Fireworks

{Warning: this story contains strong sexual themes and explicit descriptions of sexual acts.} Matsuri hadn’t washed her hands thoroughly enough. She could still smell the liquid desire that had leaked…[...]

The Smiling Flower

The Smiling Flower“The sky is so distant,The wind so crisp and clear,The sea so vast, and so brilliantly blue—And there you were, naturally, in my sight.”IThis was the 18th blind…[...]

This Thing so New and Nostalgic

The waves are violent in Hokkaido. They leap up and smack the shore with a loud clack that shakes all the plates in their cupboards and the babies in their…[...]

my land never changes

u will know which country i am referring to ... ?keke ...the weather never changes here , hot and wet ... always , 366 days a year.. !Cost of living…[...]

The Sun Always Shines (Even When It’s Raining)

Lyla's Her boots clicked against the old cobblestones – tap, tap, tap. The sound bounced between the buildings lining Main Street, those ancient brick beauties from back when people actually…[...]

Clearpool

It was stiflingly hot in the MV Clearpool’s aft hold. Situated just above the engine room, the smell of grease, diesel and sweat was overpowering. The four men worked quickly…[...]

The Tea Company Workers

Nobody living outside the world understood how the residents of Sin SLAMPPEP, the world without love, existed. No rationale supported human existence there because there was no love there, which…[...]

Praying for Tomorrow

(Sensitive Content notes: mentions of weapons and death) We carried her boat as we neared the Yalu River. The Chinese villager spoke to us in broken Korean. He would take Ji’s…[...]

Shadows of Nagasaki

The long, boring summer days stretched endlessly, each one blending into the next like the slow, languid waves kissing the beach shore. The heat in Tokyo was oppressive, a heavy…[...]

Asian Pears

“Would you be interested in going back in time?” asked Dr Lee.That caught Mary’s attention. She snapped her gaze away from the window and, though she knew how impossible it…[...]

The Universal Obsession of Max Preensworthy

This is the story of Max Preensworthy, a man addicted to exactly the same thing as you or I. I'll come back to that. First about Max: Max is almost…[...]

Left Behind in Fukushima

I’m sitting on a coach bus at 7 a.m., staring out the window, scanning the streets for tourists. This isn’t where I thought I’d be. Not after graduating with a…[...]

The Woman on the Train

The train car trundled along steadily, only slowing for the occasional station. While clean, the age of the train was obvious. The wall panels were dark, lacquered wood, matching the…[...]

Apocalpyse Crying

Their horses are more nimble than leopards and swifter than wolves in the evening: their horsemen will spread out. And then their horsemen will approach from far away: they will…[...]

Letters to Surabaya

Letters to SurabayaDearest Daniel, 28/8/93I ‘ve just got home from the airport and I miss you already. When you left, you took the better part of me with you.How am I going…[...]

A prickly situation

Meeting the prisoner on death row caused my skin to prickle as if a porcupine had walked over me. ‘Take a deep breath. It doesn’t matter what horrendous crime has…[...]

The Last Lantern

The lanterns swing above the main street. They are lit day and night, flickering a bright yellow light that never goes out. It has always been this way. Lin runs…[...]

Yurika’s Tale

“Did you hear that?” “What?” “I heard Yurika was spotted going to a hotel with Teacher Masuda.” “Wow, seriously?!” “Isn't Teacher Masuda…” “Yes! He's already married. Doesn't that make her…[...]

Quiet Shadow

Michael Hughes set his teacup down with practiced grace, eyeing across the veranda. Behind him, a red pagoda cast long shadows over his otherworldly garden, where solemn statues stood sentinel…[...]

The Devil You Know

I made it to Lamma Island the day the ferry stopped. I’m an American who has lived in Hong Kong since high school, I know the territory, and I choose…[...]

A Christmas in Japan

Maybe I was just trying to escape from my problems–'doing a geographical’ as the self help people say these days. Or maybe I just wanted to have some fun. Regardless,…[...]

A Long Day’s Rain

And so, the longest day in Mogali's life would end up being the shortest. Every now and again, she heard the metallic tinkle of her little trigger-ring play against the…[...]

someone who turn over a new leaf

it was in secondary school when all this occurred : being a top achiever . he has always gotten good grades since schooling but everything change when he went up…[...]

The December I Used to Know

It’s December again. I hate December. The twinkling and the flashing Christmas lights. They make you dizzy when you stare too long or try to follow the lighting pattern. And…[...]

PUSAKA

I am Pusaka -- a finely wrought spearhead that was forged centuries ago on the Island of Java by the hands of an Empu, a kingdom priest whose name has…[...]

Calling From Myanmar

When he got pulled into the scam, young Junyu was a college grad living in Shanghai. At 22, he still lived with his parents and spent most of his time…[...]

The Stories in My Tea

Tea has always been more than just a drink for me; it's a ritual, a comfort, and a keeper of stories. Each cup I brew holds fragments of the past,…[...]

BFF , best pal

One of my best pal , he is fuming with anger , frustration and jealousy , quite a selfish guy to be exact and by the way , most of…[...]

Tea with Pema

Fingers numb with the chill, Tsering lifted the bowl of bödja to his lips and let the silky broth wash through.The next moments were lost in warm ecstasy.It was his…[...]

The Farewell

Konishi Sahei closed his ancient, grey eyes and inhaled deeply. The small room was suffused with the smell of chrysanthemum. He liked that; it reminded him of his younger days. Opening his eyes…[...]

Meng Po’s Tea for Forgotten Memories

Meng Po's Tea of Forgotten Memories Deity involved: Meng Po (Grandma Meng), the Goddess who helps deceased souls to forget their past lives before reincarnation from Chinese mythology“You’re back again?” She…[...]

The Boatman

The Boatman A dawn haze hung low over the Hooghly River, shrouding the lush countryside in a blanket of surreal calm. The imposing river, one of many Ganges tributaries, wove…[...]

A Stranger’s Kindness

Liam, a traveler from Canada, wandered through Da Nang, captivated by the city’s vibrant chaos. The air was rich with the aroma of sizzling street food, the sounds of motorbikes…[...]