Romance Short Stories

About the Colour Pink

Sally had always loved the colour Pink. The walls in her room were blush Pink; her pillows were coral and raspberry, and most of her clothes were too, in fact,…[...]

Beneath the light of the comet

The summer ET was released on video I was first in line at the rental store - itching to watch it - having been deemed too young to see the…[...]

Dust

I shot my third rabbit today.I think there’s a litter nearby, because they all look the same. White with grey spots, and they all had one solid brown ear. It…[...]

A Matter of Time

Hey. My Mum’s dying. Wanna date me? Yeah, it’s not one I’d start with either. So I haven’t. Mum told me, anyway, not to put my life on hold just…[...]

By any other name

First of all, it's the loan of a pen.The kid is a transfer in, a scrawny bag of knees and elbows deposited into 10PT by the hands of fate. Jacob…[...]

Cookies to Share

This story talks about the horror of war, bloodshed, rape, and violence. Mid December 1914 near Ypres, Belgium It was still dark when Helen and her mother Mary stepped outside…[...]

Civil Twilight

Loudly, the door slams shut, shoved by a sudden gust of wind. It had been a long week and Jim was glad to be home. Wearily, he crosses the stained…[...]

Cookies for Santa

I leaned against the end of the stairwell, watching my mother guide my younger sister’s hand to stir the bowl. Flour dusted the countertops and Dakota’s curly hair, her giggles…[...]

For the Halibut

The waiter swept away Conrad's empty plate then questioned if I was finished with mine. At this point I was only pushing the remaining halibut around my plate so relinquished…[...]

dear santa

Santa Clause hi! i am charlie from the brik house at the end of my road. i have never righted a letter before but i heared that santa clause and…[...]

Secret Santa.

In a land far, far away, it was supposed to be that most magical time of the year. But it was on-trend to browse online for lifehacks, even for grey,…[...]

Beware the Zwetshgenkuchen

Beware the Zwetchgenkuchen Winter had arrived, and Christmas day was approaching, and there was going to be a big Christmas celebration thrown by one of the biggest companies in town,…[...]

STUFFED SQUID

New home, new country, new Christmas. I was determined to make a good first impression. Christmas Eve dinner should be based on fish dishes, in the Italian tradition. This tradition…[...]

Vanilla Biscuit Nights

Silver Song never went a Christmas without setting out treats for the Windsnap faeries. And this year was no different.She ignored the gossiping whispers from the maids and ignored her…[...]

“Snowfall Shift”

The first flakes fell just as Benny turned the key. They drifted lazily out of the December sky—soft, round, delicate—twirling as they descended toward the quiet city streets. From our…[...]

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…[...]

In the Quiet of a Winter Night

A plow lumbered down the road, breaking the silence of the late winter evening. Clearing the last of the slush and spraying salt behind it in preparation for the coming…[...]

One winter secret might finally thaw—or shatter—the most important relationship Shayla has left. Per usual, Shayla calls and I come running…willingly every single time. The guys never miss an opportunity…[...]

Over the weather

In Sweden, we call it The Wall. To ”crash into The Wall” is to be burnt out, exhausted, needing to rest and take time off from work and friends, the…[...]

The Storyteller

Two scarred hands carefully parted the branches of an old tree stump, the hood pulled low, only the rise and fall of the person's breath visible. The figure looked toward…[...]

Moon Over Miami

“Honestly, Officer. I didn't intentionally moon all the residents on Miami Street. It was an unfortunate accident. A comedy of errors, actually, you might say. An innocent incident spinning out…[...]

No Rest for a Sick Momma

They say that mothers never get a day off. They weren’t lying.I am currently under the weather, and yet here I am, stirring a pot of grits to feed three…[...]

Silent Keys on Christmas Eve

The freeway stretched black and endless beneath the starlit December sky, its shoulders rimmed with snowdrifts that gleamed under the moon. Swirls of snow from the north wind slithered like…[...]

The Memory in the Magic Bars

Sarina Turner pushed open the heavy fellowship-hall door with her elbow, balancing a wide glass tray lined with foil. A wave of warm, cinnamon-tinged air hit her immediately; the Oklahoma…[...]

Tails of Healing

It was Friday, November 28th, or what is known as Black Friday, the hectic shopping day after Thanksgiving. For James and his wife, Anna, it marked the beginning of their…[...]

The Age of Innocence

Year 2045 – December 24th in the evening I know what hell is. I’ve been living in it for the last ten years. Ever since the grandfather clock in my…[...]

The Old City Bar

Let me tell you a story that you won’t believe, even if I told it twice, in case you didn't believe me the first time. It all started at the…[...]

Bathroom Saga

Christmas 2024 – December 24th, 25th, and 26thHey there Diary,Haven’t been around much lately, I know. But I need you now.Not only do I have very young puppies shitting on…[...]

Candy Cane Cookies TOP SECRET

Grandma & Lizzie’s Candy Cane Cookie *TOP SECRET* RecipeIngredients1 cup softened butter1 ½ cups sugar1 egg3 cups flour⅛ tsp baking powder¼ tsp cream of tartar1 tbsp heavy cream1 ¼ tsp…[...]

Winter is Coming

by John Britto Standing in his dusty closet, Corbin Beeson steadied himself on his cane with his right hand. With his free hand, he grabbed the hanger holding his wife’s…[...]

Questions for Christmas

Snow fell onto the ground outside, covering the earth in wintry white. The chilly air outside attempted to bite its way inside, but didn’t succeed. Homemade hot chocolate was bubbling…[...]

Angel

, I’m coming home for Christmas.Tell Mama and Lilac I said hi. I miss all of you.-Papa Papa was off fighting in the Army, and I missed him a lot.…[...]

The Secret

James was sitting at the table in his gift-wrapping room, which really was his guest bedroom with a folding table. Listening to Christmas music and humming along.Jasper, the big orange…[...]

GLASS DOLL

I should have been strong enough to kill my kidnapper. Instead, I was made of glass. They say everyone has their Christmas traditions, and so I have mine. Return to…[...]

Brownies in the Boat

Christmas is wrapped up in a mishmash of flavors, textures, tinted hues, and bright surprises. It smells of pigs in blankets, sounds like sleigh bells ringing for tiny hearts beating…[...]

The Pine Who Knew Too Much

I’m not your average pine tree. For one thing, I’ve been around since before the town of Elmswick even existed, and I’ve seen more human shenanigans than I care to…[...]

If Only I Could Speak

Deep in the indigenous mountains of Mexico, the small town of Izamal gets ready for the fast-approaching Christmas Day. Despite the cold season manifesting as bare trees, dry grass, snowfall,…[...]

Christmas at Tinsel Town

Trying to find a gift during the Christmas season can be a daunting task, but when you’re twelve and trying to buy your mother the perfect gift with your own…[...]

The Bag

I remember the year I turned eight like it was yesterday. I was way too young to wander into a pool hall, but that is exactly what happened almost every…[...]

The Boy and The Man

A trick of the light, I say.Just a trick of the light.But my whole body tingles on edge.That feeling of falling or about to fall.A feeling I haven’t felt in…[...]

Willow Always Stayed

The bright curtains were drawn back, engulfing the diner in a brusque pale December light. The waitresses moved swiftly, placing cups and plates between plastic carnations. Willow sat alone in…[...]

Patient Zero

I opened the email about the annual Family Christmas party for Susan’s side of the family. A little bile rose in my throat. I thought back on the party over…[...]

Lost

I wanted to cry. I cupped my hands on the cold windowpane, squinting at the dark frosted world outside. Nothing. Great, trapped in a bloody blizzard. Nothing there except the…[...]

Christmas is for dogs

(Sensitive content -swearing ) CHRISTMAS IS FOR DOGS By 3pm the grown-ups, fed, warm and mellow, lolled on the settee and chairs like so many overstuffed turkeys. The Queen’s speech…[...]

A Season For Secrets

Serena hadn’t meant to snoop.After dinner, her mom gave her the go-ahead for her to bring the Christmas ornaments down from the attic. As she climbed the wooden ladder, her…[...]

Memories, Past and Present

“This is what I want,” her daughter said excitedly while pointing to a photo on her phone.Lucia looked at the picture, it was of an elegant lady’s wristwatch. It brought…[...]

Everywhere is an Exit

The station clock turns 22.36. Four minutes until the last train home.I look around my things, check I’ve got everything. Suitcases, backpack, phone. I see the train guard throwing me…[...]

Marty Learns the Truth

On the outside, Marty’s home was the picture of Christmas cheer. Lights trimmed the gutters, glowing through the dusting of snow. Inflatable reindeer rippled in the freezing winter gale. A…[...]

Invasion

I see aliens. Or at least one little green man with an alien type head sporting slanted black eyes. He's carrying a six-foot four-inch tall young man in blue jeans…[...]

Merry Cruisemas

Sarah had dreamed her entire life of taking a cruise. At age sixty, she could scarcely believe she was finally stepping onto the second largest cruise ship in the world,…[...]

In Conclusion: 33 Dead & a Turkey for Dinner

In the gray twilight of the hour that precedes the coming of the sun, forms are difficult to make out. Sight seems dimmed and untrustworthy. The whole world appears to…[...]

Dear Satan, I Have Been a Very Good Boy

It isn’t often that Lucifer Morningstar received a letter. When the envelope came across his desk, the King of Hell was intrigued. He held it, examining the childishly scrawled words…[...]

An Imperfectly Perfect Christmas

Although I was heading out of the country for ten days, I determined Christmas 2024 would be stress free—not the usual last-minute mad dash. My sweet potato casserole and other…[...]

What Happens In The Closet

The tulip champagne glass sitting in Darlene Atwell’s hand was filled to the rim with creamy eggnog. The eggnog, sweetened with nutmeg, vanilla, and spiced rum, had been one of…[...]

VERSION 2.0

I would be lying if I said the cacophony downstairs isn’t getting to me. It feels like they are smugly rubbing it in. “Look, we are down here enjoying our…[...]

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…[...]

Alone on Christmas

Daniel sat on the edge of his couch, staring at the blinking lights of a small, artificial Christmas tree he had purchased from Walmart the week before. It wasn't much—just…[...]

A Night of Tricks

Tomorrow would be Christmas, her favorite holiday. Full of delicious food, gifts, and most important to Gwyn, family. Gwyn always looked forward to creating new memories with her family and…[...]

Baggage

Warning: This story contains sensitive content I already hate this place! Kim screamed inside her head, slouched in the back seat. Beside her lay a ragged duffel bag, containing her…[...]

WONDERFUL

An Amber weather warning had transformed this thriving festive city into a rushed silence that only a sudden dense fog could enforce. Streets that should have had the usual bustle…[...]

Eat Teach Love

‘Mummy I’m just going to take Fergie for a w-a-l-k-i-e-s’ looking at the bundle of energy that was out 4-year-old springer spaniel and hoping that she had forgotten how to…[...]

Winter’s Tale

Colleen Winter parted the drapes and peered into the darkness. The snowfall had reached halfway up the side of the house and was still coming down hard. “I hope this…[...]

Unauthorized Match

Mid-day Dec 23rd Kendall swiped through the dating app, half-interested, half-bored. Holiday leave was supposed to be relaxing, but mostly it just reminded him how little he had to do…[...]

A Relic for the Full Moon

Rose Riding knew the cathedral was at the corner somewhere. The coroner had told her she couldn’t miss it. But the rain was coming heavy, and the soaked clay of…[...]

The Mouse That Didn’t Stir

THE MOUSE THAT DIDN'T STIR Do you know the Christmas Classic, "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse?”…[...]

Godfrey and the Dragon

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Their breath clouded the air, the ground crackled as they walked towards the cave. Sir Jonah crouched…[...]

Christmas, once again

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. The lights that lined the streets’ trees and lampposts shone brightly but provided no warmth from the…[...]

A Christmas Eve Tragedy

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Santa wasn’t used to being out this early on Christmas Eve, but the forecast had called for…[...]

HOW NEWY SAVED SANTA

Once upon a time, just over 2000 years ago there was an elf named Newy who lived at the North Pole. Newy was very excited about the up coming Christmas…[...]

Paper Chains

Dangling limply across the makeshift walls of the office cubicles, a paper chain made from scrap paperwork was severed at the middle. Perhaps the gluestick that had been used to…[...]

The Little Match-Dweller

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. This would not have been trouble, had the flower pot not been knocked from the sill.The culprit,…[...]

The Humble Fir Tree

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.The snow lay thick upon the ground, and the forest stood silent beneath it, as though wrapped in…[...]

In a Land Far, Far Away

... “Brr! It's so terribly cold. Snow is falling, and it's almost dark. But shops are open late here in Vail so we'll get checked in at the Lodge then…[...]

A Walk with Josie

Josie had always known exactly where she stood when it came to love, or rather, the lack of love. She stood on a busy street corner, the bursts of yellow…[...]

Your Husband

Abby’s phone chimes.Unknown number -Hi Abigail, I am reaching out because there is something I think you should know... It’s about your husband and it’s important. Please get back to…[...]

3:20

The Christmas tree should have come down days ago.Anna knew this in the same distant way she knew the clock had stopped or that the house smelt faintly wrong. These…[...]

DECEMBER 24TH

Natalie opens a small brown oak kitchen cupboard; the bottom hinge is loose. She knows this, but ignores it. It’s filled with mugs and glasses, covered in cheesy designs and…[...]

The Dull Man and the Sea

For the past thirty years, there had been only one way Barry began his New Year, and that was stark bollock naked in the cold, cleansing sea. It was a…[...]

First Love

There isn’t snow anymore, not in the small town I grew up in. A small town that used to be piled so high with snow that the cows could walk…[...]

After the beep

It was my first Christmas with my whole family in a long time. Myself, my mom, my dad and my older sister. We were all going to be together for…[...]

The Christmas Dinner

TRIGGER WARNING: Substance use, mental health, suicidal/homicidal thoughts The holidays were always the worst. Every year, John's family got together for Christmas so they could sit at a dining table…[...]

Christmas Gift Bags

He was walking somewhere with his little son, feeling in a bad mood. In one hand, he held his son’s small hand; in the other, a bag with some things.Sleet…[...]

We are not in Kansas anymore

CW: Strong language “Chris, you know we gonna get killed, right?”“Not going to happen.”“And how do you figure that?”“Simple, it’s Christmas Eve, and no one is expecting us until after…[...]

Between Time and Answers

Today was the happiest day.Her middle school team, the Wildcats, had finally won the city volleyball championship.The last game was brutal, stretching to 26–24, but they made it.Yes."Oh, we-e-e a-a-re…[...]

12:42 Christmas Day

“This is SICK! You’re the BEST, Nana!” My nephew Ethan throws himself into his grandmother’s arms and hugs her tightly, still being careful not to let go of his brand…[...]

…and that’s how she found out

“Well… based on the directions Santa left on Christmas morning - we’re only about 2 miles from the house he got us for the weekend. Who’s excited?”“I am!!!”“Me!”“I’m the most…[...]

Four Out-of-Stock Stalked Stockings

I stare down the road from my window, admiring the effort of whoever decorated this park.Christmas of 1942. Festive gold lights on forests of trees that instill hope in you…[...]

A Single Truth

The only thing worse than spending Christmas Eve in a rundown café by the railway station, was the uncomfortable silence that had settled between the remaining three occupants inside. That,…[...]

Losers

The crows pecked at the birdseed scattered on the ground in front of Harold. Their beaks made a light tick tick tick against the frozen sidewalk. Two of the crows…[...]

Of Earth and Stone

Cardiff December 1991. My father drives down there through pouring rain, the windscreen wipers frantically clearing a path though the winding lanes, where we brush against the bare, grey hedgerows.…[...]

Snow Fall

Alex and James sat side by side in front of the fireplace, watching the snow falling outside of the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling window. Neither of them speaking, both content to allow…[...]

Losers

The crows pecked at the birdseed scattered on the ground in front of Harold. Their beaks made a light tick tick tick against the frozen sidewalk. Two of the crows…[...]

Of Earth and Stone

Snow Fall

Alex and James sat side by side in front of the fireplace, watching the snow falling outside of the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling window. Neither of them speaking, both content to allow…[...]

$3 Clearance Decoration

She got me about three months ago. I was sitting pretty on a grocery store shelf when she rushed in, grabbed me and a few friends, and rushed back out.…[...]

The Star of Bethlehem

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was nearly dark. I was driving towards a little village called Netherton when the car slowed and came to a…[...]

The Unnatural Tree

“No, Kiki! That is not a toy!” Mommy carried me away (again — highly disappointed) from the large tree covered in dangling, jingling, shiny toys that I am apparently not…[...]

The Gift.

It was the last day before Christmas Break.We were getting 4 weeks off instead of the usual 2 and a half because of a snowstorm. Every kid was excited, except…[...]

Spirit Present

The air shifts in the office with the scrape of Jacob Marley’s chains sliding across the wood floor behind us. The gold box thumps down with a thud, landing at…[...]

The Side Door

My Dearest Nana,I hope this letter finds you well. Mom has informed me that the house has sold, and that Christmas was the last time we will see it.Although I…[...]