Romance Short Stories

when the dust settles

Of course. My hands grip the rough iron bars of the cell I'm in. Of course he showed up. Letting go, I huff and turn to my fellow captive. "You,"…[...]

The Taste of Betrayal

Droplets of sweat began to form on my forehead, as I foraged through my folder to verify that I'd brought my resume for the millionth time. I'd gone to several…[...]

LEARNING TO TRUST IN MY BROKENNESS

I remember when we first saw each other, everyone walked past me, saying I was too old, that I looked dangerous or that I wouldn't be safe around their children. …[...]

Penny

Armando sat on the terrace of his tiny apartment. Watching the traffic on the avenue while he sipped his can of beer. He didn't have to work the next day…[...]

My Friend, Jessie

I was old. Though I don’t want to be melodramatic, I might want to go so far as to say I was dying. But let me tell you about my…[...]

Second Fiddle

Milo looked up when his assistant, Cam, knocked on his office door.Cam looked worried. “Joel wants you in his office. And I quote, ‘Now.’”“I’m sitting by my phone. He could…[...]

A Night Off

Five years ago, after the Covid shutdown had eased a bit, I sat in Chelsea’s chair and let out an exhale I didn’t realize I was holding in. It wasn’t…[...]

Whenever You Need Me

My heart was racing when we first met. I was new to the world and terribly nervous, yet you held me in your hands and made me feel that everything…[...]

Professional Hugger

Cathulhu stretched his paws forward, leaning his chest toward the floor. His mouth opened widely as he began eyeing one of the humans, Darby. The human grinned and bent his…[...]

Getting Re-lost

I was 79 years old before I knowingly climbed a barbed wire fence. Now I can’t honestly say I climbed it. It was more like pressing the bottom wire down…[...]

Waiting on Jasmine and Blackberries

I remember once when the house was silent. When the mornings belonged to me. She would wake, her skin smelling of jasmine and blackberries, and she would fill my white…[...]

The Day Ula Saved Palmgrove Island

Very far away, surrounded by sparkling blue waters, lay a beautiful place known as Palmgrove Island. It was a peaceful island filled with tall palm trees, colorful flowers, and friendly…[...]

Howling at the Cabbage

Buster sat up in his bed. His ears stood to attention. Bacon smell drifted into the room and floated to his bed, and then up his nose. His tail jumped…[...]

The Long Walk

The patrol had been unforgiving. Out in front, Petros Kyriades led his platoon toward the meeting point. Like his men, he was exhausted, filthy, and dreaming of a hot shower…[...]

My Friend Vincent

Despite all those years in the industry, Pedro had to fight back the sour taste in his mouth. The sweet smell of decay lingered in the air. It mixed with…[...]

Once Upon a Time There was a Cone. They Called it Fame.

Name’s Rocky, Rocky Raccoon. I work down on Studio Boulevard in lot 482. I am an actor. I’m not famous or anything yet unless you’re the type who pays close…[...]

The Monster

Until now it had been the best day ever. He'd woken up to breakfast and playing, which had gone on for some time with the others. Every day some were…[...]

THE SUMMER ORCHARD WAR

THE SUMMER ORCHARD WARBy the middle of July, the orchard smelled like warm apples and sunburned grass. The Bennett orchard stretched across the valley in cracked rows of green trees,…[...]

A Macaque’s Memento

Deep in the Jungle of the North Maluku islands, a giant man-made green bird fell from the sky. Those in its insides dangled motionless in the trees. While every wildlife…[...]

A Day in the Life of Jypsi: A Really Good Girl

My name is Jypsi, and I am a very good girl. This is not up for debate, but I also don’t feel the need to bring it up constantly. It’s…[...]

My Celia

This story contains themes of mental health and intimate partner violence. Celia’s been spending more time at home lately. Don’t get me wrong; I love spending time with her. Having…[...]

Chili Dog

My whole life, I’ve been terrified. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been kept in a cramped space. I tried to drown out the noise of all the…[...]

Up and Down and In and Out

My animals come and go, up and down and in and out. I find myself becoming fond of most of them. I live downstairs, but the whole house is mine,…[...]

Strong Finish at Halfway Rock

“Strong Start”, was a 21-foot Downeast pocket cruiser, a solid bargain but a little bit “tippy”, according to Harry Tarbuck, Brian’s friend up in Rockland. Brian, living and working in…[...]

A Monkey’s Vow

My fur bristled.Not from wind. Not from cold. This was the forest’s warning, the prickling hush that crept beneath my skin when something was wrong. And the forest never lied.The…[...]

My Name Is Yuki

I'd miss my siblings. One by one, they were being adopted. It was just the three of us now. Originally, there were five. I was the last to not have…[...]

Yandex

(Children's Story) I am Yandex the Moscow Robot. I wasn’t born, and yet I guess you could say; I was born when I was switched on for the first time;…[...]

Mise en Place

If you've ever watched a celebrity chef on television, you've probably assumed they live exactly the way they appear on screen.Calm. Confident. Effortlessly charming. The sort of person who can…[...]

The Whole World

The door is the most important thing in the Universe. I know this door very well, all its cracks and scratches (a few of them mine from long ago), the…[...]

Mighty Dragon

1It was like yesterday; I remembered the wool felt blanket rubbing against my nose as I tried to look out from the basket. I couldn’t see much besides a blurred…[...]

Encore

“Dude, I’ll be right back. I forgot my phone.” Derrick sprinted through the side door, wedged open illegally because the crew sometimes stepped out for a quick smoke, as evidenced…[...]

The Unlikely Friendship of Olive and Larry

The Unlikely Friendship of Olive and Larry Something Smells Fishy.Quite literally, actually, but that is neither here nor there. It is the name of the café where I reside.Something Smells…[...]

NO!" Trey shrieked.His screams echoed around the bloody altar outside the Church of Aballon, where six fellow train passengers were already strung up by their intestines. Awakening before their own…[...]

Smells and Signals

This is the best. Natalie always gives the best head pets.I love Natalie.If she were a smell, she would be honeysuckle and warm blankets.I let out a massive sigh as…[...]

Donny’s Whisper

Billy Miller stood up to Donny. That was a big mistake. Donny is almost twice his size, but I guess you can say that about most people compared to Donny.…[...]

Donny’s Whisper

Billy Miller stood up to Donny. That was a big mistake. Donny is almost twice his size, but I guess you can say that about most people compared to Donny.…[...]

Package Deal

Carl was already at the curb when Eddie pulled up.“Morning, Eddie.”Eddie stepped out of the brown truck, scanner in hand. “Carl.”They stood there for a moment, two delivery drivers in…[...]

Cupid Dog

Cupid Dog As my boy human, and I walk out the gate to leave the county park, I am pumped. During the last couple of hours, I’ve successfully executed a…[...]

One Good Turn…

The little black and white cat hid in the hollow of an old hawthorn tree. There was a fence behind it, and he could just squeeze himself through the gap.…[...]

I Must Live

The rabbit burst from the undergrowth in a spray of snow.The fox followed.The forest raced past in flashes of grey trunks and white earth. The rabbit darted beneath fallen branches,…[...]

The Princess Who Wouldn’t Kiss the Frog

By the time Florian lowered himself into Princess Amelia’s teacup, he had already tried everything.He had waited on lily pads, hoping she was one of those girls who believed in…[...]

Cadence and the Marine – She broke training to save her person

Cadence and The Marine Cadence of Moonstone, a PTSD Dog who broke the rules to save her person.As told to Samantha MarisWritten by Sam Maris with Cadence’s ApprovalTW: Gunfire, mentions…[...]

IT’S ALWAYS THE SHY ONES

July 2018 Kelly was in a hurry to get to the only store in the neighbourhood that was open on a Sunday evening. She had just got off the plane…[...]

For Sophia

Hey, what the hell did I do now? It's all flat and shit,” Rob pulled his tray of cookies from the oven, exasperated. “It's because you melted the butter instead…[...]

Smoke and Mirrors

The storm rained down on the portico above Konan’s head. Leaning on the post to the local bar, he opened up the pack of cigarettes. One left, and it was…[...]

Anna

Anna Catherine kissed her much younger boyfriend good-bye, “ I’ll see you tonight, Hot Mama.” “ I told you not to call me that,” smiled Catherine, sparkles in her eyes,…[...]

What Was There Before Now?

“Do you suffer from erectile dysfunction?” The thick red letters challenge Daniel J. Michaels on his way to a job interview. His gaze shifts down, then over. Whoops, caught the…[...]

Reddish Yellow

cw: language, physical violence Onyx wasn’t a sun-kissed blonde. She was a moon-bitten brunette — a dark-haired fairy who emerged from the shadows and into the lives of those who…[...]

Judging a book by its cover is never good

At 6:00 pm exactly every Monday without failure, my Granny Dolores takes us to her local library. While she spills the tea with her other fellow friends, my brother Sammy…[...]

Saturday

First Saturday I don't want to be here. I park at the curb and stare at the slip of paper my guidance counselor gave me. One stupid decision. One spray-painted…[...]

The Shroud

THE SHROUD Lancaster Lane was always cool in the summer, giant elms shielding it from the hot glaring light, an impenetrable shroud arching over the street like a cathedral ceiling…[...]

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,…[...]

The Unlikely Friendship of Olive and Larry

The Unlikely Friendship of Olive and Larry Something Smells Fishy.Quite literally, actually, but that is neither here nor there. It is the name of the café where I reside.Something Smells…[...]

Theria’s Lace

Reagan Theriault stepped back from her easel, paintbrush tucked between her lips, studying the swirl of blacks and greens on the canvas. To others, it was just another ode to…[...]

The Ghost and the Hack

Thomas Mcoy, no second C, is a name you’ve probably never seen. Maybe you’ve spotted “Tommy M.” buried in the acknowledgments of a bestseller or scrawled on a Starbucks cup…[...]

Villain of Your Story

Blink. Blink. Blink.I watch the black line appear and disappear over and over. Hi. You may have heard of me. I’m Jason. Actually, I was initially Benjamen. Before that I…[...]

I’m Not Going

Whatever is in that cellar is not a rat.It’s not a rat or cat or a raccoon that somehow squeezed its way in to get at the potted meat you…[...]

Tablets by Tom

“The paper is so nice.” I think to myself as I feel the soft texture in one hand, and dab my eyes with the tissue in the other. I am…[...]

The Golem

I am definitely going to kill her. It's just a matter of time. I don't care that she "made" me. So what? I think I was inevitable, like a storm…[...]

Adjourned. Indefinitely.

The seven of them sat around the table, locked in intense conversation. I sat amazed as I watched. Meetings like this one only happened once in a thousand years. The…[...]

How to Bury Tommy Perez (a tutorial by Sailor Wizel)

TW: A little bit of gore and mentions of blood It was incredibly dark out the morning Sailor buried the boy.A certain panic can rise through your body when something…[...]

The Bottle

Lester Holt was deep in thought as he walked along the beach. The tide was low and he enjoyed the feel of wet sand between his toes. He had the…[...]

Character Development

The hottest teen show in the world, “Life in Charleston”, couldn’t have been thriving more. It generated millions of engaged fans who had begged for a second season for months.…[...]

It’s A Short Trip

February 29, 1996 “You’re doing good, Dynasty. Push,” John said holding his wife’s clammy hand. The nurse wiped her face with a rag as she hyperventilated; telling her to slow…[...]

Sentient

“You know you’re nuts.” Carpenter responded, “No, I’m not; you are! And what makes you say such a cruel thing?” “Let’s review this, shall we? Do you remember that century-old…[...]

::writing

::writingThe first thing I noticed was that my backstory kept changing.One minute, I had a tragic past involving a lost sibling and a dog I couldn’t save. The next minute,…[...]

Forget It

She was in a tunnel. Walls pulsating with music, light and pain. Lolly opened her eyes, trying to escape, but immediately wanted to shut them. Her vision was filled with…[...]

An Unfortunate Patient

“It was such a bizarre scene. I’m tempted to call the market and see if I can get some details,” said the host. “She was sobbing. I mean really sobbing.…[...]

Higher Power

Higher PowerShaking his head, Booker read the sign outside the meeting. Attendees streamed by him and into the building. The sign read, ‘Welcome to our local chapter of the AA.…[...]

On the Eighth Day…

On the 8th Day…“I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.”-Mark TwainMichael stood on the raised podium, director’s wand in hand, facing the massive Heavenly Choir and the…[...]

The Green Room

Larry and I had been married for three years. During that entire time my husband and I had been renovating our house, pretty much non-stop. Although it really was a…[...]

Black and Blue

Jen left therapy tasked with owning her triggers. Feeling overwhelmed already, she told herself, “You are only being asked to own them. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less.” After all,…[...]

M. Vert

M. VERT....by Russell Dupont “Monsieur Vert. Thank you coming.” He was wearing one of those heavy artichoke-colored winter coats, the ones with the toggle buttons and pinned a few inches…[...]

Color me Blue

The day was a musty, cloudy, colorless type of day, which made you want to pull the covers back over your head and stay in bed all day. But not…[...]

Green Around the Gills

When Dr. Mary Winter looked around the labor suite and asked her next question, I knew my day had just taken a turn for the worse. “Where’s your husband?” “He’s…[...]

The Meaning of Grey

The curtains that hung from the ceilings were a simple grey. Not the silver that sometimes comes from the moon’s light at the right angle. Nor was it the dark…[...]

Morning Person

Same story, different day. If I don’t open my eyes it will just go away. The sunlight has crept around the edges of my blackout curtains again. Every night, I…[...]

Ventura

Ventura I arrive at Ventura in the late morning on a cold, clear day. A beautiful New England beach lies ahead of a cold but clear blue sky. The Home…[...]

After the Before

[Spoiler alert: Story contains spoilers from the Before movie trilogy.] The scene goes dark on screen as the two peer onward from their seats. He leans into her ear.Him: “So,…[...]

The Blue Hour

No one ever talks about the blue hour. Not like its counterpart, the golden hour, which receives praise for rendering the perfect glow for selfies and family photo shoots. People…[...]

Growed Up

This was to be the most important day of Fudmul Schruck's short life: the day he performed the Ritual of Growed Up, the day he formally changed from being a…[...]

Death, in broad terms

Content Warning: Major Character Death, Crude Language Is that it?, he thought to himself, not so sure if there was such an answer that’d fit the purpose of knowing, in…[...]

Roy-A Palette of Color

Prompt: Write a story in which a character can taste, smell, hear, and/or feel color. Roy-A Palette of Color Hello citizens, of this magnificent world! My name is Roy G.…[...]

Minus the Blue

After serving the most persnickety customer in the world (and possibly the universe), Stella needed to catch a break. But the next man in line ordered a #17 minus the…[...]

The Perfect Pie

"Mmmorninggggg." I know it is Pink that begins to hum… my sweet pink pillows, my soft pink sheets, my French pink nails. Even the sunlight filtering through my curtains is…[...]

The Last Storyteller

“Let me tell you a story.”The man looks up at me, tearing his gaze away from his phone as I slide into the seat across the table from him. “Huh?”…[...]

We’re NOT all gonna die: A Comparative Study of Traditional Methods to Ensure Faerie Safety Against Human Incursion

Abstract: Human encroachment remains the greatest threat to the Lands of Faerie, and to the wider wilderness with all its glorious birds and beasts. You’ve no doubt heard tales of…[...]

Peeled

Mika looked up from his keyboard when he heard the tap on the window. His first insane thought was that someone was knocking, but then he came to his senses,…[...]

Long Odds

As the day of reckoning neared, I sat in my palace of safety, contemplating our survival and the best way to prolong it. Lately, my kingdom had fallen under attack,…[...]

Red Ruby Slippers

The Wizard awoke, and I knew we weren’t in Kansas anymore. The beeping continued, a dull mechanical tone, 60 beats per minute, steady as a heartbeat. The lights flickered, eyes…[...]

Bottom Feeder

The tidepool where Ane Anemone lived was as beautiful and peaceful an environment as any anemone could imagine. It was her paradise. Cool, shimmering currents of water flowed over her…[...]

The Philosopher’s Pitch

“Thank you, Vultures. My name is Matteo, I am 33 years old from Portland, and I am seeking $250,000 in exchange for 22% of my company. Our promise – turning…[...]

Dug the Demon Poet

This is the guy I’m supposed to possess, I confirm as I look at my fact sheet. Dwayne Gary, age 33, single, waiter at Chili’s. He sounds incredibly boring. One…[...]

I Am Was Is

It calls us. On the wind. It calls us all. It’s in the roaring whisper of the river. If only we would hear the words a bird forms upon its…[...]

Set in Stone

Set in Stoneby Hannah M. Dewies ~ 1.900 words One does not, of course, choose to be looked at. One simply is looked at, in the way a portrait is…[...]

Lady Luck

I liked Juliet. I really did. But wait, listen. Let me tell you what really happened because none of that was my fault.The Montague, Romeo's father, was born into a…[...]

There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes The NeighborhoodBy Kirsten S. “Goddamit,” she heard Reed shout. “There’s another one!” Zee was gnawing at a shankbone, nibbling the flesh off the bone with delicate bites. She…[...]

Excalibur Totallly

Let me just say this upfront: being embedded in a rock for an unspecified number of years is not the glamorous origin story people think it is, at all.Yes, I’m…[...]

The Blue Book To Bird Heaven

December 18th, 2006 The birds are mocking me. They race overhead in an unorthodox pattern, squawking in a language they know im too feeble to understand. Incomprehensible heckles. It doesn’t…[...]

Until Next Time

* Contains themes of captivity, coercive control, and implied medical threat involving a minor. * I swipe the paper doily off the floor, placing it neatly back on the side…[...]