Romance Short Stories

Sans Neige

How am I supposed to know if it was for the better or the worse? I grew up ordinary—middle-class, suburban home. There were trees and streams, but being in the…[...]

The Maverick

“Come in! Nozwelo? Yes, Come in please.”Nozwelo walks in with her potential boyfriend and manages a formal smile when she locks eyes with Dr. Khoza. The young man who follows…[...]

Innocence

CW: Implicit sexual abuse of a minor I was 14 when my life began and 14 when it crashed into pieces. The same man was behind both life markers, though…[...]

(Sensitive content: substance abuse and sexual promiscuity is mentioned; verbal abuse occurs) Cindy pulled the car over to the side of the road. Shelbyville, declared the sign, population 1,430. Cindy…[...]

Broken Homes

The house's exterior was neat and clean. The porch swing tipped back and forth without a creak. All my good memories seem to have lined up beautifully out here. I…[...]

5000 miles (五千英里)

Five thousand miles is the kind of number that sounds clean until you try to live inside it. It’s a number you can Google. Taipei to Seattle. The little airplane…[...]

My Mother’s Book

My mother held the Book. She held it against her belly the way she never held any of us. Both hands on it. Her thumb crushed against the edge so…[...]

Your Lens

“What?! What do you want?” “You’re in the wrong place, this is a bar.” Lokuhle should’ve been offended by that and he turned to leave her but something told him…[...]

Blink

Ferris sat in the cold, hard hospital chair next to her bed. Seventy-two hours ago, Tess entered Resting Meadows Hospice Center. Ferris agreed it was time to allow his beloved…[...]

Granny Grace

Today, Mommy hung pictures in the long hallway at our new place. I’m fascinated by old pictures and the past, in general. Anything that happened before I was born interests…[...]

More Than Words

Facades and reactions are usually her saving grace and combat response but today is different. It takes too much strength for her to smile at anyone, and even her nieces…[...]

For God Loved Me: He Gave Me a Second Chance with a Second Heart

July 2005, life was supposed to be exciting! My oldest daughter was preparing to go off to college with all the dreams of college life. We were preparing for her…[...]

The Cost of the Cross

His body violently shivered as he lay on his side in a ball like an animal protecting himself from the elements. The jumpsuit did nothing for warmth; the thin, unwelcoming…[...]

The Light

“Hello, Eric. This is Dr. Shell. We need you to come to the ho-pi-ta-…Can you hear me? Hello?” There’s noise in the background and Eric sounded distracted. It’s a Saturday…[...]

The last cup

The winter sun is casting its last rays over the freshly snow-covered ground. He watches the rays until they fade, then turns back from the window as the aroma from…[...]

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 woman grabbed…[...]

A Cup of Tea

“Mum! Mum! Wake up! The water’s at the steps.”“What time is it Jonny?”“It’s 4 a.m. I think we should wake the neighbours and tell them to come over here.”I struggled…[...]

Hopeful Places

Our world was beautiful. We got married at 23. We met in college. I was studying to be a professional photographer, and she a nurse. We were so mismatched. The…[...]

The Silver Ghost

I was very young when I first heard the lonesome horn of the Silver Ghost carrying across the Nebraska plains where nary a train has ever run. I was sitting…[...]

When Drinkware Speaks

The missus grabs me and holds me tight. Her hands are cold as she places me under the shower of hot, brown liquid, with the aroma of peace and calmness.…[...]

Damnatio memoriae

Chapter 1: Paladin When the alarms sounded at 01:23:40 on April 26th, the Ministry hoped it was a standard cascade failure: operator error, graphite ignition, steam explosion. The kind of…[...]

It’s a Messy Life

(Sensitive content: nothing happens on-scene but allusions to suicide and sexual violence are made) Larry wished he had never been born. All his life he made one dumb decision after…[...]

One Day At A Time in My Life

My mom got the superlative, “A smile for every occasion,” in high school. Her father, my Pop-pop, was in the FBI. There’s a framed photo of him, my grandma, mom…[...]

What Are You Waiting For?

Sensitive content: euthanasia Eileen signed the visitors’ book in her mother’s room and checked the other entries. Just as she thought, she and Ruth were the only visitors. They were…[...]

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 Baby

THE BABYThe silence of the apartment was a fragile thing, broken only by the rhythmic, soft puff of air from the little bassinet tucked next to the sofa. Sarah sat…[...]

Salty But Lit

The engine of the Wagoneer cut out, leaving us in a sudden, ringing silence. Outside, the afternoon sun baked the church parking lot's asphalt, trying to melt the snow, but…[...]

Picasso Heart

12 February 2030Turtle BayManhattan, New YorkUSATo my sweet love,My precious gift, I know you don’t have many words if any and you don’t owe me anything. I don’t blame you…[...]

Circle Park Drive

The campus moved with a confidence that bordered on indifference. Students streamed past her in intersecting currents, backpacks thudding softly, voices rising and falling in overlapping conversations that never paused…[...]

Stone And Breath

The bells begin while Éva is still standing in her kitchen, holding a mug she has no intention of finishing. They strike too early, as they always do in the…[...]

In a Mirror Dimly

“Honey, your life is in danger. Don’t you understand?”Renee listened respectfully to her boyfriend’s concerns over her phone. She just had a different opinion. ”Travis, I do understand, and I’m…[...]

An Angel Heard on High

Prompt: Set your story on a remote island, a distant planet, or somewhere faraway and forgotten. Once upon a cloud where time doesn’t matter, there is a heavenly place faraway…[...]

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…[...]

The Weight of Stillness

The badge on Sheriff Silas Blackwood’s chest felt heavier than the lead in his service belt. It wasn’t just three ounces of polished silver; it was the forty years of…[...]

Willow and the Living Water

One day, a Golden Retriever named Willow went on her usual morning walk. She loved this time of day, when the world seemed to wake slowly, as if wrapped in…[...]

Misread

The moment Kayla stepped into the library, the lights began to dim, one by one. The man at the front desk had just put on his coat, and cleared his…[...]

No Holding Back

. The tagline, the parting words, and the lasting message of the book I've just finished, closed, and placed on the shelf where all my books are spines in, edges…[...]

The Ultimate Revelation

Prompt: Start or end your story with someone opening or closing a book. My given name is Pierre. Friends (or so they claim to be) call me the “hoover” because…[...]

Until Dawn Breaks

Visceral dread rolled in with the orange hues of dusk, of dust, of ashes, of tears. I was a prisoner to my own mind, the rebuke from my dear Aisling,…[...]

Turning Pages

Jasmine wasn’t sure what to do with the book. Her friend simply gave it to her at work, out of the blue.“Have you met my best friend?” Yuri asked.“No, I…[...]

Custodes Liminis

BABETTE“I’m sorry, but you’ve missed office hours,” the professor muttered, the words dulled by habit, “and while normally I’d be more than obliging, it’s exam season. I said in class,…[...]

Elizabeth

Penny for them ?.Gill asked Kay as she was making tea.You have that far away look in your eyes,.Kay smiled. She looked at the green tea she was making, it’s…[...]

A Storm Inside A Storm

“William. William, can you hear me? It is time to go.” Shannon put on her boots and her jacket. The party would start soon, and she did not want to…[...]

Time Frozen Love

A man sits alone on the edge of a bed. The door to the room remains closed as he sits alone with an overhead light from a fan covering the…[...]

DAREDEVIL

Christie Crayon lived in a dark grey world where dust had more colour when the moon was full of nothingness. She blinked. Her black tea was cold, yet warmer than…[...]

on a wingless plane

Studies. Research. Accolades. I decided to take a breather from hunting down the mob who stole my friend and concentrate a little on what's actually in front of me. Exams.…[...]

Blaze, The Fire-Breathing Dragon’s First Friend

Blaze The Fire-Breathing Dragon's First Friend My name is Blaze, and I'm a fire-breathing dragon. Since I'm the baddest mojo in the entire metropolis of Danville, Va., nobody messes with…[...]

Divine Intervention at the River

Though the story is fiction, it addresses topics related to abuse, trauma, alcoholism, and other life challenges. The content may be triggering for some readers. The idea of the story…[...]

Mama’s Secret

Soft steps are heard in the garden, gingerly I hide. Looking from the bush, I see my mother. My love. Oh, how she is so sad. My initial motive to…[...]

Ancient, Mighty and Eternal

Prompt: Write a story where the line between myth and reality begins to blur.Prompt: Write a story that connects mythology and science. “It’s an agglomerated catastrophe,” said the young geologist…[...]

The Olive Tree

The elders whispered of a beginning that had been beautiful. They called our grove a hidden paradise, where animals and humans roamed in harmony. A place where gentle streams of…[...]

Loneliness can Kill You

This poor old lady named Lucy lived alone. She raised 8 children and loved them very much. She would do anything she could to help them, but one day, before…[...]

A Man Of Suffering

One of the greatest joys of my existence was witnessing Him lay the foundations of the earth. I stood with the host above the waters before men had language for…[...]

FRAGMENTS OF GABRIELLE Notes from a Dying Town

FRAGMENTS OF GABRIELLENotes from a Dying TownBy Faith RosePART I — THE RED COAT SEASONFRAGMENT I — RED COAT, GRAY MORNING Trigger Warning: This story explores themes of loneliness, isolation,…[...]

When One Equals Zero

Prompt: Write about someone who is grappling with loneliness. The music and words in my head were so loud it was disrupting my thoughts. “One is the loneliest number you…[...]

Eternal Explorers

Gennaro felt honored to be the Chief Science Officer on the Chrysalis for its maiden voyage. Their mission was to explore the Alpha Centauri system and to help set up…[...]

The Woodsmith’s Son

In a dream, I saw myself walking by the beautiful and small lake near my hometown... A sound like the song of birds and perhaps mermaids reached my ears... And…[...]

The Blanket and the Light.

It's like a blanket wrapped around me and over my head, suffocatingly too warm and nowhere to escape. Like standing in a room full of people, yet I feel swallowed…[...]

Blind Date With a Demon

The late afternoon light slanted across Columbus Circle, turning the stone edge of Central Park gold. Though most people could appreciate this aesthetic–Augustin Fontenot could not–because he had been born…[...]

A Raw Deal with the Devil

(Story contains allusions to torture, but no actual depictions of it) “So, what’s the catch?” The demon hesitated. The sulfurous smoke billowing from his form dissipated slightly as his concentration…[...]

A Simple Act of Kindness

“The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”-Amelia EarhartRule #1- Four downs to get the ball across the goal line (telephone pole); no…[...]

A Touch of Heaven

“Look around you,” Grandpa whispered as he gently rested his left hand on my right shoulder, and waved out in front of us with his right. “This is what I…[...]

10 Ways to Explain Your Husband’s Death to Your Son

Content warning: Themes of death***1. Tell the truthBe gentle but honest. This is your son's first time experiencing death, his only rodeo.He is five years old, wild-eyed and sugar-crazed and…[...]

An Afterlife Denied

It was almost impossible to make out the lone figure, shuffling slowly across the expanse of sand, far below. Only his movement gave him away. Wrapped in pale shreds of…[...]

The Protracted, Peculiar, and Probably Quite Pointless Trial of Bertie Masturbine

Rather than enjoying the miracle of life, humankind has generally chosen the opposite – they have tried to understand it. More specifically, since the first caveman scribbled on the walls…[...]

Present Day

"I'm worried, Alice," Mother says as I prepare to go to the Surface. I want to say I'm not, but she’d know I'm lying. I hug her instead, my arms…[...]

The woman and the beast

Professor Manda entered the lecture hall, and the entire auditorium fell silent upon noticing her presence. She tapped the floor as she walked in her blocked purple heels, which complemented…[...]

Dialogue 5

Content warning: Strong language and discussions of nihilism, existential despair, and suicide.Supreme: There is no point to anything at all so we should all cease to exist. All in Unison: Naaahhhhh.Supreme:…[...]

The Anatomy of Un-forgiveness

Trigger Warning: This story contains themes of resentment, family conflict, emotional manipulation, un-forgiveness, and intense interpersonal tension, which may be distressing for some readers. Ah, Christmas, the time when joy…[...]

The writer’s journey home.

I’m sorry, dear self, for abandoning the one thing that brought me solace, for neglecting the fire that once burned within me, for chasing the wrong dreams and prioritizing the…[...]

Do All Paths Lead to One?

Marie always knew freedom would be bitter. What she hadn’t expected was for sand and dried blood to stain her tastebuds salty, instead of sweet. Bare feet trudged and scrapped against…[...]

Trou Noir

The last glow had faded... How much time had passed since that fateful day? Weeks, months? Maybe more? In a nearly lethargic state, I remember that day, which we had prepared…[...]

The Christmas Date

It all started with a phone introduction from a mutual friend. I agreed to go on a date with a tall, young man from my department. He was my senior…[...]

Slobbering Oatmeal into Her Sweater

Our virtue or excellence does not drive our actions but by the act itself. "We are what we do," ~Aristotle. Saliva mixed with cooked oats and brown sugar dripped in…[...]

Flickers of Summer

The first time I saw Camilla, she was sitting on the hood of a beat-up car, a cigarette dangling from her lips and a sketchbook balanced on her knees. Her…[...]

The Meeting

The meeting was held at the San Sebastian National Trust Public and Private Meeting Facility Room. The sign above the door stated this and I was still a bit fuzzy…[...]

Frederik’s Room

It has been two weeks since the funeral. Now all that was left was a skeleton of a home. The ghastly white sky perfectly mirrors the experience of the inside.…[...]

a neighbours madness

in an old housing complex in a sydney suburb ,which not such a quiet little suburb like once a few years back ,for changed over years gone by with more…[...]

The Dog License

“I’m telling you, this isn’t right. What do you mean I have to file an 18-1B? And then wait in another line?” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Sorry,…[...]

In My Sister’s Shoes

Edie bit her bottom lip, her eyes darting over the metal keyboard panel beside the door, fingers trembling as she punched in the seven-digit code. She'd already called the police…[...]

To Be Great

Years and years ago, in a lesser city somewhere beneath the eternal rain and amidst the blue plant life of Rainland, is a young man, only five years old at…[...]

Fallacious Tranquillity

The Countryside The countryside belies the notion that in its embrace, tranquillity reveals her purest essence. She is often envisioned as flawless, serene, and undeniably righteous, drawing both the inspired writer…[...]

The True History of England’s Favorite Colony, as I heard it

Trigger: written in the fat thumb grammar to avoid data miners over-borrowing any more labor.Grandpa was dragged out by his neck and forced to sign his property away. The crows…[...]

Lora was a Dog

Lora was here. Lora, was a dog. At least she imagined herself to be in this moment. Lora barked, she played, she spun, she laid. She did all this when…[...]

Stormy hearts

It was the beginning of a rainy season. The first rain in the new year. As usual, the weather forecast had wrongly predicted a sunny day. It started with a drizzle,…[...]

Into the void of the real

I found myself walking through a throng of pedestrians. I push and shove through the invisible faces, and the riptide of random bodies swarming against my every movement. Claustrophobia and…[...]

Glimmer of Hope

By J. H. WatsonSensitive content: physical abuse, childhood trauma I squint my eyes as the blinding glare seeps through the corner of the blinds. A small frown gently leads to…[...]

To Be Black

T/W : Descriptions of gun violence, blood, and slight gore ; Censored swears ; Heavy discussion of racismJune 1st, 1921 - 2nd Day of the Tulsa MassacreGreenwood, TulsaI remember that…[...]

THE SOUND OF BLACK

TW: slave trading Our hut burns hot and fast without warning. Everyone in our village is screaming and running. I outrun my older brother to the sand. He says…[...]

Black African Girl

I was born from the black soil of my ancestors, the Maasai people, where the wind whispered of rain long before the first drop ever kissed the earth. My childhood…[...]

A Colorless World

A colorless world I am a nameless protagonist in a never-ending story set in a bleak and desolate place. This world has lost all color. Even the vibrancy of my…[...]

The colour of darkness.

As I walk across the sand I get nostalgia from memories a long time ago. The sand was burning my feet. It was hot but the clouds kept coming closer.…[...]

WHEN A BLACK CULTURE FADES

Mona had a knack for noticing the unnoticed. Therefore when she came across a seemingly insignificant item, she could not avoid giving it more attention. Every evening, at exactly 16:30,…[...]

Recruitment

The interior was lavishly decorated, a stark contrast to the rugged exterior. Polished wood panels gleamed under the soft glow of brass sconces, casting warm light over plush, velvet-upholstered seats.…[...]

EDS

Tom Svinver barely missed the weight limit designed by the National Space Administration who claimed that his extra twenty pounds would cost a quarter million dollars to make him weightless.…[...]

Right On Time – Michelle Addo

“I’m late!”Nia’s breath came in short, panicked gasps as she bolted out of the house, nearly tripping over the step as she hurried toward the bus stop. Her heels clacked…[...]

Chasing Proof

“It's been 2 years, you're going.” My bossy but loving bestie Michelle demanded as she expertly applied my makeup. It actually had been three years, but I wasn't going to…[...]

The Long Walk to Freedom – Written By Rahaf Saadeh

The sun descends from the sky, hidden behind the hills and shallow valleys. My mind drifts to a wonderful world of my own where my worries are distant and faint.…[...]

Evil-yn

"Wake up, Evelyn, it’s time,” whispered a soft voice, nudging her sleeping sister gently. Evelyn opened her eyes to the sight of wooden beams above her. Termites and mold had…[...]

Everything Has Its Place

Moving is quite possibly the worst. Now packing... Packing is fine. You get the cathartic pleasure of grouping your belongings in labeled boxes. Everything has its place. You travel down…[...]