Young Love
There’s this girl. I can’t get her out of my head. Ophelia. What a beautiful name. It suits you. I walk by that coffee shop on Sixth Street every day…[...]
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There’s this girl. I can’t get her out of my head. Ophelia. What a beautiful name. It suits you. I walk by that coffee shop on Sixth Street every day…[...]
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“Aren't you going to hug me?” He asked as he dropped her off at the airport of the city they'd relocated to. After a hug and a quick kiss, she…[...]
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“Mama, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she admitted over the phone, her voice barely above a whisper. Dr. Simone Cadwell had always been the strong one. The one…[...]
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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…[...]
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Clarke I fidgeted nervously with the hem of my jacket. Who wears corduroy jackets? Hello, the seventies are calling and they want their clothes back. At least my olive-coloured shirt,…[...]
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The world had once been vibrant. As children, we hadn’t thought about the color of our skin. It was never a consideration, never a factor in whom we played with…[...]
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It was worth it to pay that extra 25 dollars to get a premium seat with extra leg room. These short-haul flights were notorious for packing as many passengers in…[...]
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The scent of simmering curry hit me the moment I walked through the front door. My wife Emma always seemed to know when to remove the lid from the saucepan…[...]
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"You are oppressed."Sudden. Abrupt. With no head or tails where that came from. I sit, confused, as the guy sitting across from me continues. “Oppressed and restricted, with no freedom…[...]
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*** In this story there is testament to perhaps the worst of all human sins -- bigotry. There is racial language and jokes (the n-word is not used), along with…[...]
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Trigger Warning! Proceed with caution and, at your own risk!Contains:- Sexual Violence-Disturbing Imagery-Abuse-Mental health-Substance Abuse--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shivering. Dirt and muck covering her face, little cuts and bruises marring an olive skin, chapped…[...]
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Science confirms that life flashes before your eyes, as you open your mouth to take your final breath, a flash that lasts for mere seconds but has your heart heavy…[...]
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I tiptoed back up the stairs. Halfway up the stairs it began to squeak. “Oh no, I can’t let her see me.” So, I went back down the first half…[...]
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Trials of the Witch and the Demon A faint lavender mist falls over the Witrial Woods. Trees cascade down, stretching for miles as small bits of sun peak through the…[...]
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Becoming LilyChapter 1: The Platform Lily stood on the cold, graffiti-covered subway platform, a large suitcase in one hand and a stiff coffee in the other. She checked and double-checked…[...]
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Shondra stepped onto the scale. 183 pounds.Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over as she stared at the number in disbelief. After weeks of strict dieting, early-morning walks,…[...]
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In the village of Kalimba, nestled where the earth curved gently toward the horizon, the baobab trees stood as sentinels of time. Their gnarled branches stretched like arms holding up…[...]
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“You really wanna come in here?” I hold your hand, gazing into your eyes. I’m daring you to be terrified and enamored all at once and I know it isn’t…[...]
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Content Warning: This story contains depictions of unethical medical practices, endangerment of vulnerable individuals, and themes of professional misconduct, trauma, and emotional distress. Reader discretion is advised.I should’ve asked more…[...]
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Voices? Noise? Perhaps hallucinations. It’s 9 AM. I’m supposed to start the day. But I wasn’t like this last night. At night, a river opened in my head—steady, strong, overflowing.…[...]
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I am a horrible writer. The thought coursed through Lisa’s head. She stared at her phone, the words written there, after Bryan told her that her latest poem was stupid.…[...]
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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…[...]
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Aakesh’s Journal NotesTwo months after the final waveBiochemical Warfare has decimated most populations of the world leaving behind a mix of abundant forests, mutated creatures, and humans.The Long-legged Yellow Sac…[...]
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“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…[...]
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Gaslight flickered along the tiled walls and danced across the faces of the professors in the gallery above, perched like birds of prey. A portly man stood in the first…[...]
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Layla had always been taught that beauty would fade. And while she accepted there was some truth in that sentiment, she just didn’t believe in the permanence of it. After…[...]
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Frankie was supposed to be playing photographer, capturing as many moments of the engagement party as humanly possible. It was his ONE job. But being the cousin of the groom…[...]
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Khet hated the sun. It was always hot in Arasha. Waves of shimmering heat dogged his steps, magnified by a merciless sun that sat unchallenged in clear blue skies. Often,…[...]
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“It’s back!” the older dark-skinned man shouted, fear clearly permeating his voice. “Again?” Nia asked, stunned by the announcement. She rushed to the console next to him only to see…[...]
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The gravel under her feet crunched and ground against her shoes as the heavy set woman turned and sat down heavily on the bench. It had felt like an eternity…[...]
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At this point, I am not even sure I am alive. Or why I bother living. I used to be good at this. Like, don’t get me pissed off. I…[...]
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The mattress was thin, just enough to lift me from my grandmother’s living room floor, but it was mine for the night. My cousins were sprawled nearby, shuffling through their…[...]
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Hello everyone, this story will be told with some nonfiction parts from my life and fiction with the character I use. His name will be Shadow Angel, not to be…[...]
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“Maya, are you sure you are not clairvoyant?” The question from Toyol the other day kept bothering her. She joked about being a highly stimulated, burnt-out autistic person with special…[...]
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My neighborhood is peaceful today, because I, the Great Dane, protect this neighborhood. I am not a great dane though, his name is Maxie and he lives next door. My…[...]
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A faint lavender mist falls over the Witrial Woods. Trees cascade down, stretching for miles as small bits of sun peak through the cracks of the leaves. Wisteria sways softly…[...]
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Tagline: One watch. Endless moments. A girl who holds the threads of history in her hands.Synopsis: Nia is an ordinary girl until she inherits her grandmother’s mysterious watch — a…[...]
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Sometime after the British India Company started advancing its control across India, there lived a young nawab of the Mughal court. He was a prince out of the fairy tales;…[...]
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It’s just a business center; full of files and flammable paper cups, to which the fire starts without much struggle. In minutes, it licks up the walls, crawling across the…[...]
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Eye on the target. Pull the string back. Elbow slightly elevated. Release!I watched the arrow glide through the air, hitting the target square in the center. I looked around and…[...]
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Waking up in an unfamiliar place is disconcerting to say the least, but waking up in the middle of nowhere is worse. Looking around, all I can see is grasslands,…[...]
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The peal of thunder split the sky. Ka'handre, clad only in robes to his waist, sat cross-legged in the cradle of a towering rubber tree.The night was thick and endless.…[...]
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CW: Addresses abortion, emotional abuse, and themes of oppression. My mother was a twenty-four-year-old woman with a bright red bindi between her soft brown eyes, dark hair flowing down to…[...]
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Marley English had learned, at twelve, that growing up didn’t arrive all at once. It came in small recognitions, like noticing the way her mother rubbed her temples when she…[...]
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“Where are we going?” Nusrat questioned, her voice groggy with sleep and curiosity. “Just a few more steps,” Rafiq reassured while covering her eyes from behind. He guided her slowly…[...]
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This short story is set in the early 1990s, when storms of rage ended with the slam of a receiver. In the distance a sluggish sun crawls out of the…[...]
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The Foolishness of Men The Cut The brightness of the Haitian day brought spray sparkles flying outward splattering the aquas of the waters. Peebo picked the conch shell up from…[...]
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Step on a crack…break your mother’s back. That is how we got here-the idea that tiny things could destroy the people I love. I look down at my hands, violently…[...]
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🥷The 137 Haram List 🇸🇦The list of things I was not allowed to mention in my Saudi classroom- from my book EVERYTHING IS HARAM (EXCEPT THE SHAWERMA)- MY SAUDI STORIES…[...]
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Rae stared out at the Ouachita River, searching the roiling water for a sign. The river was normally a half mile from her doorstep but today it was here, crossing…[...]
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He made me laugh, cry, sing and dance. When I needed guidance, he was my father. When I needed to learn, he was my teacher. The spirit of the forest…[...]
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They snatched Devi away in front of my eyes. The audacity! When they came for her, I must have seemed nonchalant. I didn’t hiss at the masked men. They pushed…[...]
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The fruit was spurious, in nature. Possibly. Like most things made in the hypermodern era, or the present year of 2123 (affectionately referred to by its denizens as “twenty-one-two-three”), the…[...]
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It had been raining for two days. The river behind the Hanuman mandir, which was dry throughout the year, now had a steady stream of water. Its gentle burble bounced…[...]
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CW: addiction, self-harm, mental illness, inspired by true events From their earliest days, children learn through what adults do and the silent lessons they convey. They notice laughter after a…[...]
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In a land far, far away lives a small group of creatures. They spend most of their days gathering pebbles and small twigs to create walking paths across forest creeks…[...]
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Why My Small Town Is The Worst:1. You know everyone.2. People can lie and everyone will believe them.3. You can’t escape them4. Legacies. (To kill and protect.) 5. Her.Small towns…[...]
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A loud crackling sounded off within my ear and I could have sworn it echoed the London Library, causing me to tense up a bit. The fragile binding of an…[...]
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“Culpabilité”By Valerie Fowler Set in the 1990s when home phones hummed, goodbyes took their time, and calls lingered in dead air before letting go. Pastel dawn nudges night from the…[...]
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The soft glow of morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Ayana’s childhood bedroom, casting long, golden streaks across the familiar floor. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as…[...]
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The surface of Lake Michigan didn’t just reflect the sun; it vibrated with it. Each ripple caught the light in a rhythmic, golden pulse—a visual heartbeat. To anyone else, it…[...]
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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…[...]
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Beautiful. That was the first word that came to mind when I saw her. I watched from afar as she captured precious memories. A small, focused smile behind the lens…[...]
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The daffodils had opened overnight.I noticed them while walking back home, the sun was unusually generous for early spring. They leaned toward the light, bright and unapologetically yellow against the…[...]
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As Ashley stood in front of the bedroom mirror, she began examining the woman who had quietly turned fifty-seven. The warm glow of the bedside lamp softened the faint lines…[...]
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Reader advised: This story contains coarse language and/or racial slander. It's not my fault I didn't know what the word "nigger" means. It's not my fault that quoting a movie…[...]
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The suitcase was small. It had once belonged to her late father—brown leather, dusty from years of being under the bed since the revolution, never travelled, now meant for fleeing.…[...]
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There was silence, as they waited. It was hard and cool, like a blade made of ice hanging in a guillotine, a rope or thread away from another death. This…[...]
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(Content Warning: Mental Health & Emotional/Verbal abuse) Life is so hard.There are always so many things you need to do. You need to cook, clean, organize, paint—wash the car, cut…[...]
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Isabella sat in the glow of the pixels that would consume her day. Coffee steam filled her nostrils as she blew into her travel mug before attempting to take a…[...]
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Sana skidded to a stop just before she crashed into her own car, pressing her thumb to the handle and begging it to recognise the print. The little blue light…[...]
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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…[...]
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Looking at the sky has always meant facing uncertainty. It stretches beyond what you can fully see or predict, vast and indifferent to whether you understand it. At times it…[...]
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The loss of color began when men took over our world… and not the men of color. It was the color of white and gold. Was gold even a true…[...]
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Dr. Irina Polavina did not set out to change the world. Her target was much more mundane. She simply wanted to rid the world of grey hair. Studies by her…[...]
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Bloody Hands It has been said, “the earth remembers what we forget.” This sentence is racing on repeat through our protagonists head as he cleans his dirt-covered, bloody hands beneath…[...]
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It had been eleven years since Afshin had journeyed out of Mazar-i-Sharif, through the stony deserts and forbidding mountains of the Hindu Kush, to meet the friend who put people…[...]
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The first thing Marisol felt was the pulse—a thrumming, blood-red heartbeat of a feather resting upon her threshold. It did not merely lie there; it breathed, twitching against the humid…[...]
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Walking with her two young sons on each side of her, their hands in hers, the Native American woman approached the two black women. She stopped in front of the…[...]
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Stalwart Love In a little town where there was often little news, the death of the wealthy, clandestine-philanthropist, Adelina, spread like wildfire. It became the talk of the town, some…[...]
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D-o-N-ot-A-skThe paper was a pale, construction-paper green, the color of a mint that had sat too long in a grandmother’s glass dish. In a drafty classroom in 1960s Bridgeport, Miss…[...]
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There is a Place We All Go After Death Rashad checks, then double checks, his weapons. He is feeling nervous about the upcoming battle tomorrow. “It’d be one thing if…[...]
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12:01am The girl opened her eyes, the sound of a train whistle lingering in her ears. 12:00am The oncoming train blared at him, a bellowing trumpet like an angry elephant. He…[...]
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A Light in the Cold A drop of tea leaped over the thin wall of the china cup and onto her walnut coffee table as she knelt to sit on…[...]
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Disclaimer: There is no easy way to win a game of chess. But that’s only if by “winning” you mean hunting down your opponent’s king until he is gasping for…[...]
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Warning--mature themes, mention of abuse I woke up from a bad dream I couldn't remember. Just before midnight, I ended up in the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror."Are…[...]
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When the last bit of ice fell through the carved hole, Ahnah's hands felt like they were stung by jellyfish of ice. Cold covered her warm, flushed skin in a…[...]
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Ba-bum.....Ba-bum.There’s supposed to be a space between heartbeats. A pause. A reset. Something small and necessary. Mine has always felt longer than it should be. Not enough for anyone to…[...]
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The snow didn’t fall , it drifted, aimless and silent, coating the iron gates of the botanical garden in a fine, crystalized coating. Danny stood by the frozen fountain, his…[...]
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**Contains a death at the beginning that propels the character through her journey** Thump-Thump…Thump-Thump-Thump…Thump-Thump…Thump…Thump… Beeeeeeeep. A dozen or more people rushed around the room doing a million things at once,…[...]
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