Microfiction
Achiever, Believer
"Come on, Mike," Sam yelled, "We've got this. Just a couple more miles. Keep running!" My best friend, Samantha had always been a tomboy. She favored individual sports early on, especially running, swimming and tennis. Later, she joined soccer. We got along great because I was a jock too. I favored team sports like football and basketball. That wasn't the major difference between us.
By Julie Lacksonenabout 6 hours ago in Fiction
Bottom of the 9th, Bases Loaded
Game seven, bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, and down by three. His back foot kicks up dirt as he settles into the batter’s box for the sixth time this at-bat. After taking a ball that was just a bit outside, the count is full.
By Jean-François Lamotheabout 14 hours ago in Fiction
The Silver Creation
“My brother warned me to not accept gifts from the one who commissioned you,” Epimetheus said, his voice echoing against the stone pillars of the temple. Before him stood a woman clad in silvery raiments, her skin catching the flickering light of the torches. A silver tiara rested upon her brow, and rings glinted from her fingers and toes.
By imtiazalamabout 14 hours ago in Fiction
The Library Beneath the World
For most people, libraries were quiet places filled with books and silence. But for Adrian, libraries were doorways. He had spent much of his childhood wandering between shelves, running his fingers along dusty spines, imagining that each book contained a hidden world waiting to be discovered. Stories fascinated him not just because they entertained him, but because they felt real—almost alive.
By Reflective Storiesabout 19 hours ago in Fiction
Black Shuck
Every man fears the fire, and yet every man carries fire into his home. Every woman learns to keep the flames tame, so that she might cook and warm her babes, and every woman knows the scorch of a sudden flare and the burn of a thrown ember. Every child learns to draw near, but not to touch. Even dogs know how close they can go, how far to stay away. Only the cat sleeps without fear of the flames.
By Hannah Mooreabout 24 hours ago in Fiction
Light at the End of the Alley
The city had a way of hiding itself in plain sight. Every day, Amira walked past the same streets, the same cafés, the same corners that seemed familiar yet always held the possibility of something unseen. She was drawn to shadows and light alike, fascinated by the way they could bend reality for a moment, hinting at stories that no one had told yet.
By Reflective Storiesa day ago in Fiction
Cheap Talk
"You're breathing like a bear," Koff said coolly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she bowed over her book. Vella leaned over the counter, taking the pressure off her lower back. She'd worked a shift and a half already and no one had come in for the last hour, meaning this torture wasn't going to end until dawn. At least it was empty. Mostly empty. It was just she and Koff. One on either side of the register like it mattered. Employee and customer. Ha ha.
By Silver Daux2 days ago in Fiction
XVAR
Introduction The letters “VAXR” came into my head and I thought how could that be a story? I then rearranged them to “XVAR” because I thought that VAXR was close to Vaxxer and that might cause ructions with COVID anti-vaxxers. However, I think everyone who can be safely vaccinated should be vaccinated, I know so many people who have been affected by and frightened by the effects of COVID that I believe I should do everything I can to stop the spread of the virus, but that is way off the target of this piece of fiction. However, the end could be the same.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred 2 days ago in Fiction
