Category Archives: Short stories

New Man of Moral

Posted on by under Short stories, Writing Prompts

by Alan Osmundson

“Ah, there he goes! Hello! Can you hear me all right?”

I struggled to open my eyes, but despite the effort the light only blinded me, and the lids shut again.

“Heavy sleeper, huh? Understandable… that’s understandable.”

I heard footsteps moving away and slowly began to regain my senses. I became conscious that I was lying on my side on what felt like sand, though it seemed excruciatingly rough on my skin. I began to hear a dull consistent roar that was at once calming and deafening. I tried to open my eyes once more, this time only to find that I was hampered by a pervasive pain that seemed to course from my bones to my skin and back again. Continue reading →

Leaves

Posted on by under Realistic, Short stories, Writing Prompts

I have to say, this was somewhat expected. Throughout all of my adolescence, adults have always told me, “Wear a helmet! You think you don’t need it, but some day it might save your life!” As the usual stubborn ass that I was, I refused to listen. Yet here I am, eyes glued to the sky, helmetless head on the concrete, laying limp in a pool of my own warm, trickling blood. My crumpled bicycle is out of my line of sight, although I think it’s gone. So is the car, so is the crying family that saw the accident, the paramedics who deemed me already lost. All gone. Though these events seemed to last mere minutes, everyone has left me here. Continue reading →

The Barrel of Fate

Posted on by under Short stories, Writing Prompts

by Declan Quinn. Inspired by the Hunger Games. Response to a writing prompt: “write from the point of view of someone about to be killed”

It was rather unfortunate, really. I thought it was a joke at first. I was surprised to see it at all; this really didn’t seem like the time for jokes, especially one as cruel as this. It was only when I had gone through the bag three times that I realized my fate was set. And from that moment forward, my entire existence rested in the only thing I was given: a butter knife. Continue reading →

Scenic Route 1

Posted on by under Realistic, Short stories, Writing Prompts

Written in response to the Death prompt. This piece was also inspired by a true story of a family friend, dramatized and injected with a bit of Gatsby-esque feelings that I had on the experience.

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I came to the new country with hope for a new life. But now, suspended an inch above the water, time stops, and I realize the new life has ended.

The first months were difficult for me. I came with my husband to a land of a garish culture and alien noise. The English that I had learned in school back at home sounded nothing like the street talk here. When I opened my lips to speak, corners of mouths turned upwards mockingly and bade me shut my lips back closed. When I came to my job in the small shop, the pale faces glared at me, and companionship was scarce. But here was the land where wallets swelled larger than the Mother Ocean and spirits rose higher than the Father Sun. If I tried hard enough, I knew, the new country would find a way for me to achieve greatness. Continue reading →

Six-word stories

Posted on by under Short stories, Writing Prompts

A collection of six-word stories, inspired by Hemingway’s original, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Maya Asregadoo: Empty chair at the dinner table.

Angela Guo: Her suicide note: “They did it.”

Will Knox: Goodbye Mission Control. Thanks for trying.

James Paules: I was born. Then I lived.

Here’s my heart. Some assembly required.

David Xie: “Love.” Just to hear the sound.

Declan Quinn: One shadow, two shadows, one shadow.

Jack Joseph: Gray people, always moving, never resting.

Paige Bautista: Her blood stained his empty hands.