A.J. Williams

“To Hank - Note #2” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #275

The emptiness feels endless. When I lost our son and saw his still, lifeless body, I felt a sadness deeper than anything I’d ever known. I looked into his eyes and saw only a cold emptiness. When I needed you the most, you weren’t there. You were never there. Now, this emptiness eats me up inside, and more than ever, I just want peace—to be with our son. Hank, when you tell me, “You’re not a burden,” I know you’re lying. Living with mental illness *is* a burden. Depression drags us all down, and the only way out sometimes seems like death fo...

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“To My Family - Note #1” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #274

*Note: This is a fictional work and does not promote suicide. If you're struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns, please consider seeking help or talking to someone.*I’ve tried so many times to tell people how I feel, especially about the anger inside me. I told you again and again about my intentions and efforts, but in the end, I was left completely alone in this dark, unfair world. Sadness surrounds me, and it feels like I can’t breathe. Even though I know there’s love in my heart and moments when I feel hopefu...

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“Wee German Lairdie” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #271

July 17th, 2092 (80 A.E.) Northern ScotlandIn the misty hills of Scotland, hundreds of corpses lay strewn across the blood-soaked earth, each bludgeoned or pierced by sword and spear. Their souls seem to linger in the air, awaiting their passage to the heavens. The faces of the fallen are etched with shock and fear. Scots lie among Anglo-Saxons, Germans, French, and Irish—all caught in the chaos of battle.The once-proud fields of heather, tall grass, and wild bushes are now stained red. A few stragglers remain, stumbling through the carnage,...

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“Words of Love” by A.J. Williams

I'm scared I won't be successful in my life; do you know what it feels like to fail? It's strange because I grew up with optimistic parents. How did I become so negative? My fingers are on my laptop's keyboard – my old typewriter broke a few months ago, and now I can't seem to write anything new. Sunlight filters weakly through my beige curtains, just enough to light up my bedroom. I used to love this room, but now it feels like a place of writer's block and frustration. I wish I could escape this apartment and my life. Anyone who has felt t...

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“My Dancing Wife” by A.J. Williams

Note: A.E. (After-Event) refers to the new dating system in-universe. In the year 2012, a massive solar flare hit the Earth, sending the human race back into the Dark Ages. A Second Dark Ages. Free City of Paris, Formerly France September 10th, 2037 (25 A.E.) She dances and dances, and I can’t seem to get her to stop. It’s definitely the drink, but Ava rarely gets this drunk. She frequents this bar nearly every night, seeking an escape from our dull life, no doubt. I try to remain calm as I stand in front of her. Her slender body sways gra...

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“The Songbook” by A.J. Williams

Note: A.E. (After-Event) refers to the new dating system in-universe. In the year 2012, a massive solar flare hit the Earth, sending the human race back into the Dark Ages. A Second Dark Ages. New Orleans, Duchy of Louisiana, Kingdom of the South July 22nd, 2156 (144 A.E.) "The world is a vampire... set to drain..." muttered a young boy as he read lyrics from an old-world songbook. It contained lyrics and notes from the 1990s, a distant era. According to his father, it was a time when humanity wielded godlike power but succumbed to lazines...

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“Avraám & his Sons” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #245

Note: A.E. (After-Event) refers to the new dating system in-universe. In the year 2012, a massive solar flare hit the Earth, sending the human race back into the Dark Ages. A Second Dark Ages. City of Athens, Greek Union of Cities August 17th, 2145 (133 A.E.) "Iakovos, please bring the feather and ink. Tonight's sky is clear, and we need to begin documenting the stars," ordered Avraám, the Star-Gazer of Athens, a respected role held in high regard by the Greek community. "Of course, Father," replied his son. "The Council and the King requi...

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“The Damned & the Forgotten” by A.J. Williams

Note: A.E. (After-Event) refers to the new dating system in-universe. In the year 2012, a massive solar flare hit the Earth, sending the human race back into the Dark Ages. A Second Dark Ages. Abandoned City of Toronto, Former Province of Ontario, Canada September 20th, 2019 (7 A.E.) In downtown Toronto, once bustling and the capital of Ontario, now lies abandoned to encroaching nature that will likely overtake it in the years to come. Grass peeks through cracked sidewalks and roads, while buildings start to sprout grass and vines. The city...

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“The Drink of Wine” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #241

Contains themes of substance abuse, emotional abuse, & sexual content*Note: A.E. refers to After-Event*City of Barrie, Kingdom of Ontario August 2112 (100 A.E.) In the grand hall, torches blazed brightly, casting dancing shadows upon the gathering of warriors. Soldiers, generals, guardsmen, and nurses alike were gathered around tables hewn from the sturdy trunks of sugar maple and white pine. Their faces illuminated by the flickering flames, they feasted upon steaming bowls of soup and broth, served in rough-hewn wooden vessels. Loaves o...

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“The Winds” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #240

Port Orford, Oregon Spring 2040 (28 A.E.) The winds batter the walls of the main house, causing them to rattle and jolt. Storms like these are never enjoyable, especially with Mona's fear of hurricanes and tornadoes. I often wonder how she managed to survive in the wilderness alone. Perhaps I've been too protective of her, though I've tried to provide only minimal comfort to help ease her fears of the world. After all, she's just fourteen and deserves some peace and security. Sitting in the lighthouse's main cabin at our small dinner table, ...

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“The Road to Nowhere That Is Somewhere to Someone” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #239

North Dakota Autumn 2039 (27 A.E.) Awakening to the soothing rhythm of raindrops against my modest tent, pieced together from old construction tarp I've owned since the collapse, I find comfort in the familiarity of my bedroll made of durable post-event fabric, a wise purchase made just a year ago. As I rise to greet the day, the decision weighs on me whether to hunker down here or brave the elements with a walk through the rain to toughen up. Opting to remain sheltered as the rain intensifies, it becomes evident that I'm meant to stay ...

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“The File” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #236

Suburbs of Allen Commune of Boston, Massachusetts 2044 A woman in her middle years, with black hair turning gray, was using an older desktop computer. It was a Dell model with important information inside, information she urgently needed. However, she couldn't access the computer's main user without the required password. Feeling frustrated, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and thought about her father's favorite activities: fishing, hunting, volunteering, stamp collecting, and raising dogs. Trying different passwords, she atte...

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“The Sphere in the Sky” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #234

As I shut my eyes to listen to the gentle melody on the radio, I notice the sound of her footsteps. When I open my eyes again, she has moved closer to us. I've nicknamed her Big Betty. It's like a colossal metallic sphere gliding down to Earth. Quite a dramatic ending, don't you think? A massive alien spacecraft cruising on autopilot, heading straight for us. "I baked muffins for us, the ones you enjoy," Janet, my wife, mentioned as she placed them on the stool in front of me. We sat on our balcony, savoring the city sounds and the anxious ...

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“The Masked Party” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #233

July 10th, 2040 (28 A.E.) Denver Somewhere in the city a grand themed party for the rich is taking place, and is quite, quite ridiculous… V's words dripped with a bitter irony as she adjusted her mask, its facade contrasting sharply with her sparkly black dress and the fiery red of her hair that complemented her pale, freckled skin. "Funny, to think, I was hoping for a ball but now these masks take the cake," she remarked, her voice tinged with a venomous edge as she observed the masked figures inside of the mansion in front of her. "The peo...

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“The Star Gazer” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #232

Spring of 2047 (35 A.E.) Near Denver, Free Republic of Colorado Thomas Newbury peered through the pre-Event telescope, his gaze fixed on the celestial canvas above. His routine pursuit involved scouring the heavens for a new comet, not merely for the thrill of discovery but as a means to eke out a meager living in this post-apocalyptic world. The solar flare storm that ravaged Earth's communications and electricity on December 21st, 2012, had plunged humanity into a stark and unforgiving reality. Yet, in the midst of desolation, Thomas f...

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