Aidan Romo

“The Depression of Dr. Caligari” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #289

Author's Note: This short story is loosely inspired by and borrows elements from the 1920 German horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. ACT I "God, what the hell am I doing? You're married..." A man washes his face in the bathroom of a Red Lobster. The one he and his wife went to for their first anniversary dinner. The man looks down at his beer spilled shirt, and realizes that some of it trickled down to his pants. "It's not my fault she was so hot. Any one would go for her. It’s not like this is a serious thing." In a huff, the man goes...

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“Years of Longing By Erin Rosswell” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #286

“Alright, thank you. You have a good day now. Thanks.” Another call done and dealt with. I swear, I’ve only got seven minutes left of my shift, please…please in the name of Jesus Cringles, not another call. I’m so ready to pass out on my bed. Alas, got a couple more dollars to make today. On the plus side, the mortgage should be dealt with. Now I just have every other payment to make. I wish the economy would up and die. At least I’d have an excuse to be financially underperforming. Oop, phone just buzzed. Bright Blue? Damn. N...

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“10 AM” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #282

Message One. Left at 4PM, September 7th.Hi, sweetheart! Umm…surprise (nervous laughter) yeah. I’m so sorry. You’ve probably been sweating bullets all day wondering about me. It wasn’t my intention to abandon you like this. I wish I could’ve told you earlier than now, but, what can I say, your proposal tripped me up mentally. (laughter) Anyways, this doesn’t change anything with us, honest! Again, I am so utterly sorry about this situation. I simply couldn’t not show up for this business trip. Sadly, it is quite important. The last thing I wa...

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“Eve of Repentance” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #281

New York City12/24/1928 Ritzy piano fills the halls of Benjamin’s mansion with a bombastic tune of Jingle Bells. As the exquisitely tailored host himself peers from the top of his staircase upon the sea of glimmering acquaintances, prancing with drinks in hand, Benjamin M. Kent thinks how thankful he was to be in here rather than in the unrelenting Christmas Eve cold. How gracious was he to invite so many to this party on such a harsh night. How lucky was he to carry such distinguished company, Benjamin told himself, coming down the stairs t...

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“My Sweet Nothings” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #280

“Do not….go…to…the door…”“What’s out there?”“Eve…ry…thing……you cannot…have…”“Not that there’s much…”“You…do…not…need….that…never have….never wiiill…..”“You might be right…”“Have…..I….ev…er….led…you…..a…stray….”“I don’t know.”“Of course…you do not…..you know nothing….”“When have I last seen sunlight?”“There….is…no….sun……for you.”“Why just me?”“You….are….im..pure…..put..rid…”“It’s hard to see in here.”“Why…would…you…need to see…..a world….that you can’t…have…”“Am I unworthy of light?”“Yes…..most…un…worthy…”“Of the sun?”“Just….look….at…you…”“Wh...

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“Ballad of the Gambler” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #279

The following is one of several songs of unknown exact origin that circulated from person to person through the American Frontier about one of many long forgotten, some say even fabled, folks of the region's unruly past.The heat beats on without regard for prayers of escapeFrom those who gives up or has all taken by desperate hands.Yet one soul pays no mind, a numb, boiling shape. They just march on without end, drifting through desert sands. Where his destination lies is where that where is lying. For he goes long ways alone,...

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“Visiting Hours” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #267

"Excuse me, where's Blake?"Jeremy leans over the reception counter, composed but panicked in thought and emotion."I'm sorry, sir, Blake who?""Blake Himbley, I rushed here as soon as I heard about his accident. Where is he?""I'm sorry, who are you?""I'm his brother, Jeremy. Could you mind just telling me where he is?"The young woman takes out a clipboard from the side of her desk, flipping through it as quick as she can."Ah, okay, Mr. Himbley, we just took him out of the emergency room an hour ago, he's in 107."The woman points towards the ha...

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“Feral” by Aidan Romo

Submitted to Contest #264

NEW HOMEI take one last glance at the pack as my new life with pure, sweet Robin lies somewhere beyond these tall trees, which I have spent many lonely moons under. Despite all the grey my eyes beheld, a part of me feels guilty leaving them behind now. Strolling through the summer soil, Robin's beautiful form of flaming ruby red illuminating the way ahead, I feel the most joyful, painful tear of mourning flee my snout.Lacking the community of my pack, every step I take here is another step closer to my soul sinking into the Earth they frolic...

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“Bradley” by Aidan Romo

Heya. If you're reading this, you should feel lucky. I'm the biggest deal at Redman Elementary. Ask any of the other students that go here. Few would argue with this fact, if at all. None of them even could. My real name is Bradley Stepson Grant, but proper names are for losers. For people who are content to sit at their desks thinking their mediocre lives and achievements are somehow special to anyone. Call me Big Bradley, nothing else. You're not worthy to know me on a solely first name basis, but don't feel bad, very few are. The only one...

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“Sweltering” by Aidan Romo

"We interrupt your regularly scheduled radio program to warn you of an incoming heat wave set to devastate much of mainland USA over the course of the next few days. Earlier this morning, the National Weather Service gave a dire warning about the unusual kind of-" As he strolls through his neighborhood, young Herbert Newsworth, with chill air blowing onto the back of his neck from his umbrella, flips off the local station on his phone. People, likewise, are walking on the other side of the street with their umbrellas and fans. A pair of shir...

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“The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by Aidan Romo

Act 1, Scene 2Flourish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, the Council, as Polonius, and his son Laertes, Hamlet, with others, among them, Voltemand and Cornelius.KINGThough yet of Hamlet our dear brother's deathThe memory be green, and that it us befittedTo bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdomTo be contracted in one brow of woe,Yet so far hath discretion fought with natureThat we with wisest sorrow think on himTogether with remembrance of ourselves.Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,Th' imperial jointr...

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“Diablo ” by Aidan Romo

Walking down the snowy mountains, the wind nearly blowing my hat down onto the path below me, my eyes beset another small drinking bar in the distance. I appreciate the quaint design of the exterior on this particular bar. I've been to quite a few with the poorest of upkeeps.I don't know why I have such an urge to go into another one of these. Down amongst them otra vez. These past years, walking from place to place, it has all ended the same way. I end up the same wandering stranger I've been my entire time on this vile world.Yet, I can't s...

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“Reconstruction” by Aidan Romo

"We've been giving handouts to these faltering communities for too long." Echoes Lincoln Miner to the other five acting members of the council seated around him. Especially to the one sitting directly across from him on the other side, Councilman Jock Kluggs, the biggest threat to his absolute influence over the council. "There's only so long our government can continue to provide far reaching aid to planets that aren't worth the effort." Miner rises and begins to fiercely gesture towards the other members. "It'd be like spending months ...

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“The Great Mickelson” by Aidan Romo

Sitting here on my armchair, an aged shell of the man who conquered the world, feeling mere moments from death, I wonder if I should take one more pause in time. Freeze the world and taking another instant of many to myself.What for?Nobody's waiting for me anymore. There's nothing more I could possibly do, at least that I haven't already. I've achieved things that so many people could only imagine doing in the spare time they grant themselves. Things that they desire to do, but ultimately take to their grave, full of deep self resentment and...

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“Pleasure” by Aidan Romo

Trigger Warning: Self harm, Mental healthWent to the coffee shop down 55th Street the other day. Ordered a black hot coffee. Ordered it quick. Lady asked why black. I told her I didn't want to talk. That she wouldn't want to know. She backed off. I got my cup of pleasure and took it to the apartment I'm staying at now. Went past the annoying old hag at the front desk. Usually tries to pester me with her pleasantries. Kept her mouth shut today. Seems she finally knew better around me.You want my name? My life till now? My situation? My intere...

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