Aisa M

“There’s Something About Rome” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #77

Sweat dripped from her forehead and her white cotton shirt, soaked. Sally could have sat inside the cafe, the air con could have cooled her down. Instead, she sat outdoors because the view was better. Pavement cafes lined up on that narrow cobblestoned street. Bougainvillea vines crawled down from the second floor of the building down to the glass windows of the cafes, albeit neatly cut. Café Romana, that’s where she sat; its wooden tables topped with lacey white runners, chairs were cushioned with either pink and white or mint green and whi...

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“Ripples on a Quiet Lake” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #68

The aroma of instant coffee woke me up. It wafted into my nostrils, whirled its way into my every nerve, and woke up every bit of my sleeping body parts. I sat cross-legged; hands tucked inside the pocket of my grey sweater, absorbing every heat they can get. My eyes squinted as the tender light of the dawn entered the tent. The fog slowly vanished in the presence of the early morning sun. Puffy, white clouds enveloped the Lover’s Summit – as what everyone called the twin mountains. Mike smiled at me as he transferred freshly fried eggs into...

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“Malediven Express” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #67

Bound to Javahiru Rah, Malediven Express left Male’ at exactly nine on a Saturday morning of November. A thin silver line hemmed the cloudless neon-blue sky and the lazy deep blue. Frothy waves ebbed and flowed as the speedboat slammed the perfectly idle sea. Nature-trimmed palm and banyan trees on islands waved at the high-speed ocean toy. The three passengers of the speedboat were bound to Javahiru Rah which means Jewel Island, all with different reasons.Two hours after leaving the capital and exchanging names and pleasantries, Bogdan sat ...

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“Speak or Die” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #67

Tom can’t count the days of darkness. He’s been sitting in the middle of that room for what seems like an eternity. He cannot differentiate day and night. He can only feel the temperature change. He thinks it’s nighttime when his feet, tied to both legs of the chair, ache with the touch of the freezing floor and daytime when sweat drips from every pore of his body. There are no windows for light and air to pass through. He’s surprised he’s still breathing, taking in the stench of mold, sweat, and piss. He’s been in and out of sleep, he can’t...

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“Time of Your Life” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #66

I slam my apron on the bar counter and leave as the printer vomits paper after paper of orders: beer, mojito, whiskey, cosmopolitan, tequila shots, and vodka orange. The night is young and the swelling crowd is vivacious. Gerard looks at me as I storm out the counter and head to the stage. He must think I am crazy to leave him as he sweats profusely with the number of drinks he needs to serve. But I really don’t care. I’ve had enough of life compromising my dreams.  Sandra and her shiny, wiggly, skimpy dress that makes her look lik...

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“A Little Too Late” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #65

When you die, you won’t matter to anyone or anything anymore except to the worms that would feast on your flesh until only your bones are left under your grave. Fragments of your flesh will soon be ashes or dust, subject to dissipation, and just another element that can cause a sneeze. Family and friends will keep you in their memories, but their world will continue to move without you. You will just be like another file in their hard drive, kept, to be forgotten. Soon you’ll fade away, and even the closest of person will start forgetting th...

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“Unwanted Visitor” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #64

That wasn’t the first time I’ve seen her pale face. She has haunted my dreams like a storm surging on to an unsuspecting, still night. Her ceramic-white face appeared like lightning, cutting through the apocalyptic sky. Her long black hair loomed on my face like torrential rain. Her melancholic cries for help came in like the howling wind, pounding the dormitory until it’s cracks and hinges wept. Her eyes. Her bloodshot eyes glared at me relentlessly, countless times. And that night she called my name for the very first time. Her voice sound...

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“Autumn's Wish” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #63

 It is not like I’d always wanted to break the rules of the universe. It’s just my job to grant wishes. But I tell you, I don’t just grant every wish. I also choose, alright. And it’s not easy. No, it’s never easy. I get various kinds of wishes from money to the moon and thought I wouldn’t be surprised anymore. But yesterday’s wish came as odd yet very interesting.   Aki sits two tables away from me. Her hair is in a messy bun, jet-black as she wished. Her hooded eyes hide under thick eyelashes, towered by evenly thick eyebr...

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“The Last Witch of River Valley” by Aisa M

After debating with Sabrina for the longest time, she finally decided that it will be her last night on Earth. She will cast her final spell under the fascinating beauty of the luminescent ball of gas in the sky before completely disappearing into thin air. But before that, before finally dissolving into the infinite abyss that she isn’t sure whether to call seventh heaven or hell, she’d leave a legacy behind. A witch chest containing proofs of their existence before the inevitable extinction happened.‘Are you serious about this? This is the...

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“Where the Fireflies Danced ” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #61

The dimly lit sky brushed with faint pink streaks was nature’s sign for the kids to go home if their mothers or elder sisters haven’t made their siren’s call yet while ensuring that the steamed rice for dinner won’t be burned or mushy. It was the first day of the summer school holiday and the kids played the whole day like it was their last and couldn’t be bothered about the time.  ‘Let’s play one last game before dinner time,’ said the skinny boy, panting from non-stop back and forth run. His cheeks flushed red from the heat of hi...

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“There’s a Zombie Outside Your Door” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #60

I never imagined that I would ever be at a time of Zombie Apocalypse, let alone be stuck with a Parakeet in an unprecedented time like this.  Of all the animals in the world, why a Parakeet? It could be a dog, who can help me fight the bloody zombies, or a cat, who will just sleep in one corner, or a Gold Fish, that won’t make a single sound and a potential meal should I starve in case of food shortage.  Before the outbreak happened, my neighbor brought home this noisy Parakeet one summer night. He placed the cage on his ...

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“The Isle of Bones ” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #60

It all started a few years ago, one morning as the sun was about to shine on this lush island when the early risers found tons of fish on the shore. Some dying. Some desperately trying to live. They all lied on the shore covered with blood and greenish-black slime.  The Island Chief came and saw the blood bath. He touched the slime and smelled it. He looked at all the blood-shot eyes of all the dead fish lying on the shore that is enough to feed the islanders for months.  He gathered all the islanders. There were just about thr...

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“A Hundred and One Blind Dates ” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #56

I am looking at this young lad in front of me, who’s trying so hard not to look nervous on what seemed to be his first time to a blind date. He kept gulping tons of iced tea. I’m not sure if it’s because he ordered bottomless iced tea or he just wants to fill in the awkward silences with something else other than folding the table napkin, unfolding it and then folding it again. And then touching the backof his head with his left hand while the fingers of his right hand, played with the table as if it’s the grand piano.  This is my hun...

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