Amanda Kelly

“A Choice” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #92

My mind was dark. I wouldn’t open my eyes.I couldn’t. Not after her death. I was all alone. ***Days passed. My muscles ached from little movement. But my mind wouldn’t stop moving. Replaying the same thing, over and over. Her last breath in the hospital bed, as cancer won over her body. Her grip loosening on my hand as God stole her away. It was like my mind was purposely being cruel by pressing the replay button on the worst moment in my life.  I couldn’t keep living. Not without her. I had no purpose. What was the ...

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“A New Beginning” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #83

The merciless sun beat down on The Merukiyo as it gently bobbed on the calm, glassy surface of the Pacific Ocean. Aurelia Salvador relaxed in a reed-woven hammock with her hat across her eyes and her head propped on her elbows.       “This is the life, ain’t it, Milo?” she murmured, stroking the loyal German shepherd by her side. Milo whined and licked her hand energetically. Suddenly, an unwelcome, oily voice sliced the peace like a knife through butter.        “Cap’n?”  ...

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“Casey the Crook” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #79

     Casey knocked on my door around 10:30. I never ever expected my fleeting mother to come to my doorstep with a smile nonetheless.       I was in bed with my wife, Marisa. We were watching “Bones”, my favorite TV show. It always made me happy when the bad guy was finally caught.       Then, a brisk knock on the door reverberated in my ears. I turned to Marisa.       “Are we...expecting someone?” I asked. She shook her head, a...

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“Who You Are Made to Be” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #76

     Don’t be shy, Adelyn reminded herself. It’s a sleepover! You’ve done this hundreds of times with these girls. They’re nice, and they’re your friends for heaven’s sake! Stop being a baby! You’re gonna get in there and grin and be happy. Tell jokes and be funny! She reprimanded herself, gripping the strands of her backpack.        Adelyn walked up the front steps of Charlotte’s house, her heart pounding. Adelyn’s older sister, Alexa, bounded up the steps radiating confidence and ...

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“Prince Darius” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #67

     Rough and calloused, a hairy hand slammed a knife into the wood of the table, piercing through the map.       “There is no way I am going to let any scoundrel get that Eye before me! Avenly will be mine, no matter how many bodies I must bury to get there!” A gruff, nasty voice growled. In the shadows of the cabin of the ship, the captain’s dirty, sweaty face came into view. He had large, golden earrings protruding from his thick earlobes. Hidden in a bedraggled, matted beard, his ye...

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“Vessels” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #65

     Raven aimlessly stumbled along the dirt path, rivers of tears flowing out of her bulging eyes. The salty teardrops beaded down her blemished cheeks, making paths through the dirt. The young girl crossed her eyes to see her bulbous nose, loathing every inch of it. Her frizzy grayish hair was unevenly cut and matted with dirt.     Raven’s bushy eyebrows furrowed in pure anger at her appearance. She ran her purplish tongue along her crooked, yellow teeth, more tears springing to her eyes and run...

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“The Middle Ages” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #64

     Twins Ellie and Ayesha Sawyer stepped onto the crowded sidewalk in front of the Witches Gallow manor. Ellie grinned behind her halloween mask, giddy with excitement.       “Ayesha, I’m so excited!” Ellie squealed. “Aren’t you?”       “Uh,” Ayesha murmured. “I’m a little scared.” Ellie harshly rolled her eyes at her skittish twin.       “Don’t be a pansy, Ayesha! I swear, nothing bad is going to happen. I’ll be right here.” ...

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“Cyrene” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #64

     The bright morning sun burst through the thick canopy of maple leaves above Rowan’s head. She smiled, stretching her sore limbs.       “Willow!” She spoke with her usual morning singsong voice. “Rise and shine! Today we are-” She stopped short. Her upbeat, joyful attitude was crushed as she realized the tasks of the day. “Today we are going to the village,” She finished gloomily. At this, Willow poked her head up. Rowan’s cotton-tailed companion loved the village, since that’s where...

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“Otis the Shepherd” by Amanda Kelly

Caroline trudged through the thick blanket of fallen leaves. The towering hill seemed neverending in their long trek to the tip top of the mountain. A burly German Shepherd companion, Otis, raced alongside her, dashing under branches and leaping over fallen logs. "What do you think, Otis? Are we lost?" Caroline asked worriedly. They'd been hiking for hours, trying to find a clearer path to the top. Otis stood erect, his hindquarters twitching anxiously. Otis cocked his head, listening. Smiling, Caroline teased, "What is it, boy? An...

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“Messengers” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #49

Emily anxiously twirled her hair, holding her six-year-old daughter's hand. She stood up on her tiptoes, peeking over the sea of people. "You excited to see your husband again?" A gentle voice asked from behind Emily. Her brain didn't register that the strange voice could be talking to her. She glanced behind her to see an old woman with two long white braids and a wrinkly, kind face looking straight at her. "Oh!" Emily exclaimed apologetically. "I'm sorry, I did not realize you were talking to me," She explained. The woman waved h...

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“Iman's Secret” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #48

    Iman sat in his family’s little boat, staring out at the glassy Red Sea. His sister, Farah, sat a little farther away, intently listening and watching her mother teach her how to sew up a ripped sail. "Iman?" Iman heard his father's voice behind him. He turned and saw his kindly dad watching him with a troubled look on his face.   "You okay, my boy?" He asked gently. His soft eyes searched for any deep secrets inside Iman's soul. Iman prayed that his father didn't find the one secret that he'd been hidi...

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“The Lamb” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #43

   Karen swept her front porch, swinging the broom aimlessly back and forth. She wished for a hair tie; she was sweating buckets now. Her mother had made her do a bunch of chores, just because some random people that she worked with were coming over for dinner.  Come on! Karen thought madly. Why should I be stuck doing a bunch of chores for random people I don't even know?! She angrily finished the porch, leaving behind more twigs and leaves than before.     She stomped ins...

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“Goodbye, Pops” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #40

Sophie Matthews was a very kind young lady. She had chestnut-brown hair, light skin and blue eyes. She was very smart, receiving nearly straight A’s in all her school years. She was very popular and had lots of friends. Her mother was a dentist, and her father was a surgeon. Some say she had everything a teenager could ever want, but she never boasted about it. Her parents were usually away working, and her grandfather, who she always called Pops, would come and spend time with Soph...

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“Rags to Riches” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #39

Stella gazed up at the stars, her eyes flitting from constellation to constellation. She sat on a tree branch, smiling the smile that only comes out when the stars do. This was the time for her to lurk, to scavenge, and to feed. She slipped down from the tree and stalked toward the city. Keeping to the shadows, Stella crept closer to her favorite bread stand. The fat seller was always asleep by brandy or another drink by this time, and she loved his bread. She grabbed a couple loaves and stuffed them in her black canvas b...

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“Likes” by Amanda Kelly

Submitted to Contest #38

 Ryan stepped out of his car, holding onto his backpack strap. His heart was beating wildly, and his stomach was full of butterflies. He barely heard his mom tell him to have a good day, and later, he wasn’t sure if he had responded or not. He walked up to the front doors of his new school, the butterflies migrating up to his throat. He pushed open the big black doors, taking in all that was around him. Groups of kids huddled around tables, laughing and talking. It was awfully overwhelming, so Rya...

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