Amy Rosenthal

“Presto!” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #195

The black silken bag whispered against my nose as I crouched in the absolute darkness. I could feel the emotions of betrayal, panic, and abandonment at the edges of my perception but I held them back, reminding myself that soon I would be freed, again. I could feel my prison move around, tilt, and after a light thump I could feel something brush against my cloth surroundings as if looking for something. I sighed and pressed my nose upwards, breaking through the roof slightly. The light blinded me momentarily as something wrapped around my to...

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“Super Screwed” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #193

“Another job well done,” Luxia said sarcastically as she strode into her headquarters.  Scribe just nodded, while their eyes flickered across the eight computer screens in front of them, all of which displayed the fight between Luxia and Nox from various angles, some obvious security cam footage. Luxia walked to her large desk and collapsed into the chair behind it in a puff of dust. She looked down at herself in disgust. The fight had left her coated in fallen debris powder, bystander blood, and unlucky cars’ oil drippings. She peeled...

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“From Before The Downfall” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #192

She waited her turn and looked around at everyone in the crowded hall. Tables littered with bits and bobs were scattered throughout the space, over which experts chatted with patrons about their treasures. Even more owners waited to determine if what they believed to be priceless was instead worthless. A child wailed and screamed somewhere nearby, setting everyone’s nerves on edge during what had already been a long day waiting in lines to get to the check-in desk, then waiting in another line to get into the exposition hall, and then waitin...

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“The Treasure Hunt” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #192

Dust motes glittered in the shaft of sunlight that streamed through the window into the attic. The little boy clambered up the rickety ladder into the treasure trove of the topmost corner of his grandparents’ house; a regular cave of wonders for a boy of 10. From up here, he could faintly hear his parents' voices drift through the floorboards from downstairs. He had been up here many times, exploring the nooks and crannies during these family visits. While finding old hats, derelict bicycles, and long forgotten toys, he would make-believe th...

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“Origami” by Amy Rosenthal

She walked down the street slowly staring at her feet as she walked. Middle school was harder than she had originally anticipated. It did not help that they had just moved here from Tokyo. Moving from a big city to a smaller one was a bigger shock than Azusa was expecting. Her book bag weighed heavily on her back as she trudged down the street. A light rain fell obscuring Mount Fuji to the north.  After unlocking her front door she walked into the genkan removing her soaking shoes and stepped up into the house in her stocking feet. Her...

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“Two Minutes Too Late” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #191

As he sprinted down the street, his dress shoes slipped on the pavement and he slammed to the ground. He scrambled up, not even bothering to dust himself off. He couldn’t believe what he was doing. His lungs screamed at him for air as he heaved and gasped but he didn’t slow as he dashed down the sidewalk. He dodged among people receiving a fair amount of curses and yells in his wake.  He skidded to a halt at an intersection where cars whizzed by at top speed. He couldn’t barrel through them as much as he wanted to. He hopped from foot ...

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“The Date” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #191

The bell above the door tinkled welcomingly as he entered the florist’s shop and he paused at the threshold to allow his senses to acclimate to the onslaught of sight and scent. Roses posed prettily in the front window. Chrysanthemums waited patiently for customers in their bucket of water. Sunflowers bloomed in the corner bringing sunlight to an otherwise shadowed nook. The perfume from the garden of flowers mixed pleasantly as he tiptoed carefully to the counter which was partially obscured by the leaves of large ferns.  A woman bust...

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“My Wrecked Weekend” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #190

This story does contain wine, death, and car accidents. Viewer discretion is advised. I pulled into the parking lot, turned off the ignition, and stared blankly out the windshield, my heart hammered like it wanted to jump right out of my chest. “Just breathe,” I told myself as I leaned my head onto the steering wheel. I caressed my beloved white Volvo fondly. “Thanks, Betty. You got me through all that.” It had been a bit of a harrowing journey to get here from New York City once I could finally leave the office. First bumper-to-bumpe...

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