Annalisa D.

“Power Thief” by Annalisa D.

My fingertips curled over the credit card thin edge of rock, and I fought against the pain slicing into them. I glanced down and saw a small pebble jutting from the cliff face that would be just big enough for the rubber toe of my climbing shoe. They always looked like they'd snap off with my weight, but never did. The ground was miles below me. Sweat dampened my forehead as my pulse quickened. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I hadn’t left the ground at all. The gray rock I clung to, the chirping birds, the bright blue sky, and...

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“Snake Plant” by Annalisa D.

Submitted to Contest #143

I lost my best friend to war. I'm only twenty years old and my best friend died. That feels like all anyone needs to know about me, because since the day I heard the news, it's consumed everything. I miss him. Never got to tell him how much he meant to me. Never said goodbye. The best I can do is visit the memorial in the park, which I do every night. Always at midnight so I'll be alone surrounded by the dark trees whose branches, like twisted ghoul hands, stretch out towards me.Tonight I see the shadow of a man, silhouetted by the orange gl...

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“The Tree Hollow” by Annalisa D.

            When searching for a safe place to nest my soon-to-be-born kits, I couldn’t believe my good fortune in finding such a spectacular tree hollow. Living here would put me close enough to what I affectionately refer to as my restaurant. The restaurant being a large building filled with wrinkly people who put dishes of vaguely fish flavored pebbly things out their backdoors. These fishy bites are mighty tasty. The building also has a dumpster filled with an assortment of dele...

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“Somewhere Safe” by Annalisa D.

The detective across the table from me looks bored and impatient with waiting for me to spit it out. Once he knows why I’m here, I’m confident his interest will perk. I know they're desperate for the information I have, but for now, he doesn't know, so he clicks his pen and glances at his cooling coffee.  My leg shakes in a quick vibration, my fingers twirl the ends of my pink sleeves, and I look away. I need to figure out where to begin. Much to the detective's irritation, I silently go back in my head.  Does it start w...

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“First Drive” by Annalisa D.

Caleb sat on his front porch with slumped shoulders and nerves spiking from electrified energy inside him. This moment should be one of celebration, but instead his fear cast its dark shadow over the golden light of joy. "Hey man, what's wrong?"Startled from his thoughts, Caleb jumped. Then his brown eyes, sparkling with a wall of barely held back tears, glanced up at his older brother. "I got that job." "What? That's great news! Why so glum?" Andy ruffled Caleb's curly hair and then dropped next to him on the porch stairs. "I...

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“Chocolate Labs” by Annalisa D.

       Discovering they used Chocolate Labs as a cover, was a very lucky coincidence. Now that I know, I feel foolish for never seeing it before. With Chocolate Labs being such a stupid name, and their goofy dog mascot who “sniffs out the best chocolate,” maybe it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that things there weren’t all that legit.           In any case, I’ve come to Chocolate Labs for some time now with my ferret sidekick, Gizmo. Their famous ch...

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“Reunited” by Annalisa D.

      She would tell you that I’m a separate entity born from rage, despair, trauma, and darkness, but the reality is she broke our bond. Not wanting to admit we are one and the same, she pushed me into being something else. A monster she calls the worst part of her, which may be somewhat accurate, but not entirely. I’m not a monster, and I’m not against her.All I want is to protect her and be with her always. I want to reunite. For that to happen, we need to find middle ground. She wants to believe the world is...

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“Secrets Want To Be Shared” by Annalisa D.

      I know something she doesn’t. Something important. There’s an oddly satisfying sense of power in that.           While I watch Olivia effortlessly peddling away on the exercise bike, she seems flawless. Her slender arms stretch up, her wavy blonde ponytail bounces side to side, and her legs keep a steady rhythm. No one could argue her beauty or how well put together she is. So much prettier than I am. So much more put together than I am.  &nb...

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“Burn the Future” by Annalisa D.

      Normally, I never go to bars, especially not alone, but Miranda’s bridal shower drove me over the edge. We were all sitting around a large table, wearing these pastel-colored dresses she insisted on, and drinking impossibly small cups of tea. Catherine, the maid of honor, joked that she didn’t expect the groom-to-be, Tony, to take so long with the proposal. Miranda and Tony had been dating a whopping year and a half before he asked, after all. Catherine had only dated her husband eight months before they g...

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“Mark of Adventure” by Annalisa D.

Submitted to Contest #129

CW graphic injury       As we wait in line, anxiety digs its sharp claws into my rapidly beating heart, my breathing feels a little unsteady, and my legs are itching to run in the other direction. The rubber handlebar grips are slippery with all the sweat soaking my palms, but I clutch them tightly. The bike is so heavy. What if I can’t lift it? The lift moves slow enough, but I cringe imagining myself struggling to get the bike onto it. I think of people laughing or shaking their heads at how weak I am. Then, w...

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“Chuck Chomsky the Chupacabra Chaser” by Annalisa D.

       It baffles me when people follow the ordinary mold for life and willingly miss out on so much. Chuck Chomsky thought while steam danced up from his tea mug and painted a hazy fog across his wayfarer glasses. His eyes closed softly as the citrus aromas tingled his nose.            “Hey, Chuck! Got a good one here.” Sawyer slammed a printed-out email on Chuck’s desk.            A mission? Chu...

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“Adopt a Space Alien (Part Three)” by Annalisa D.

Fiona sat in a dark, empty movie theater, with Captain Mittens purring on her lap, and a fashion model mannequin sitting beside her with a paper bowl of popcorn. It had been almost a year since the Intelligent Beings of True Blue Planet 42 took over. In that time Fiona had been locked in an abandoned mall with all the remaining humans they could find through their television broadcasted message. They learned to fight and make weapons. They plotted and strategized. The last time they tried to leave the mall, the air outside was too ...

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“A Way Out” by Annalisa D.

If I had been on time, maybe I could have stopped this. If she hadn’t been alone, they might not have even tried to take her.  “I need to get out of here,” she mumbles between sobs and shivers. I watch her curled up on a cold metal bed, wanting desperately to wrap my arms around her and keep her warm. I know my touch will only make her colder. That’s one of the problems with being dead.  “I need a way out,” she pleads to the air. I don’t have any delusions she knows I’m here. Mostly because I’m not really even sure she knows I’m ...

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“The King Who Would Not Believe in Dragons” by Annalisa D.

Submitted to Contest #125

King William Thomas Francis meandered through the courtyard watching blue birds land on a pink flowered tree, oblivious to the panicked yells and chants of the protesters surrounding his palace walls. The voices carried with such a strong, echoing projection, it seemed impossible to believe he couldn’t hear them, but the King’s face showed no indication he had.  A lanky man wearing clothes he had clearly outgrown scurried after the King. “King William Thomas Francis, I must have a word with you.”  “Oh what is it now?” The King gr...

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“All We Need” by Annalisa D.

I got the sense no one really wanted to be here. Maybe they were like me. Not wanting to sacrifice their dignity, but too desperately needing the money. We’d step onto the stage and the crowd would stare at us transfixed by wonder. They’d cheer and encourage, but not in any genuine way. It was like a whole crowd of people who want to pretend to be your friends to collect gems they can use to make fun of you later. I could picture them now in their warm, cozy living rooms with glasses of wine and bourbon, throwing back their heads with laught...

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