Anne Ryan

“I Am the Unseen” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #122

***Note: This story contains graphic content for the purpose of reflecting true life events. May include trigger words such as "rape," "blood" and "death".***I was stuck in the shopping mall in my dream.All the doors opened to everybody but me.I tried the exit but it was locked.There was a girl going into the Teen Queen store, so I quickened my pace but the door swung shut and I couldn't open it.The elevator wouldn't even open when I waited 10 whole minutes to get to the next level.Why was I stuck in the mall?What kind of a lesson was I supp...

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“What These Walls Heard” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #84

     Most people don’t care to listen to what I think.  Most people don’t really notice I’m there after the initial moving-in experience when they fix me up how they like me, and then leave me.  Just because I’m the sunniest place in the house, means people seem drawn to me, but only to discuss their problems with each other.      Designed to take the modern stance on a place for everyone to gather for their daily meals, with added shelter from the elements, I think back to what it ...

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“Twilight” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #84

March. March what though? March 14? 16? He couldn't remember. It had been too long cooped up in four walls, same situation, same bed, TV, makeshift workstation, kitchen cupboards. Same everything for almost a year.     Demetrio nervously patted his face with a towel, turning it to the right, then left, then right again. Was it “in” to look clean-shaven? Or did he now look too stiff and formal? Should he have left a five-o’clock-shadow? Shrugging, he swished the comb through his auburn-tinted brown...

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“Salt and Sugar” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #83

     I can still hear it...the roaring crash as wave hits wave and the understated surrender of foam swishing against the sand. It will never leave me. It can never leave me. The moment I saw it, the ocean beckoned, called my name, and I was forever claimed and enslaved by its wild beauty.     I can’t even imagine myself without the wonder of having seen the reckless power of the ocean. But at one point in my life, I never had.     Kansas City is a...

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“'Till We're Old and Grey” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #81

     Michelle chewed nervously on her cinnamon gum, making her appear the epitome of a gum-chewing waitress. He wasn’t here yet. Probably as soon as he saw her frizzled hair and post-shift attire, he would turn right around and walk out.     Michelle had been chatting with a man from her area online at the dating service “WinkMe” and agreed to meet him in person. Originally, they planned to meet at Rizolini’s downtown, eat some spicy-sweet basil pomodoro with a side of crunchy pane ...

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“Franklin Street (Part 2)” by Anne Ryan

Philadelphia, February 25, 2020      It was an average parking garage on west Franklin Street.  Once housing the cars of dozens of government employees in the high rise business district, it now stood sad and empty.  However, Tony knew a secret about that garage.  At the top level was the most incredible night view, twinkling stars and sparkling city lights.  Its only out of character feature was the chipped painted mural on its side, that said “Handley Shoes - We Handle Shoes!”  That’s what ...

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“Franklin Street (Part 1)” by Anne Ryan

Prologue    Homeless. People say that word the same way they spit out a speck of dirt when a car drives by on a dirt road in the summertime. Tasteless. Useless. No more valuable than dirt on your tongue.     Obviously it’s some people’s choice to live like that. Those people are the ones you know exactly who they are - they stand on street corners, with signs, wearing ragged clothes. Then they’ll get into the driver's seat of a brand new Lamborghini parked in an alley...

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“Where Were You?” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #80

     Muriel’s footsteps made a hollow echo on the museum floor as she stopped short in front of a photograph of the World Trade Center in flames. Softly in the back of her mind a country song flitted through: Where were you when time stopped frozen that September day? September 11, 2001.     A tingle of fear crept up Muriel’s spine, remembering.      “Mamma,”  Murial had said, running up to her mother that Tuesday morning, “can I have a ---” &...

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“A Good Neighbor” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #78

      “Anything you need, you need to just take that phone and ring my number!” Ariya said, smiling, as she waved at the middle-aged woman in front of her.        “You’re always so kind, you know,” Tami commented, her eyes twinkling as she shut the door after Ariya.  “No one ever bothers to wave anymore.”      Ariya nodded wistfully.  “It’s sad, isn’t it?”      Ariya turned and breathed in the sweet January air.  ...

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