Anne Ryan

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2020

Stories (9)

9 Stories

185 karma pts

?

“I Am the Unseen” by Anne Ryan

***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 ...

Read story

“What These Walls Heard” by Anne Ryan

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...

Read story

“Twilight” by Anne Ryan

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-ti...

Read story

“Salt and Sugar” by Anne Ryan

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. &nbsp...

Read story

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

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 si...

Read story

“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 chip...

Read story

“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 Lamb...

Read story

“Where Were You?” by Anne Ryan

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 moth...

Read story

“A Good Neighbor” by Anne Ryan

“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 ...

Read story

Author bio

Coffee steaming. Paintbrush plopping and swishing. Cooking spoon clanking. Keyboard tap-tapping. Leaves crunching. Rain pattering. Silent snow falling. Warm hugging. Fire crackling. Wheels turning! I dabble in all the arts; these are my favorite things. I'm married to a wonderful guy, and live a quiet life in Missouri, USA.