Aqsa Malik

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (15)

15 Stories

628 karma pts

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“Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 08/07/2020

Welcome to Echo Falls! Population: 12000 2 3The two girls stare at the sign, albeit transfixed on different parts. Cross legged and in the middle of the road, they sit, far enough apart to tackle a rogue animal holistically, but close enough not to let each other drift away. Naila squints against the blistering sun, regarding Syre without actually regarding her, in the nonchalant attitude they had so perfectly cultivated over the past year.“I still can’t believe ...

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“How-To Expressions for Every Occasion” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 07/31/2020

She was never one for “I love you” or even “I love you too.” Maybe she should have been, but she wasn’t. She was one for “You’re not good enough” and even “You’ll never be good enough.” She probably shouldn’t have been, but she was. So it wasn’t surprising when I caught her snogging my fiance twenty minutes before we were due to spend the rest of our lives together. Well, it wasn’t that surprising, and maybe “caught” isn’t the right word. I’m not really sure they were trying to hide it. ...

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“Happy Birthday, Let's Cut Your Throat!” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 07/24/2020

“I think.... is she dead?” I stand over the little girl, gulping, drops of crimson falling from my dagger onto her cadaverous face. She almost looks like she’s back alive like that, the blood seeping into her cheeks, giving off the guise of a deep blush. “She looks beautiful,” I remark, still talking to myself, with awe in my voice, a look of wonder on my face.“Aaaand scene,” Ryan strikes the clapper, motioning for the props crew to clear the setting. His eyes never leave me, though. Too e...

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“A River of Flowers” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 07/17/2020

He had flowers growing out of his lungs now. The same ones growing in our garden; spray carnations, daisies, lilies, orchids. The whole lot, really. I didn’t have the heart to leave any out, not when his own had gone into them both in life and death. So I added as much variety as I could on the 24 by 36 inch canvas, which was slowly but surely filling up with the vibrant colours of petals.“You okay up here?” Jared's deep voice floats through the wooden room, reaching me before his warm hands do. He’s been baking, because...

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“The Eccendentesiast Club” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 07/09/2020

We were waiting to be taught how to smile. The kind that’s genuine, easy, natural. The kind that lights up a room. I look over at the only other person in the room, and he’s scowling. I feel awkward, enough to want to break the silence, but I don't say anything. Instead, I tap my nails, bitten to the core, against the metal hand rest of the metal chair. Come to think of it, this whole room had a metal vibe. Metal tube lights emitting a pale white glow, the type you see in hospitals. A metal door, a contrast to the g...

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“Mind-Reading...Seahorse?” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 07/03/2020

“-as FUCK,” she enunciated those last words, presumably to either piss me off, encourage me to end the session, or both. Of course, I knew that she was in fact trying to do all this, with an added desire of getting me to probe. Like the mind reading counsellor that I am, I do exactly that. “And why do you think that seahorses are…” I pause to squint my eyes, treading carefully, “magical as fuck?”Her own brown almond eyes widen slightly. She’s surprised that I would mirror the casual profan...

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“It's the Simple Things” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 06/26/2020

You gaze out of the window, fat raindrops streaking down the glass, and scold yourself for believing the weather forecast again. Pathetic fallacies of the weather always seem to occur when you want them the least, you reflect somberly, accompanying a forlorn look at your mother with a sigh. She doesn’t seem to be affected by the gloominess outside. In fact, she’s mollycoddling all five of the cats, humming “Beautiful Day” by U2. “I’m going out to...I’m just go...

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“Satan and His Gucci Gang” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 06/19/2020

“Satan and his Gucci gang...oh my god. Why is this already so funny” Cole giggles, he actually giggles, then proceeds to continue reading.“In Paradise Lost, Hell is inhabited by Satan and his possy.” A pause, he closes his eyes and purses his lips for a moment to revel in the beautiful comedy of that phrase, then proceeds. “This includes Satan himself, Mammon, Beelzebub, Belial, and Moloc, the Mean Girls of the afterlife.” He doesn’t look away immediately after he finishes reading. Instead, he blinks...

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“Unity Through Community” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 06/06/2020

“Goodbye.”The phrase rang out in two separate tones; one of a clear female, and the other a deep baritone of a guy. Garth and I had decided that we would both say it at the same time so that we didn’t have to subject the other to making it conclusive. To making it final, even though the air was filled with the end. We weren’t special; our milieu was filled with similar images, albeit clearly more sappy and emotional. I hate to even think it, but the teenagers and young adults around us were more ho...

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“Nostalgia in the Rain” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 06/06/2020

The downpour erupted so suddenly. It was as if one second Zeus was savouring his sweet ambrosia and the next the thoughts of his omnipotent mind came crashing in to remind him that the onus of Olympus and all of mankind lay upon him, causing a burst of heavy tears and lightning. I make way too many Greek mythology metaphors. Well, technically, were they even metaphors, really? Calling it that insinuates that there isn't a real possibility of the Greek Gods looking down upon us, creating and recreating our very world.The ...

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“Shooting Daggers ” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 05/29/2020

“Nico stares at me timidly, and it feels like he’s about to reveal something important. This is definitely not the right time I think to myself as I spot the gorgons approaching ever nearer from my peripherals. The snakes on their heads hiss and slither in unnerving directions as the three sisters encroach around us in a circle. I’m ready to unleash a flurry of my demigod power, but the words that come out of Nico's mouth next could have probably stunned me for a lifetime. ““I love you Percy Jacks...

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“Sweaty Hands and Date Plans” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 05/22/2020

We sit side by side, not holding hands, but not not holding them either. It was that awkward stage in our relationship where actions were tacit, but still primitive enough to be carried out with extreme caution. God forbid one party made the wrong move, and everything ended as quickly as it had begun.So we sit, our hands slightly touching, one brushing the top of the other. Enough to create sparks, but not entirely enough to trigger a full-fledged hormonal awakening. Eesha's eyes flit to our hands, barely illuminated by ...

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“Lucky Penny” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 05/15/2020

I’ve been through my fair share of litters (thanks to my imbecile owners who never cared enough to get me spayed, fuck you always) and hardships in my life (my singular life, not nine, just one. Humans always have to go and make whacky assumptions. I’m just a sentient cat who happens to remember her past life, not some magical, freakishly long-living fairy. Come on.) As I was regaling before being rudely interrupted by, well, my own thoughts; I’ve been through rough shit, a lot of it, but never have I been ...

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“The Final Shot” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 05/07/2020

Trigger warning: school shootings • Samuel • The sound of the gunshots rang loudly before ricocheting off the cafeteria walls, an explosion of white and blue cement peppering the crimson floor. Looking around frantically while cowering under the rickety tables, I catch the reflection of my own emotions in a number of terror-stricken faces. My ears quickly become accustomed to the sound of rapid fire while my brain can&...

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“Soul Stones ” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted on 05/02/2020

I gaze up at the stelliferous sky, entranced by its simplicity; the way a black canvas with sparsely placed blotches of white can evoke emotions that are ineffable. Not only do I want to be intimate with this black hole that engulfs me entirely, but I want to do it with the person next to me. I only ever want to do it with her. The majority of people that I’ve come across believe that a soulmate is your significant other, but that’s only a fraction of the defintion. To me, a soulmate can be anyone, but also, not just anyone...

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Author bio

✧ Hey there! I'm Aqsa, an 18 year old: Pakistani/British/Kenyan, Scorpio, Selena Gomez & Dylan O'Brien stan, cat fanatic who basically lives on Pinterest :D ✧ I used to read and write a lot (mainly on a site called wattpad) but the responsibilities of school, family, and life in general caught up to me. I've recently started to get back to my roots though, and ever since I found Reedsy, my writing journey has been so much more fun and productive! ✧ Just looking to read beautiful, thought provoking stories by beautiful people on this site, giving honest feedback as well as being open to all the feedback on my own works. ✧ I absolutely adore this community 😳💕 ✧ Hit me up on IG ➵ @a.q.s.a.malik (I'd love to be your friend!) Have a great day 🍃