Ariadne .

“Frozen in Time” by Ariadne .

Submitted to Contest #68

Time stands still, lurking on the edges of our sanctuary. A thief, churning with waves of jealousy unable to be contained. I grimace. Not a single morning goes by without unwanted thoughts plaguing my mind and leaving my malnourished frame shaking with despair. Your small hand finds its way to mine, and I resist the urge to smile. Of course, you would know. You understood better than most, despite your youth. Time has not been merciful to you either, has it? I hold you close under the protective branches of the weeping cherry tree overhead ...

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“Born to Be” by Ariadne .

Submitted to Contest #64

January 1889 Green Valley School for Girls comes into view as the horse-drawn carriage pulls to the central courtyard. I can’t keep my eyes off the massive building. It’s breathtaking, with its numerous turrets and towering steeples. The walls are built of gleaming stones of varying sizes and shapes, none the same as another. From a distance, it is a uniform creamy white, but as the carriage draws nearer, I can see that it is a mosaic of humble rocks. Of them, not one would be given a second glance if they were loose by the roadside. But to...

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“A Centuries-Old Facade” by Ariadne .

Submitted to Contest #64

Rhiannon“Mama, Mama!” the little girl says. Her dark curls pile over her chubby toddler cheeks, splaying over her mother’s chest. “Tell me Nana’s story, please?”“Rhi, I’ve told you that one so many times,” her mother replies wearily. “Don’t you want to hear something else?”“No, Mama,” the little girl insists, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. “Nana’s story is the coolest! Please, Mama!”“Oh, alright,” comes the reply. “Let’s take you to bed first, mm-kay?”“Okay!” Rhi’s enthusiastic response is choreographed with hops, twirls, and spins u...

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“Just Right” by Ariadne .

Ria here. I got this plot bunny in the middle of the night and it wouldn’t stop pressing me to write, So here it is! Not my best, but I’m pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. Dedicated to Biblio_phile, my favorite swan princess. Check out her work if you haven’t already — it won’t disappoint! Happy birthday, Amaya!◇◇◇The life of a gourmet chef is harder than I expected.The heat of the kitchens is impossible, the customers are a pain, and the constant pressure to deliver the finest items breathes down my back all day. Granted, it’s a ...

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“notre maison sous les étoiles” by Ariadne .

Elara smothered a grimace as Madame Amélie wrestled her long hair into an intricate bun and adjusted the off-shoulder collar of her navy dress. After a few minutes of unbearable fussing, Madame Amelie finally turned Elara toward the floor-length mirror.Her breath caught. She looked like… a woman. She shook her head, feeling slightly ridiculous for having such thoughts on Graduation Day. Of course she looked like a woman. Today would mark the last day of her childhood and her first as an adult. Elara could hardly believe it. She had been...

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“silence all around” by Ariadne .

Submitted to Contest #58

Trigger warnings: self-harm, suicidal thoughts   Aching, afraid, alone.  The emotions? They’ve always been there. The thoughts? I'm more than used to it. But the actions? They’ve only begun. Drip, drip. ***** It stands there, so innocent, so peaceful, away from the hands of the immoral. Tall and impressive, unassuming, and naive. I've heard others calling it a beautiful work of art, and I have to agree. Vibrant, lush greens mixed with soft, gentle blues to create a stunning masterpiece. People would never believe it to be a dangero...

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