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Ashlynn Altman

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2021

Stories (6)

Comments

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50 Followers

104 Following

6 Stories

248 karma pts

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Dinner for Five

Submitted to Contest #297

The steaming kettle whistled on the stovetop and Mallory shuttered, jumping at the sudden sound breaking the noise barrier in her kitchen.Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.The large wall clock clanged back and forth amongst the silence in her apartment, the anxiety in her chest beating with each sounding. It felt as if the ticks and tocks were inside of her heart. However, what was truly in her heart was something much deeper. A secret.Mallory was pregnant.She didn't understand: how could something that so many people find exciting become her own trage...

31 likes

The First

Submitted to Contest #296

The singular rickety lightbulb that hung overhead in the dope den flickered between off and on as the moths flocked to it. I rubbed my eyes as I emerged from the darkness I'd been lying in, atop the dirty floor-bound mattress. Once my pupils finally adjusted to the unstable light, I could see that a picture with some writing in the bottom corner was being held up in front of my face. It was a boy. He was nineteen years old. His name was Owen Kress."Yes. You have to kill him."Gulp.When I saw him, time slowed to a stop. He looked so happy. His...

20 likes

A Chance for Things That Never Were

Submitted to Contest #281

Lizette reluctantly pushed the last pin into her cork board. "For Sale by Owner" read the bold, red poster font plastered across her two-story's photo. Re-entering the housing market was something she'd never imagined doing again. This was intended to be her and Charlie's forever home, but the house wasn't the same to her anymore.The corridor walls she and Charlie had once personally draped in pastel green paint now seemed to be more of a muted sand color. The rooms no longed boasted the echoes of the children's laughter, but rather the clic...

10 likes

Pretty Like Pimmy

Submitted to Contest #208

Seven bright vanity bulbs nearly blind me as I stare into the mirror, Mom beginning to unravel the big curlers from my bangs. My age group is up in fifteen minutes and no matter how many times I do this, my mind still slips into a different world as soon as the opening music for the toddler’s evening wear category plays. I can feel the wisps of hair fall just right across my forehead. Feeling even a single hair out of place is the biggest OCD tick my lifestyle has given me, because even before I can remember: I did pageants. I would honestly...

16 likes

Cheated for Christmas

Submitted to Contest #178

Ted zipped his red suit up and looked in the mirror. If only the guys from high-school could see him now. Thankfully, though, the only people seeing him wouldn't even recognize him like this... not even Diane, who had no idea Ted was dressing as Santa for her holiday work party. He had just gotten the text the night before from his buddy at the company asking if he'd be willing to volunteer and of course he agreed. Almost immediately he'd made up his mind to keep the secret and surprise Diane with a reveal later on in the night. He couldn't ...

16 likes

Ms. Glen's Garden

Submitted to Contest #143

Community service sucks. Community service sucks even more when you're sixteen and this was supposed to be your spring break. Community service sucks, even more, when you're assigned to slaving away in some random old woman's garden all day while your friends get to do things like chill out on the beach and stay up all night. But the part that sucks the most? Knowing I'm only having to do it because of my own mother, to begin with. Apparently, I smoke too much for her to handle anymore (which I think is a little bit dramatic, but whatever). ...

15 likes