Awen Kerr

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2023

Stories (7)

7 Stories

162 karma pts

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“I Am Winter Jasmine” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #222

I ran my gloved fingers along the piled stones, wondering what we might find beyond the wall. Maggie and I had gone for a walk that afternoon, and had ended up at the far end of the neighborhood, where there was some undeveloped land, long neglected, and likely forgotten. Maggie noted that, perhaps the city was confused about who was responsible for the upkeep of the area, and even though I didn’t know what she meant by that, I definitely understood that nobody was caring for the bushes, trees, and other plants growing wildly in all directio...

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“Banishing the Shadow” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #221

I found Ms. Scarecrow—Maggie—at very real risk of burning down her entire house with the sheer number of candles surrounding her. Some of them were propped on books and other smooth surfaces, but the rest were dangerously close to tipping, teetering precariously on the plush rug in her living room. “Oh!” She clapped. “I was so hoping you’d come over today, dear. Come in and close that door. We don’t need the wind to blow out the flames.” “What are you doing?” I shut the door, gesturing to the flickering room. Flames danced in respo...

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“The Wishing Well” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #219

The Wishing WellSpiders and ghosts decorated the linoleum tile floors and peeling plaster walls of Sky Trail Elementary school that year. Hallways filled with Power Rangers, vampires, and—oddly enough—Forrest Gump, meant that I had my work cut out for me. With just one day left until the big Halloween Bash, I was determined to win the costume contest, but if this Spirit Day preview was any indication, my witch costume certainly wasn’t going to be earning me any prizes. One of the vampires had crimson splattered all over his collar, and his t...

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“The Magi's Ultimatum” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #219

A harsh, hurried knock reverberates through the house, all the way out to the patio. The gold in Meredith's eyes is intense, practically glowing when they meet Joshua's.He shakes his head in confusion but rises quickly and makes for the front door. “Stay here.”She doesn’t like being commanded but doesn’t move.Joshua's heart pounds in his chest and between his ears as he approaches the front door. They really should have put in a looking window to peek at visitors without needing to open the door to see who it is. He’ll be making that change ...

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“It Still Burns” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #218

Content warning: PTSD, flashback, physical violence/war/gore. Alex has always known that their mother is a strong woman, but they are keenly aware of the fact right now, as they sit vigil at her bedside. Meredith's chest is rising and falling steadily, and there’s no sign that she nearly died just a couple of hours ago. She even woke up at one point, and used those few minutes to reassure everyone that she’d be alright, before falling back to sleep. Since Meredith isn’t exactly known for taking it easy, the doctors has placed her in a magi...

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“Ms. Scarecrow” by Awen Kerr

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #202

She smelled like fire and brimstone, or so the neighborhood kids told me when I moved in. This wasn’t the only reason I avoided the house at the end of the road, but it certainly made the list, and added to the intrigue of my new neighborhood. I kicked a small rock down the pavement between houses, careful not to step on any cracks. There was no room in my day for bad luck, and my attention to detail was paying off. We had a beginning-of-the-year fundraiser, so I’d been sent home the first week of school with a pad of order forms and...

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“Maybe All This is Life” by Awen Kerr

Submitted to Contest #201

A haze still hangs in the air but my light stick has gone dark. My body is practically vibrating with excitement, and I cling tightly to it because I know in a few hours my limbs will hang like lead and my mind will replay everything that happened here tonight, already memory. Before the inevitable crash back to reality, I close my eyes and listen to muffled voices, dampened by overworked eardrums. I’m alive. Right now, I’m alive. I didn’t know that I’d find life during a late night scroll through YouTube, but that’s what happened. I’d bee...

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Author bio

Author & Artist After setting aside my writing in favor of raising small children, I'm excited to be picking it back up again now that they're older. Currently working on three full-length novels, as well as a short story collection. Short stories and poetry are my way of combatting my tendency toward over-writing, so I love the prompt challenges I've found here on Reedsy! Website: www.awensentakerr.com Read free stories, or subscribe for more exclusive content (like reading my novels before they're published): www.reamstories.com/askerr

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #202

Ms. Scarecrow – read story