Chiara P

“Pedro” by Chiara P

Admitting he was wrong meant giving his older brother the upper hand. He couldn’t face the defeat. Juan was always perfect. Handsome, smart, sporty, his brother was your classic psychology textbook overachiever. Pedro hated it. Juan was the centre of attention in the family. When both had developed a crush for Julieta, Juan had totally dismissed his little brother’s feelings (which, to be fair, Pedro had never communicated to anyone, so nobody actually knew he liked Julieta) and asked her out on a date. Ten years later, Juan and Julieta were...

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“The Articles” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #105

Life Before - Samuel Eglebert's Flatmate Interviewed7th of December 2020Oxane was interviewed by Louis Gaubert about an incident concerning Samuel E., with whom she shared an apartament. Before revealing what occurred, some information relating to his background was relayed to the interview in order to paint a clearer picture. Oxane: I used to go to school everyday with him. We cycled side by side on the thin bicycle path, pedalling furiously against the whistling wind or sweating profusely under the sun, our sticky clothes heavy on our skin...

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“Car Accident on Main Road - Vehicles Destroyed, Drivers Recovering” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #105

The car bolted forwards. I lost control of the steering wheel as I slammed the break, almost in time. The blue car in front of me jerked across the street and into me, sending me spinning across the lane. I thought I would die. The seat belt could only keep me tied to the seat for so long; immediately after impact, the airbag swelled up and burst into my face. The car wouldn’t stop spinning. The windows ejected shattered glass from all sides, some shards cutting my skin as they flew about. My heart was running circles around my lungs. I wa...

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“My little geeky introvert ” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #104

Get in the car, she said. It will be fun. Sure, I totally trust your decision-making skills, Madeleine. That nose of yours can sniff out trouble better than a dog in a dumpster. All I wanted was a peaceful evening with Netflix in bed, but no, "fun" is more important than season 2 of a really cool new show that everyone should be watching. I was hoping to take a trip down memory lane by rewatching all my favourite childhood TV series. I missed them so much - all the good feels that made my heart tremble with joy when I was a little kid runn...

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“Just like me” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #103

You didn't look for me. You didn't start a search or call the police. You never came for me. I thought you would, I trusted you. When the door shut behind my back and the phone chimed, I expected you to be the one messaging me. It wasn't you, though. Why did I think you'd care? You just wanted to solve your own problems while I was stuck down there trying to figure my way out of this cellar. You knew that a girl like me walking into your life was the best thing that could have happened to you. But you chose to ignore it. Why am I surprise...

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“Inside the Abbey ” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #103

Stone walls covered in overgrown creepers and spider webs. As you walk further along the corridor you can make out the shape of a woman carved in red marble rising from a shell-shaped basin that collects water from a fountain. The courtyard is made of stone slabs all neatly glued to one another surrounded by a garden of herbs and flowers. Rosemary and lavender bushes, chamomile, mint, wild roses and thyme are the first names that come to your mind as the scents waft into your nose, intoxicating your mind with dreamy sensations. You make your...

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“The Mountain ” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #103

Don’t let go. I will drop to the floor if I do. The Earth will swallow me whole as my skull cracks against the floor and my spine breaks. I can’t let go now. Those were my thoughts as I climbed up the rocky wall of a mountain alone. I’d lost grip for a split second and that had been enough to hurl me into the void below as I hung on with all my might to a stony protrusion. If my fingers slipped, I would die instantly upon impact with the ground. Panic made my heart beat harder, like a hammer striking the brittle bars of my ribcage. My sw...

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“Leo” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #103

I'm looking for a sign that says "love is on its way, Julia. He's coming." I am a Leo, and apparently love is not on my side. I read the horoscope first, on the last page, and only then can I read the news on the rest of the paper. I skim through most articles, because apparently, I don’t care about who tackled who in a football match or what member of royalty is going out or cheating on another rich celebrity. Whatever juicy gossip the writers come up with, I am not interested. I like reading about happy accidents, or one of those interv...

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“The yellow umbrella ” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #102

Water dripped from the spout, tapping the stone pavement loudly as it crashed onto its hard surface and broke apart into hundreds of tiny droplets. The tap-tap-tap repeated itself at a faster pace as the drizzle from the sky turned into a light rain. Across the streets, umbrellas popped open and waterproof coats were wrapped around human bodies. Even some dogs on leashes were wearing impermeable jackets. Cars roaring in the street splashed muddy water onto unsuspecting passers-bys. It was the usual English afternoon, dark and dreary and clou...

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“On the wings of time” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #102

As a butterfly ages, its wings crumple up or wear down, scale by scale, until it can no longer fly and is starved to death or eaten alive by a spider. The colour fades and the beautiful shape is lost, leaving behind a tattered tissue paper that once enabled this creature to fly. As it has its most prominent feature ruined with passing time, it becomes more insignificant to our eyes. We search, (or at least the majority of humans do), for the most awe-inspiring patterns and colourful designs, something to captivate us and make us wild with ae...

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“Back home ” by Chiara P

Submitted to Contest #102

Paul Ducray walked down the side of the street, leather shoes sweeping on the stone pavement splattered in sticky white pigeon guano and cat pee. The heavy trench flowed behind him as the wind whistled against him, as if to stop him from going any further. Rarely did the weather agree with him – usually it rained when he planned to eat outside and the sun revealed its brilliant rays when he felt too tired to get out of bed. At present, the tempestuous sky, grey and heavy with cumulo nimbus clouds, hung over him like an ill omen declaring doo...

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