Chris Riffle

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2020

Stories (10)

10 Stories

199 karma pts

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“The Last Day of the Worst Year of My Life” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #231

December 31st. Every year, the last day of the worst year of my life. A new chance to make the following rotation around the sun the one that turns things around. One single year marginally better than the last and I can tell – I know – the ones that follow will only get better and better until each year is the best year of my life.And so this year, rather than tell them to my mom on one of our maybe five phone calls for the year and then forgetting about them until the following December, I have decided to wr...

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“Before the Credits Roll” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #147

Portia’s hand tightens excitedly on Reed’s hand. The screen flashes brilliantly, only for a moment, and then goes dark. It’s the kind of sudden change in light that disorients. Where your mind can’t keep up with your eyes and the darkness seems to swirl with color.  The theater seems pitch black. Any second, Reed thinks, the credits will roll and the theater will again fill with light. Any second, he’s su...

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“The Treadmill on the Beach ” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #119

Tom dreams.  He won’t remember the first dream or the second one. The third may come through only in flashes. The fourth and fifth will meld themselves together to create something odd and mystifying.  In this narrative nightmare of a dream Tom is running a marathon, right foot forward, left foot forward, sweat dripping, in need of a cup of water. Only he’s...

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“Queen Dumpling” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #116

It was very late in the night when she texted me: ‘Meet me at Queen Dumpling tomorrow night. Nine.’ It was odd seeing her text that way – proper punctuation, to the point – but then again I hadn’t gotten a text from her in two years. People change and their styles change too. I only wished that she had called. I missed her voice. I had this voicemail saved on my phone from when we were married. I listene...

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“Upstate” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #63

Steam rises from the paper cup and brings the sweet smell of cider to my nose. The warmth of the cup feels nice in the grip of my cold, hard hands. It tastes of apples and cinnamon and brown sugar. It soothes the sting in my throat and chest. I feel it warming my belly my legs my toes. She said she’d be here 20 minutes ago. We met on a dating app. 8 million people in New ...

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“I Am the Sidewalk” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #59

I wake up, as I do most mornings, to the sound of ambulance sirens. I look at the clock, nine, too early for a Saturday morning. My head is throbbing, my eyes feel like they may fall out, last night’s sweat has dried into a sticky, smelly goop all over my body. I smell of old gin and tonics. I can’t imagine looking into a mirror. I decide to go back to sleep. At 10:30 I w...

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“Naked Tuesdays” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #57

“Mom, Dad,” Amy paused, “Mom’s lover Dave. Dad’s lover Peter.” She sighed and pinched her nose. “I’ve gathered you here because I wanted you all to hear it from me.”           “What is it, sweetie?” her mother said.           “Should we be worried?” Peter said. He had his arm around her father’s waist.           “No it’s not that big of a deal.”&nbs...

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“Love on a Saturday” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #56

She’s doing her hair for the first time in months. She even broke out the bobby pins – new ones, not the ones rusting on the floor of her tiny bathroom – in an attempt to give those stray strands a little more purpose. He’s shirtless in his bedroom checking out his body in the mirror behind his door. He’s gained some muscle in the past few months. He’s feeling especially...

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“As She Sleeps On” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #49

Tonight, I hate that screeching noise the bag of pretzels makes when I pull it apart. I pull too hard and the side of the bag rips. I have to put my hand to the tear so none of the tasteless, chalky pretzels come falling out. I eat a few but they make me sick to my stomach so I roll up the bag and set it on the chair next to me.  The waiting room here is terrible. The magazines are all wrinkled or torn, the wate...

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“Blue Stripes” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #47

You’ve done it so many times before it’s almost like the suitcase just fills itself. Start with the pants, those go on the bottom left, they create a nice base for what you’re about to add to the top. Three pairs of long pants – chinos, jeans, sweatpants – and boom you’re good to go. On to the next thing.           On the bottom right you put your button ups. Three of those as well. Here you can pick and choose. Today you decide on a fun pink color. Bold to wear pink in the win...

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