D J

“Waiting ” by D J

Kay sneezed. It was freezing. And though the park looked lovely, the gloomy sky and sharp wind kept people inside today. Kay fumbled around her pockets for a tissue, lowering her mask to blow her nose. She was quite alone, only two other couples strolled around the neatly trimmed paths. Crazy in love, she thought. Why else would they be out in the middle of winter? She lifted her mask onto her face, more for the warmth than the protocol. Sighing, she glanced at her phone. A text from Nick. Her heart skipped. “Hey love, train’s delaye...

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“Drought ” by D J

Submitted to Contest #98

Bright, hot sunlight smacked us right in the face, as we jogged up the stairs, emerging from the tepid subway. Breathing heavily from the reluctant exercise, I turned to look at Dehv next to me. She was fumbling to put her sunglasses on, the dazzle outside had caught her by surprise. “God it’s hot out today!” she said loudly. We walked into the street, the noise of the thick traffic and crowd felt especially uncomfortable in this summer heat. “I know,” I replied thoughtfully. “I should’ve worn more sunscreen.” “Are you kidding me!” ...

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“The Danger” by D J

Submitted to Contest #98

I remember the day we left the great tree. The valley was as beautiful as it always was: morning broke over the forest, the sun reaching down between the thick leaves of the tall trees. The birds were awake, long before us, as usual, casually chatting about the day ahead, stretching their wings before taking flight. In our small home in the great tree, my mother was boiling warm milk, my father was fetching honey from the pantry, and my sisters and I were comfortably asleep in our tiny beds. When the sun had fully risen, Father came ...

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“All's Fair” by D J

Submitted to Contest #76

“Aren’t you driving a little too fast, dear?”“I’m following the speed limit, Mother.”“Oh? Well. Seems a little fast to me. There’s no need to rush you know, we’ll make it there before dark.”“That’s because you made us leave before sunrise.”“What was that, dear?”“Nothing. What’s with all the envelopes?”“This? Oh it’s nothing. Just some thank you notes.”“Hmm.”“I thought I should write some thank you notes.”“Uh-huh.”“Since you got all those wedding gifts.”“Right.”“And even though the wedding didn’t end up happening- ”“We could always return the...

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“275 New Text Messages ” by D J

Submitted to Contest #55

-Friday afternoon-Kriya stared at her textbook, reading the tiny lines of writing but understanding nothing. She yawned and blinked a few times. Sitting up straight, she shifted around in the uncomfortable chair, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor.Lifting the book off the table, she brought it closer to her, letting out a loud exhale. She attempted to read the same sentence again, for about the tenth time.The sudden, loud vibration from her phone and the quiet ping that followed made her look up quickly.Oh thank God, she thought, droppin...

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“Siri and I” by D J

Submitted to Contest #51

“You shouldn’t be eating that,” Siri said placidly. I frowned as I handed over the money to the ice-cream vendor.He smiled unbothered, filling a cone with sweet frozen chocolate milk. I heard Siri sigh as I grabbed the dessert from the man, immediately smashing it onto my tongue.“Seriously. You’re gonna have a huge breakout tomorrow,” she said, spreading her tiny fingers wide over her small, heart-shaped face.I shook my head as I turned to walk over to a bench under the trees. “Can’t I enjoy things in peace,” I muttered.We sat down in the sh...

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“The Last Question” by D J

Submitted to Contest #49

Tick. Tick. Tick.I glance up. That clock is so loud.Footsteps, behind me. I hastily look back down at the blank, white sheet.Step. Step. Step. Why do they always walk so slowly?A shuffle as they pass by. The slight movement blows the paper, thick with black lines of print. I exhale.Around me, there’s occasional fidgeting. The sound of paper against paper, chairs scraping against the floor. Other than that, silence: no one is speaking.The sun is falling through the tall windows, landing onto my small desk. It spreads over the printed sheets o...

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“The Suitcase” by D J

Submitted to Contest #47

Neon lights burn through the broken blinds, flashing onto your sleeping eyelids. They flutter open slowly, you struggle to make sense of the darkness. Where am I? A hard mattress, not your own, and an unfamiliar room comes into view. Your hands automatically search for your phone and you sit up uneasily when you find it. 1 text message. You tap. Bring the suitcase. 1:00am. Central Station Clock. You jerk as it all comes back to you. A glance at your phone tells you that its 23:00. August 09, 3033. You curse. Scrambling...

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“Art” by D J

Submitted to Contest #46

I woke up in the middle of the night, eyes half-closed, groggy from the break in my sleep. I turned abruptly and reached out to the other side of the bed, empty but still warm from the heat of my husband. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, the light in our small dining room was switched on. I sat up sleepily and pushed the duvet off me, stumbling towards the open door and into the passage. “Rumi?” I mumbled quietly, passing through the darkness towards the light at the end. I heard the click clacking of keys, and, sure enough, when I ...

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“The Common Grounds” by D J

Submitted to Contest #45

Four communities lived independently of one another: Red, Green, Yellow and Blue. These were states all on their own, but each of these primary coloured nations were authorities over different things.The Red community maintained and distributed the wealth.The Blue community maintained and enforced law and order.The Yellow community were responsible for peacekeeping.The Green community, the youngest of all, were the labourers. Though they lived side-by-side the people of each community never mixed. Instead, a council consisting of head repres...

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“A King's Daughter” by D J

Submitted to Contest #44

Steel against steel, my blade swam through the air, as swiftly as the eels in the depths of the famous river. The sounds of metal clashing and the smell of sweat around me stimulated the pumping blood in my veins. I stepped left and then right, dodging the sharp edges of my opponent, counting my movements in preparation for a strike. I feinted one last time – sliding neatly to the left, as my adversary attacked right, and spun around just in time to place the cool, sharp edge of my blade against the back of his hairy neck. He gasped in disap...

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“A Celebration” by D J

Submitted to Contest #43

“I’m soo bored,” Gaia said stretching out on the carpet like a starfish, closing her eyes tightly. She moved her arms sideways, hitting me in the leg.“Me too,” I said, kicking her to make her stop.“What can we do?” she asked rolling over onto her tummy and looking up at me from the floor. My eyes were on the tablet in front of me, but I didn’t need to see her face to know her expression. I paused the game and sighed.“Well what do you want to do?” I asked tossing the tablet next to me on the sofa.She blinked. “I really want to play with our f...

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“Three Postcards” by D J

Submitted to Contest #42

I remember the day I entered her life clearly: I pushed my key into the mailbox on the wall a little too forcefully and pulled open the door to grab the stack of letters inside. I shut it and as I turned the key in the lock, I saw her walking into the foyer.My heart quickened and sweat formed on my palms as my brain executed something akin to fight-or-flight: do I stay and talk to the girl I’ve had a crush on for months, or do I turn and run as though I haven’t seen her?“Hi there.”Too late, I think. She made the decision for me. She smiled p...

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“Berry Bunny's Adventure” by D J

Submitted to Contest #41

Berry Bunny woke up in her room, in the tall maple tree. She rubbed her eyes and looked around at her brothers and sisters, who were still sleeping soundly.Quietly, she arose from bed and stepped over their furry heads. She opened the small door and slipped out of the room.Berry hopped downstairs to the kitchen, where Mama Bunny was sitting at the long table.“Good morning Mama,” Berry said happily.“Good morning Berry!” Mama said smiling. “You’re awake early.”Berry smiled. “Today is the day Mama!” she said excitedly. “Today is the day I visit...

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“Three's Company ” by D J

Submitted to Contest #40

-L-There’s a man sitting across me, his left hand wrapped in a green striped dishcloth, soaked with blood. I gag. Next to him, his wife, presumably, seems unconcerned by his injury. She roughly flips through a faded copy of People magazine. The man glances up at her from time to time looking sheepish, but she’s determinedly avoiding eye contact.I look away from the happy couple and turn to my friend, D, next to me.“Hey, do you think we should ask them for an update?” I ask worriedly.D also has an old copy of People magazine open in front of ...

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