Debra Demars

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2023

Stories (16)

16 Stories

279 karma pts

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“Hello” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #285

The phone rang for the third time, when Gloria raised herself up off the couch and shuffled over to it. An old landline, but it still worked well. Her cell did not work as well at home. She occasionally lost signal, and like so many other people, she hated when that happened.    "Hallo," she said, tiredly.    "Gloria," said her younger sister," Leslie. "Finally you answer the phone! I've been trying to reach you for days." What's going on?"    "I've been too tired. Working too hard....

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“Red Handed” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #283

I was all alone in the apartment for the very first time. Jim was gone. He had been laid to rest just three days ago. My older sister and her husband had stayed with me the entire time. Now they were both gone.They had jobs and two small kids to return to, so they could not stay any longer. Jim's funeral had been small. Exactly the way he had wanted it. Both of us had lost our parents over the years, and all I had left was my older sister. We both came from small families to begin with. That was something that when we first met, we had in co...

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“Borrowed Time” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #234

No one was more shocked than I was. My mouth actually dropped open. I felt great. I looked good for my age. A little tired...yes...but that was it. How could this possibly be? How? I wanted to argue with the doctor. I wanted to point out why this could not possibly be true. But deep in my heart, this explained the tiredness. This explained a few things. Things I had noticed, but refused to think about. Things I kept to myself. I wanted to argue with my doctor, but I knew it would be useless. When the exhaustion reach...

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“I Live To Post” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #233

Every day of my life...now..... for years ....I have posted online. I have spent all day with my nose glued to my smart phone. Coffee in one hand, smart phone in the other. Days have slipped from morning sunshine into night time darkness, with me still curled up on the couch...posting. I have forgotten to eat, because I was too busy posting. I have lost days on end, too busy posting.      I bring my smart phone with me everywhere I go. I bring it with me to restaurants, family get togethers, grocery stores, conv...

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“The Flame ” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #232

I have been sitting here all night, to keep this one small flame burning. I do not grow tired. I do not grow weary. I do not grow thirsty. I gaze at the flame. The flame is beautiful. The flame is everything. The darkness surrounds me. And the wind continues to blow. It sounds tortured. It blows in heavy gusts. But the wind doesn't affect me. It doesn't bother me. I am not troubled by it. Only the flame. The flame is the only illumination, in a world of darkness. The howling of the wind is constant. I am all alone in my vigil. There is no on...

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“Snow ” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #227

The first snow of the season....and I was curled up on the window seat... a cup of Ghirardelli hot chocolate in my hand... a knitted afghan over my legs. I had used snowshoes to get here. A short hike from where I had parked the car...and it had been invigorating. The air was sharp and clean. I have always loved the way the air smells when it is just starting to snow. I love the first snow. Everything looks so pure...so pristine.....so clean....so perfect.      David and I had bought this cabin 4&...

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“Mirror Mirror ” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #225

Lena Crosby lingered in her usual spot on her way to work--same as she had done every morning--for weeks. She liked to stand directly in front of the antique shop's large glass display window. Her eyes glued to a small silver framed mirror.      The shop had just appeared one day, it seemed. "They must have moved in over a weekend," Lena remembered thinking. For the longest time, she had walked past an empty storefront every Monday through Friday, on her way to the small plumbing supply company where she worked ...

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“I Can't Sleep” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #224

 I can't sleep. I can't sleep. Will I ever be able to sleep again? Why did this happen? Did this have to happen? I can't sleep.     I'll watch television. Maybe that will help. The incessant drone and flickering lights. Maybe that will help. I won't really be watching... though. I'll just be staring at a constantly changing screen. Good idea. Anything is a good idea. I grab the remote and aim it at the flat screen. With a soft click the screen comes to life. Will that help? I don't know. I do not know.  &nb...

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“Room 376” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #223

Lisa juggled the armload of books she was holding, praying if the weight were more evenly distributed the books would be easier to carry. I hate Wednesdays she thought-- as she continued down the stairs to the Library and Archives department. --Room 376 here I come- she muttered to no one in particular. Three more weeks of this. Three more chances to break my neck on these stairs.     Her college transcript was high on academics and low on service, the Dean of Academics had informed her with his usual sour&...

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“Lean On Me” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #222

My husband and I had just moved in. Actually, we were still in the process of moving in. We were down to the smaller boxes. Lamps, knick-knacks, stuff you put on your nightstands, end tables, and a few boxes of kitchen utensils. We'd been living on take out for the past few days. Moving is such a hassle, and by the end of each day Bob and I had been just too tired to cook or even think about preparing anything.      We had made some poor financial decisions in our lives, and as a result we lost our lit...

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“Please Stop Annoying Me” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #221

Here she is again. That annoying woman. Cannot get a wink of sleep. Every time I turn around she is dusting or vacuuming, or taking down curtains and running the washing machine. When I hired her to do just some light housekeeping, I did not realize my day would begin at the crack of dawn.    She is middle-aged and she had excellent references, but even so, enough is enough. I climbed out of bed and stomped down the stairs. "Really Mrs. Spitnik, you think you could tone it down just a little?" It's the midd...

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“Grandma"s House” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #220

Jenny Parker and I usually walked home from school together. Maybe "walked" wasn't the right word. We usually raced each other, our cheeks cherry red from running.      But not today. Today my father was picking me up because I was spending the weekend with my grandparents. I loved spending the weekend with my grandparents. They live out in the country, while my parents and I live in the city.     Whenever I come home from my grandparent's house I always feel like I've been wrapped in a ...

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“Witch ” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #219

The sound of hoofbeats were loud in the early hours of the morning. For those first few seconds, through the thick fog of sleep, Tobin Swinton thought he was dreaming the sound of a galloping horse. But, as the sound grew louder, he sat bolt upright. No one ever roused Tobin from his sleep unless they were holding someone in the Witch Jail.     It had been years. Years. He had believed this was all over with. He had thought this had all ended years ago. He had prayed the last one was the last one. Until now, it seemed.&nb...

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“The Ritual” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #218

The sun slid steadily through the gap in the curtains. Rita yawned loudly and stretched luxuriously, arching her back and rustling the sheets. Heaving the sheets to the side of the bed, she sat up blinking.     She looked at the alarm clock and hit the button before it could go off. A heavy sleeper, Rita had deliberately purchased an alarm clock that was loud, obnoxious and discordant. An actual assault on the ears. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and shuffled to the bathroom. Cool air hitting her bare legs, a...

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“An Awkward Moment ” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #216

 A small woman with dark hair pushed open the to the restaurant. Her eyes roamed dining room, searching, settling on the empty tables toward the back. Behind her were two little boys looking to be close in age. She held the door for the two little boys, looking over their heads to a little girl looking a bit older than the two little boys, and on crutches. All with similar coloring and features. Dark hair and dark eyes. A family, and you could tell by the shared looks. Behind her was an older man ...

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