Donavan Barrier

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2021

Stories (20)

20 Stories

310 karma pts

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“The Dinner Party” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #100

The slop cascaded into the bowl like diarrhea. The squelch as the wet ingredients landed was disgusting on the ears. The lights around the house flickered every so often as the wind beat itself menacingly against the wooden house. Each of them took a seat at the table, seldom looking at each other. The room was quiet; the slightest noise could seem as loud as a boulder crashing through a window. They each chewed the stuff quietly, slowly enough that it seemed as if their jaws didn't move at all. &nbs...

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“Just One Dance” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #100

It all started with a dance, a simple rocking of bodies. Back and forth. Back and forth. The cigarette smoke cleared, and the music died slowly. But they weren't aware of it. They hadn't noticed that most of the patrons of the place had left. They were on cloud nine, no—they were in heaven. They felt weightless in each other's arms. They could feel each other's heartbeat through their shirts. Their collective warmth was comforting; their arms extended to each of their backs like a heated blanket. Their breath was light, almost nonexiste...

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“The River Mother” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #98

Free. Free and flowing. There’s a slight hint of white noise as the clear, cool stuff runs over the stones and pebbles beneath me. It sounds close to the end of a kiss, right when the lips part and the breath between two lovers resumes again. The trees around me shiver in the late afternoon breeze. They speak, too. They tell the others of their beauty as that is the only language nature says. The paddle in my hands swathes out a path to the side of me, gently pushing me along her body. It’s beautiful out here. Always was. &...

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“The Road Man” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #98

He stuck his blistered thumb out to his side. His eyes squinted against the boiling desert sun. His skin felt itchy under his shirt. The sweat slowly dripped down his brow and tried its best to blind him. A quick swipe with the back of his hand quickly stopped that. The blacktop stretched thin in front of him. Miles of the stuff lay out bare. It seemed to bubble and broil underneath his feet. It looked disgusting! Surely if he didn’t keep walking, the soles of his shoes would melt, and he’d be stuck there forever. Forever waiting for a ride ...

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“The Woman” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #97

He pressed his bulky metal binoculars awkwardly onto his eye sockets. The metal behind the rubber eyecups dug into the bone behind his skin. The view from the glass was jilted and blurry but he could make out the figure of a woman in the window across the street. Maybe he should get up and actually open the window, he thought. No, no, no. That would give him away. He had to be discreet, stealthy like she had been for days. Something in his gut gnawed at him. Maybe she knows? Does she? He tried again to make the binoculars actually work but f...

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Author bio

I'm a short story writer just getting started. Critique is always welcome.

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #166

Fall Guy – read story