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E.M. O'Hair

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2024

Stories (5)

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8 Followers

8 Following

5 Stories

108 karma pts

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The Canary's Lament

E.M. O'Hair

Submitted to Contest #287

Margaret looked out her kitchen window, across her small backyard to the Dutch Elm on which a birdhouse had been affixed by her late husband, Alan. Winged creatures came and went, bringing sticks, threads, and whatever else they found suitable to build a home with.How much longer would she enjoy this view? Her family, ten children in all, who were now spread throughout the United States, were set that this would be her last spring in the home. The home she had built with Alan. The last spring she would spend in the home she had raised those ...

17 likes

The Knowledge of Good and Evil

E.M. O'Hair

Submitted to Contest #286

Trigger warning: Physical violence, gore“Here. It’s all in there,” Howard handed me a padded manila envelope. I opened the flap and checked that every document was enclosed.Before I could leave he grabbed my arm. “Be careful. After all, if he’s bold enough to demand this of you, we don’t know what else he’s capable of,” he said, voice trembling.“Yeah,” I swallowed and strolled into the night, letting the screen door slam behind me.There was genuine worry on his face. It was comical, really. First, because I knew exactly what Rex was capable ...

12 likes

The Carrot Skirt

E.M. O'Hair

Submitted to Contest #285

I sat with my purple clipboard on my lap, my computer open to Optima—the system used for keeping electronic records—on the bedside table next to me. Mary lay in bed, across from where I sat, with the head of her hospital bed reclined to forty-five degrees.She had broken her hip three weeks ago and was healing slowly. Her pain was unmanageable, making it nearly impossible for her to participate in physical or occupational therapy.Mary liked me, though. When I first introduced myself, she rolled her eyes and cursed, but then I told her, “The b...

8 likes

The Flip

E.M. O'Hair

Submitted to Contest #281

“I heard the high is 94. They say it’ll be the coldest day all year.” “94? Do you want to try going outside?” I peek through the blinds covering the only window on our dome. “They sky is blue today.” “The pink haze is gone?” “For now, anyway. I haven’t been outside in, well, do you remember the last time?” “I think it was thirty years ago. When the boys were little. We took one last trip to the playground on the west side of town. You remember, the one with the slide shaped like a car.” “Oh, yeah. They loved playing there. I’ll get my sho...

4 likes

The Vial Wished For

E.M. O'Hair

Submitted to Contest #281

“It’s exactly what you wished for.” He hands me the gift. Wrapped in red and white striped paper, finished with green satin bow. My heart skips a beat at his words. Exactly what I wished for? How did he manage that? I will my hands to steady as I pull the cool, smooth strands of green, untying the bow. The paper falls away to reveal a wooden box ordained with intricate geometric carvings. I pause, taking in the craftsmanship. Other worldly. “Go on, open the box,” Trew says. He smiles, but his eyes glisten with sadness. I unlatch the ti...

7 likes