Edward J. McCoul

“A Man of Two Worlds” by Edward J. McCoul

“A Man of Two Worlds”By Edward J McCoul Clark Kent stood at the edge of the Metropolis skyline, the wind tugging at the edges of his suit and cape. The city below bustled with life: people laughing, arguing, and living in ways he could only observe from a distance. The Man of Steel, an icon of strength and hope, felt like the loneliest man alive.He was an outsider, always had been. Hiding his true identity had become second nature, but at what cost? He longed for real human connection—a life beyond Superman. He thought of Lois Lane, the woma...

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“The Big Fella’s Side of Jack and the Beanstalk” by Edward J. McCoul

“The Big Fella’s Side of Jack and the Beanstalk” By Edward, J. McCoul Oi! Where to start? Name’s Gregor. Folks call me “The Giant,” but that ain’t fair. I’m not just a giant, I’m the giant - one-of-a-kind! Thought I’d clear the air ‘bout that little pipsqueak Jack and his precious beanstalk. Everyone thinks they know what happened, but lemme tell ya, nobody asked my side of the story. First off, I wasn’t bothering nobody. Just up in my cloud, minding my own business, running my egg-laying goose empire. Nice setup, right? Cozy castle, magic h...

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“The Blind Date Debacle” by Edward J. McCoul

“The Blind Date Debacle” By Edward J. McCoul It all started with a text from my friend, Amy. “Jess, you have to meet this guy. He’s perfect for you!” In retrospect, I should have known Amy’s dating advice was as reliable as an umbrella in a tornado. But after a year of disastrous online dates, I was willing to try anything. She described him as “charming, adventurous, with a great sense of humor,” so when she set up a blind date, I decided to give it a shot. I figured, what’s the worst that could happen? Turns out, I was about to find out. W...

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“A Christmas Visitor” by Edward J. McCoul

“A Christmas Visitor”. By Edward J. McCoul Anna Weston loved Christmas, or at least she used to. Growing up, it was her favorite season—the lights, the music, the cozy traditions. But the past few years had dimmed her joy. Losing her husband two Christmases ago had left her reeling, and the holiday now seemed hollow, an echo of happier times. This year, Anna had gone through the motions: she’d set out a few decorations, strung up some lights, and even put up a small tree in the corner of her apartment. But the effort felt forced, her heart h...

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“Home in the Heart” by Edward J. McCoul

“Home in the Heart” By Edward J. McCoul When the alarm buzzed at five a.m., Mae Collins awoke with a jolt, silencing it swiftly before the sound could wake her daughter. For months, she’d been rising with the sun, braving the cold mornings before the city fully came alive, her footsteps echoing in the crisp air as she walked to the shelter’s kitchen. If her friends from her past could see her now, they’d hardly believe it. Once, Mae would have laughed if anyone suggested she’d be working in a shelter, but life had a way of changing peop...

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“A Christmas, convergence” by Edward J. McCoul

“A Christmas Convergence” By Edward J. McCoul Maggie Turner walked briskly down Elm Street, her scarf pulled tight against the biting December wind. She wasn’t sure what had brought her here tonight, two days before Christmas, heading toward a familiar stoop that had become, almost inexplicably, a safe haven. Her breath puffed in front of her, mingling with the scents of roasting chestnuts and peppermint, a reminder of how close the holiday was. As she approached the stoop of the dimly lit building, she spotted someone waiting. The figure wa...

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“The Fall of the Ordinary” by Edward J. McCoul

“The Fall of the Ordinary” By Edward J. McCoul It was an unremarkable Tuesday morning, the kind with gray clouds hanging low in the sky and a damp chill that sank through coats and sweaters. The city pulsed with the habitual rhythm of commuters, all bundled against the November cold and huddling in the subway station, heads down, shoulders hunched. Among them, Nora Watters was just another face—mid-thirties, average height, a tired face framed by dark hair she barely noticed anymore. Her life, too, was worn, frayed around the edges, lik...

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“Better Late Than Never” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #275

“Better Late Than Never” by Edward J. McCoul  The rain fell in sheets against the windows of The Last Cup, a forgotten café tucked down a side street in a nearly abandoned part of town. The few remaining shops nearby had faded signage, peeling paint, and an air of resigned abandonment, as if they’d accepted their eventual demise. But The Last Cup was different. No one had seen it open for a hundred years. Legend had it that The Last Cup was once the heartbeat of the neighborhood, buzzing with writers, artists, and travelers from all wal...

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“The Last Hour” by Edward J. McCoul

“The Last Hour” by Edward J McCoul Mason bolted through the dimly lit streets, his feet pounding against the wet pavement as he glanced nervously at his watch. Forty-two minutes left. In less than an hour, his life would end, unless he found a way to stop the inevitable. The city was a maze, a sprawling labyrinth of alleys and shadows, and every passing second felt like a weight pressing down on his chest. It had all started that morning, when he’d woken to the text message: “YOU HAVE 12 HOURS LEFT.” There was no sender. Just those chilling ...

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“The Undying Love of Saint Teresa of Avila” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #275

The Undying Love of Saint Teresa of Avila” by Edward J McCoul I am Teresa. Teresa of Ávila, they called me once. My eyes are closed, my lips silent, yet I watch and speak. I have dwelled here, in the darkness of this convent, in the quiet folds of earth. Silence surrounds me, and stillness is my companion, but I am not bound by them. I am only bound by love. They tell tales of my incorruption. Flesh that resists decay, a body that is more earthbound than most, yet I am not bound by earth. No. I am bound only by a longing—a burning flame in m...

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“The Cat’s Secret” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #275

The Cat’s Secret” by Edward J McCoulThe black cat’s eyes glowed in the darkness as it trotted down the deserted sidewalk, pausing now and then to look back, as if making sure its follower was still there. Cassie shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders, her breath forming clouds in the cold October air. She hadn’t planned to be out so late on Halloween night, but the cat had been waiting on her doorstep, staring at her with those piercing yellow eyes until she’d felt compelled to follow.The streets were empty, the neighborhood...

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“The Haunting of Alex Graves” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #275

“The Haunting of Alex Graves” by Edward J McCoul Alex Graves sat alone in the dimly lit office of his small apartment, a mug of cold coffee on his desk and the quiet hum of the city in the distance. He hadn’t been able to sleep in days, and tonight was no different. The only sound louder than his racing thoughts was the echo of footsteps that didn’t belong to him. He looked around the room, eyes narrowing at the shadows dancing in the corners. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard them. It was always the same: a faint tapping, as if someone ...

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“They Are Out There” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #274

“They Are Out There!” By Edward J. McCoul They say childhood fears are like seeds buried deep, sprouting only when you least expect it. For me, the seed was planted when I was young, a child too small to fully understand yet big enough to imagine the unimaginable. I was a boy of eight, sitting in a dark theater, my father beside me as the screen flickered to life. The air buzzed with anticipation, but I was already nervous, my stomach tight with the kind of dread that only children know. War of the Worlds came first. As I watched those metal...

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“Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #274

“Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun” By Edward J. McCoul There are two things Liam O’Shaughnessy loved more than anything in the world: gold and friendship. And there were two things he feared more than anything else: heights and rainbows. Which was unfortunate, since he was a leprechaun. Every time he went to check on his gold at the end of a rainbow, he’d have to climb up a hill or down a rocky slope. “That gold won’t guard itself, Liam,” he’d mutter to himself, inching along on shaky legs. Then he’d see the shimmering rainbow stret...

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“The Unwanted Unicorn ” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #274

“The Unwanted Unicorn” By Edward J. McCoul It all started on a perfectly ordinary Tuesday. Twelve-year-old Max was home alone, nose-deep in a video game when he heard a loud, wet sloshing sound from the backyard. That was strange. He muted his game and listened. There it was again—a sound like someone was pouring oatmeal into a bucket. He crept to the back door, cracked it open, and peeked outside. And there, in the middle of his mom’s prize rose bushes, was the last thing he ever expected to see. A unicorn. It wasn’t quite what he had imagi...

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