Elena Balaguer

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2024

Stories (6)

6 Stories

97 karma pts

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“Sugus Blues” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #274

Trigger warning: Mental health, suicide. “If an evil has been pondered beforehand, the blow is gentle when it comes. To the fool, however, and to him who trusts in fortune, each event as it arrives, ‘comes in a new and sudden form,’ and a large part of evil, to the inexperienced, consists in its novelty.” Seneca Sugus Blues Premeditatio Malorum, if I were a Stoic. Or in modern parlance, emotional vaccination, preemptively imagining hardships and preparing for them before they occur. Like how a vaccine works, introducing our immune sy...

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“Humble Lemon Pie” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #270

Humble Lemon Pie When life gives you lemons, you make a Humble Lemon Pie. You are sure to find different versions of this recipe in all cuisines, worldwide. This heirloom recipe is easy to follow and almost foolproof if you set aside the necessary time. You can customize this recipe to your preference, substituting the ingredients with seasonal availabilities or what you have on hand. Best served with warmth. Prep time: A lifetimeCooking time: Will depend on the dayYield: All the servings your imagination can muster Ingredients For the crust...

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“It's Her Birthday” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #266

My eyes snap open. It’s her birthday. The sun is barely rising as the early morning dew starts to eviscerate from our fogged-up bedroom window. I glance askew and see her, still fast asleep. She is the living example of an oxymoron—such a spunky firecracker when awake and such a beatific creature when asleep. Everything about her is a stark contrast. Just on cue, she wakes up. “Happy birthday hun. Thirty-two!”, as I give her a flurry of kisses, counting up to thirty-two. “Huh? Oh… thanks,” rubbing her eyes and still visibly in her realm of d...

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“The Arrangement” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #265

The Arrangement Back to India for Christmas, the overwhelming humidity in the air is always a welcome-home banner. The familiar road to my ancestral home, a coffee plantation-laden landscape, is now unfamiliar. It's been a while since I've ventured to return, for a reason. Mom draws me into a tight embrace, immediately scolding me. “It’s been too long Vik." Without hesitation, she draws out the elephant in the room that needs addressing, “Your aunt and I have been long considering your options and you’re not getting any younger.” "Mom, I nee...

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“The BBQ’d Cow Wedding” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #264

The entourage of cars and security units trailed behind the wedding car carrying the newlyweds, the granddaughter of the town's mayor and her husband, Lily and Rodrigo. Bennie, the wedding planner with the pixie hairdo, sat in the front passenger seat. Off they sped to the nearby beach resort where the guests and the wedding banquet awaited.Lily was the eldest granddaughter of the town’s mayor, whom the townsfolk referred to as "Grandma", that's how long she'd been around. Grandma ran the remote coastal town with the same familiarity and car...

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“When the Light Flickers” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #263

When the Light FlickersAuthor: Elena Balaguer Chapter 1 - Who Stopped the Music? Aris, short for Aristotle, has wandered the globe throughout his whole existence, a Mary Poppins of sorts, I’ll go where I’m needed. So with the next change of wind, he found himself in the world’s busiest city, New York. It was a brisk morning, the kind that has you snorting out cold vaporous fumes, as Aris walked the early commuter-filled streets of New York. He excitedly let out, conversing with the morning air, "Time to infuse some magic," as he hurriedly ...

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Author bio

Former lawyer turned restaurateur. The recycling continues, as I take a leap of faith and venture into writing.