Elizabeth Clark

“You but from an Alternate Reality” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #196

Autumn sings along in her head to the music playing in her earphones. Her feet are moving automatically to the pizza shop down the street. She keeps her steps slow, drawing out her brief break for lunch. She stops at a crosswalk, massaging her neck, twisting it from side to side, sore from bending over her textbooks for hours. Just one last test, Autumn reminds herself.  The walk sign lights up, along with a beeping sound. Autumn strolls behind a group of women her age, talking and laughing loudly. They turn right; the noise disappear...

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“The Orange Tabby” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #187

Henry doesn’t remember how he ended up here, walking in a forest at night, without a phone or anything. Being led by an orange tabby cat, with the sense he should follow it. He was going somewhere; he knew that much. Where or why, he has no clue only that he needs to get there, urgently. He scans his surroundings, pine trees stretching over him menacing, their branches giving off shadows that resemble hands reaching out. No moon in sight, but the shining stars in the midnight blue sky, with enough light that he's not walking blindly in the...

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“A New Family For Christmas ” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #178

In twenty minutes, this house will be full of people. In twenty minutes, strangers will arrive. In twenty minutes, will be the first Christmas since my dad got remarried. In twenty minutes, Christmas will never be the same. “Kyle, you can’t stay in your room until Christmas is over,” Nikki shouts at my door. “Stop sulking!” Of course, she would know what I was thinking. She is my twin. My twin, who also hated the idea of dad remarrying and moving us to this house to fit our “new” big family. But, after only two months, Nikki decides she ...

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“The Forest” by Elizabeth Clark

The forest is magical, thought Julie. She dazed out the car window. Thinking of all the adventures she could have here. She'll find a portal to another realm, become best friends with the fairies and magical talking animals that live there. They'll have an important mission to find the missing crown of the fairy queen, who will congratulate them by throwing them a party. Julie will dance with her new friends till sunrise, eating fluffy pastries with bowls of ice- "If you don't stop. I'm shoving you out of the car, while it's still moving, Am...

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“Brothers” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #79

I hesitated, fidgeting with my jacket zipper, staring at the house. I rub my left arm, fighting back the chills and goosebumps. I feel awful. I should hurry up, I can't stand the withdrawal for long, the craving will win out like it always does. I want it to stop now, all of it. I want to get better now. Clean. I don't want a repeat of two days ago. I touch my right arm, tracing a finger up and down where the scar is covered by the jacket. I shiver uncontrollably. I woke up with a pain piercing headache, not the worse I had, but a top ten....

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“No Sleep Mom” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #56

The high pitch scream pulls me out of sleep. Again. I bolt out of bed, confused and dazed. It takes me a second to register where I'm going. I stumble out the room, through the hallway towards the room at the end. The baby is furiously wailing in the crib. Babies normally look adorable, but when they are howling their heads off, like mine is now, they look scary. A little monster yelling it's attack charge. Am I a bad mother to think that? "Shh. It's okay. Shh." I pick him gently, swaying him. "I'm here, Tommy. It's okay. I got you." I check...

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“A Imperfect Mom” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #50

James, David and Claire are doing their homework in the living room. Mom is nowhere to be seen. She knows I need to finish my essay. I told her I need a good grade on this. Why do I even bother anymore? Irritated, I drop my backpack by the door. This is why I stay up late finishing my homework. Sometimes, not all the time, just the hard days, I wonder if it would be worse if mom had given us up for adoption. Some people aren't meant for parenthood. Like James and David dad, who left when things got hard. Claire's dad bolted as soon as he fou...

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“New Normal” by Elizabeth Clark

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear diary, December 2, 2005This is my first entry. I always wanted a diary, to write my feelings, thoughts, and dreams in. And whatever I'm feeling that day. I think it would be interesting to look back at when I'm older, relive the memories. See how much I've changed. So I finally brought one. It's a plain purple book with lines inside. It has two hundred pages. My first of many diaries. Now let me introduce myself. I'm Clare Robbins, 11 years old. I want to be a veterinarian when I'm older. I love animals. We have a family dog, named Max....

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