Elizabeth Sloughter

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2023

Stories (11)

11 Stories

187 karma pts

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“Acceptance” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #239

My hands tremble as I open the envelope. I know what is inside. I have been expecting this; I’ve seen the Facebook posts. Why are you friends with your ex? my friends ask. We were friends before we were lovers, is my response. It never satisfies them. I take it out, a neat little postcard from Shutterfly. So cute and adorable. Photographs of him – Ethan, my ex. Photographs of her – Ana Sofia, his wife. And photographs of her – the baby. &nbs...

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“Running Home” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #235

TW: Suicidal Thoughts; Gore Joey tore down St. Charles Avenue, the wind picking up speed and belting rain onto her back. Her hair – chopped short but growing stubbornly fast – became soaked and clung to her face. Raindrops, so like tears, dripped from her eyelashes. The wind and rain pushed her forward, in the direction she’d run so many times before. Her legs knew this route by heart. Her feet pounded onto the damp ground as puddles grew rapidly. She raced down the trolley line, her mind always alert – watch out for the trolley, it said. ...

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“Only One Take” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #234

Take 2 Josephine thanks Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan for the money as she exits their two-story brick home after breakfast. The kids are still in their pajamas, but they’ve eaten well – Josephine prepared them homemade pancakes – and now they are watching Saturday morning cartoons. She’s done her job well, and the parents are happy. As she heads towards her car, she feels the fatigue draping ove...

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“Simon's Decision” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #233

In the midst of a seemingly endless recession, Simon Brown quit his job as a mid-level banker at a dubiously wealthy international bank and drove down South in a beat-up 20th century pick-up truck to move in with his kid sister who was quite naturally feeling the effects of the downturn, most especially since she was an artist in her mid-twenties as well as a chain smoker. It all started in January, although the causes for such a move had likely been stirring for s...

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“Sun Dogs” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #232

None of us expected it. “Are we—Is this--?” I stuttered, not quite ready to finish my sentence. Are we in the real world? Is this a dream… Is this science fiction? We were standing on the frozen lake, snow boots firmly planted on top of several layers of thick ice, in front of the gaping hole of black water, where the ice had broken only moments before. &nbsp...

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“The Widow” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #230

I didn’t expect to see him here. I fumble awkwardly with the buttons on my sweater. I’m wearing a pale silver cashmere cardigan with Swarovski crystals. I’d considered wearing black; what is the rule in the South? How long does a widow wear black? My daughter forced me to come here, back to the home of her fond childhood memories, her grandparents...

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“Pumpkin Pie” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #228

TW: Death and brief mention of rape He was universally hated. Not really. He had charisma. He was good-looking with an athletic build and a charming smile. He was a diligent employee, putting in extra hours to get ahead, putting in extra hours to help out co-workers. He was good with babies. Amongst strangers ...

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“Hypothermia” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #227

I pick up the open, half-empty bottle of vodka, turn it upside down, and shake; nothing comes out. It’s frozen. Vodka only freezes at -40 degrees or below. At least now I know the temperature. The large, hazy sun hangs low in the sky; it’s mid-afternoon. The sky is a pale clear blue. I almost wish there were clouds. The Kazakhs believe a clear sky is a sign of good fortune, yet right now ...

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“The Devil's Daughter” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #226

Friday, 24 November 2023 Celestine Victoria stands in the shadow next to the streetlamp, staring into the elegantly gaudy window display, staring at her heart’s desire. The diamond-encrusted snow angels and snowflakes glitter and sparkle, but none so much as the jewelry on display. All on sale for one day only. It is two hours past midnight the day after Thanksgiving, and soon the crowd...

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“Moments” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #225

Fifteen I hate myself. I don’t really, but maybe I do. I don’t know? I had blond hair as a child. What happened to that? What color do I use for my hair? Mom says I’m just going through a phase. That’s her word for every one of my mo...

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“The Wish” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #224

PART I: The City It was dark. He stepped onto the balcony; the cold, dry air hit him. He’d felt cold before; he’d once played in the snow during an exceptionally cold Ohio winter. But this was unlike any feeling he’d ever felt. The air wrapped him like a sheet of metal, pressed against his skin, dry and freezing. He could hear the wind howling beyond the double-paned, insulated balcony windows. It was much colder outside. The sky was a dark blue, full of twinkling stars. The city twinkled as well, with a few lights on in random building...

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Author bio

Criticism is greatly appreciated. I've been writing my whole life, but can't improve without criticism! I was a teacher for 19 years; in those 19 years, I wrote frequently for my students (dozens of short stories and learning-to-read stories as well as 3 novels). Now's the time for me to branch out and see if i can find an audience beyond my adoring students. I'm American but lived in Kazakhstan for nine years and Albania for five years; those countries and my past experiences sometimes show in my writing.