Ellen Balaban

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2021

Stories (2)

2 Stories

38 karma pts

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“Confessions of a Daughter” by Ellen Balaban

Submitted to Contest #288

A soft breeze brushes past my skin as I wrench open the wooden window frame, allowing years of third-hand cigarette smoke and stuffy food smells to drift out along with my memories. He hadn’t left this singular room in years, save for daily needs and the very occasional trip to the hospital, and it shows. The desk is littered with forgotten trash, piles of papers and books occupying every inch of the peripheral book cases and, in the corner of the brick ledge surrounding the hearth, stands a sizeable collection of bottles that hasn’t been to...

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“The Visit” by Ellen Balaban

Submitted to Contest #280

- Any plans for the holidays this year Jim?- Not this year, Bon. Mary’s got her heart set on a ‘Christmas staycay’ as she calls it, get the grandkids round, maybe pitch up a tent in the back yard, watch the stars. Bit cold, if y’ask me, and I prefer real campin’ anyways, but Mary’s put her foot down as she always does. Kids are too young to go out in the woods late at night. Huh. Goes on about bears or wolves or sumthin’, but I ain’t never seen no bears or wolves in these ‘ere parts. - Me neither. ‘Course… it’s been a while since I been able...

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Author bio

Translator by day, word-dabbler by night. Getting back into writing after a 20-year hiatus and hoping for growth.