Emmanuelle Shemko

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2020

Stories (14)

14 Stories

291 karma pts

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“Invisible Atlas” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #258

For as long as he could remember, Atlas had felt invisible. But today, by some strange twist of fate, he actually is. Gone, vanished, non-existent, as if he’s been wiped from the face of the planet. His friends thought booking a photoshoot and posing in silly positions would be funny. Elyssa brought up the idea. “I neeeeed some new pictures for my Instagram,” she’d declared. Francesca shot her a look of exasperation, but they all knew she was just being dramatic. They knew she’d be on board for a photoshoot because who didn’t love an excuse ...

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“The Politics of Bees” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #102

Hard work, for Coralie, was all she'd ever known. The town of Twinstone was like a bee's nest. Its politics ran similar to that of a hive. There was, of course, the queen bee that ran the operation, and in Twinstone, the queen bee was the Kleindale monarchy.Coralie was the daughter of a merchant and was always overworked in their shoe shop. Her father was a brilliant man but, being born into poverty, was never able to showcase his intelligence. Doing so would have been a death sentence. Under the Kleindale monarchy, the rich thrived, an...

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“After Prom ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #93

The two-storey Victorian-style house stood blue and lonely on its plot. No neighbouring homes, just surrounding forest and a glittering lake. It was a 20-minute drive from the town square and the perfect place for teens to throw a house party. 150 teens, to be exact.  Zora arrived at 8pm, right on time for the party, only to realize that she was the only one there, aside from the host and his friends who were finishing setting up the drink table on the outside wrap-around veranda. "Um, hi, is this where Saint Joseph's after prom party...

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“My Two Obsessions, My Heavy Truth ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #92

When I turned three, my mom bought me my first real doll - a cabbage patch girl with flaming red pigtails. She came with a birth certificate. Born: April 4th, 2004. Named: Dolly.  I loved her, she was my best friend, and she went everywhere I went. Daycare. The park. My grandparents' house. I took care of Dolly like she was my own daughter. When my sister Zella was born, I watched intently how my mom took care of her. I copied what she did with Dolly. When she changed Zella's diaper, I changed Dolly's. When she fed Zella, I fed Dolly....

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“Beyond the Dome” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #90

The horizon was a stunning green, a blinding sight after walking for days through the Death Zone - a depressing desert of smog and dust. We couldn't tell if it was a true oasis or a cruel trick of the mind. Still, we ran towards it, crawling over top of one another while maneuvering across what was now the destroyed and crumpled society that came before the Nuclear Holocaust.    …  The year is 2105, and the council sent us to save the world - the dying, practically dead world. The world has almost entirely run out of...

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“Bubbly is my alias ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #86

Author’s note: use of explicit language; Trigger warning: depression, anxiety, addiction and suicidal tendencies/ thoughts  I see my reflection in the mirror, but I don’t see me.  Jeez, I think to myself, I look like I died and came back to life. To be quite honest, that’s how I felt too. My body ached; I hadn’t left my bed all weekend, even to relieve myself properly. My mom, kind as she is, changed my sheets for me, asking carefully if I would roll over so she could grab the side I lay on.  This morning she came into ...

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“Hostage” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #84

Lyle was hostage to the forest. His hiking partner, Sam, suddenly vanished, leaving Lyle utterly alone and vulnerable to the darkness of the trees that towered over him, blocking out the warm sun. He remembered feeling Sam’s presence beside him one moment, and the next, he felt cool air tickling his skin, as though his clothing had been removed, leaving him naked and exposed. Goosebumps spread across his body.  Lyle wasn’t a skilled hiker and always got nervous in large open spaces, but Sam had somehow managed to persuade him to join o...

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“Mother ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #83

Seaweed hugs my feet as I walk out of the ocean onto the black sand beach of Maui. My family, I see them at a picnic table, are unpacking the veggie sandwiches we bought for lunch at the hotel. My sister smiles and waves at me to come over.  I grab my towel from the hot sand, shaking it as I run over to them. The air is cool on my skin as I dry off, and I quickly throw my sundress over top of my bikini, not caring if it gets wet. The water has made me hungry, and I devour my sandwich and a bag of chips immediately.  Around me, the ...

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“Black Water” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #79

We didn't know the sea would come to swallow our town whole between its jaws. Our people sucked into the icy belly of Black Water.  I felt the earth shake. I was baking cookies in my kitchen, standing on a stool to reach the mixing bowls on the top shelf, when the cabinets swung open and barfed out tupperware and canned beans. I lost my balance trying to protect myself from the projectile and fell hard onto the tile floor. My eyesight blurred in and out of focus for a few moments, and when I fully regained it, I was hit with the rec...

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“The Concert Dance of Snowfall” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #77

A coyote howls, having just caught fresh prey; a snow bunny struggles unsuccessfully, aching to break free. A sleeping brown bear is tucked away, snoring deeply, and she is curled around her year-old cub. Red-bellied robins sing songs about the liberty and freedom of flight.  The forest smells of dewy pine needles, of auburn sap before it is boiled into sticky maple syrup. This place is filled with youthful flourishing air that gently tickles the skin - it’s the nipping cold that awakens the body into recognizing the beauty of nature.&...

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“Ten Seconds of Anxiety ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #74

If you've ever been an athlete, you'll know what I'm talking about.  I'm a gymnast, a good one too. I won gold at the Canadian nationals and bronze at the Pan American championships last year. There's nothing more invigorating than standing on a podium, feeling proud of yourself and proud of what you represent. If it's a national event, I will be proud to represent my hometown. For an international, I'm pleased to show the competition that I'm from Canada.  I'm strong, and I know what I'm doing when I start my routines but know...

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“Snips and Snails and Puppy Dogs' Tails” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #71

Once upon a time, there was a nasty witch who owned a bakery. She was gross, with her long oily grey hair and her giant wart covered nose. Her name was Hazel. She loved kids. Sorry, I meant to say she loved eating kids. In her opinion, they were juicy and delicious, and when baked just right, she could use them to make her world-famous oatmeal raisin little boy and little girl cookies. Of course, she didn’t sell these; they were purely for her enjoyment alone. Instead, she sold regular baked goods, and the town adored them. Sometimes she fea...

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“Brown Sugar and Shreddies ” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #69

I'm sure the turkey is on it's way out of the oven right now. Beautifully glazed, shiny with butter. I'm late, and I know my mom will give me hell for it. It's not my fault, though. The bakery where I ordered a pumpkin pie accidentally made apple instead. I waited for two hours just so I could get the right one made. My brother Jackson would have been devastated if I didn't show up with his favourite dessert. Anyways, as I'm speeding down the highway, thoughts of family fill my head. I can't wait to catch up with my siblings and tell th...

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“The Ripple Effect” by Emmanuelle Shemko

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. Now mom’s body is sinking.  The lake ripples and the perfect circles are getting bigger and bigger. Her open eyes aren’t staring back at me anymore, I can only see her hair growing up towards me like seaweed - it looks green and slimy. I try grabbing it to pull her back onto the boat, but it slips right between my fingers. Soon I won’t even be able to see her shadow; the lake is so deep - we tossed the anchor down, and it took all the rope tied to it. Deep. I wonder what kind of fi...

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Author bio

Hello! I'm Emmanuelle (Emma) and my dream is to one day be a published author. I'd love any feedback or critiques :) I have a poetry/ art account on instagram @emmashemkopoetry. Feel free to check it out if you're interested!