Eric D.

“The Wind in the Willows” by Eric D.

My wife, Christy stared daggers from across the room and she looked annoyed at me for finally gaining the courage to grow that itchy rugged “bear-man” beard she hated. She finally cracked a smile and accepted it before leaning in to rub my prickly chin and plant a kiss on my lips, something I desperately long for.      I begged them to let me see her one last time and in exchange could do whatever they wanted with my corpse. I rubbed my bloodshot eyes and saw that there was only me on the other end of the reflec...

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“Deus Ex Machina” by Eric D.

“Good evening, my lord!” The Master of Ceremonies greeted, with a head bow, “You must be the honored guest. Everyone’s been waiting for you.” Please state your name so that our guards can remain composed.”      “Isaías Sánchez?”      “Is that a question, my lord?”      “No.”      “Then state your name, my lord.”      “I’m Isaías Sánchez,” said Isaias before swallowing an empty gulp of air watch...

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“The Elders of Whitehorse Pines ” by Eric D.

As I drove through the frozen mountains to a village said to have been abandoned for over forty years, I felt something sickly filling the space in my stomach. I could feel my heartbeat thumping in a peculiar rhythm as I watched the lonely dirt roads disappear behind me into the thick white mist.      “It’s getting too far to turn back now,” said Wyatt.      “Just keep your foot on the pedal, put your hillbilly music on, and get comfy, old boy.”      “G...

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“It Carries Whispers from Lands Far Away” by Eric D.

Chelo counted the coins he made from selling marinated mangoes on the side of the road during traffic stops. Today was a good sales day for him, but a busy one. Chelo was used to finishing the day with a damped shirt soaked in lemon juice and spices. His little brother, Luis, however enjoyed the work. He loved interacting with the customers, often carrying the salt shakers and lemon juice sprays on his belt like a spaghetti western.“Reach for the sky, cabrón!” his brother would shout for his share. “Hand over the coins, if’n you know what’s ...

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“The House that Whispered” by Eric D.

Submitted to Contest #239

   It felt like a cauldron was brewing in my stomach from the nerves of walking into the creepy abandoned house that everyone had warned me about. I had no choice though, it was my only clue in finding my missing friend Carmelita.  There had been stories circulating about the old house ever since I was a kid, but I swallowed the fearful thoughts and continued on.  “Carmelita, you in there?” I shouted from the porch.  I turned the rusted door knob and peeked inside. “Hello?”...

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“Krewe of No-Return ” by Eric D.

      James Johnson was known for being very laissez-faire in the way he used his credit card. While his friends were mostly settled down married or with kids, he still enjoyed living a carefree lifestyle composed of a lot of short fulfilling "I deserve it" weekend trips. Today marked his first day on a new adventure when he checked in on a late Friday night to his boutique hotel in French Quarters, New Orleans. With heavy eyelids and butterflies in his stomach, he made his way to his hotel room clutching a w...

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“Dark Side of the Wall ” by Eric D.

"You can't run forever." whispered an elderly man shuffling past me in his walker.      "I'll try my best," I said heavy breathing.      He caught a whiff of me and his eyes rolled back. "Smells like shit."      It's always the sweat that gives me away.      I am the disgusting half-breed they loved to hate, half-like them, and half-human. They believe I should be fighting along with them, the...

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“My Lust for Life” by Eric D.

Heidi and I kissed for the first time at the botanical gardens after a nice dinner in Midtown Berlin. We had been dating for a few weeks now. Heidi admitted she wasn't interested in the men here, because they couldn't match her energy, she had a lust for life and she needed a partner to help her induldge. These nice excursions at the cafe, hiking trails and fancy dinner dates were unfulfilling for her.      So while we held hands and walked to my apartment she'd talk to me about the night life in Berli...

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“The Four Clovers of Galway ” by Eric D.

Jamie pressed his lips towards the end of the bronze bottle and swallowed his fourth beer of the night. This was his last chance at happiness.      "Mr. Sully. One shot, please!" he called out.      The bartender nodded. New in town, Jamie felt the jet lag kicking in. Sullivan's Pub was his solitude for the last few hours, but he was determined to stay up      "I'll have Caitlin take care of those empty bottles!" Mr. Sully reassu...

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“In Through the Hidden Shelf” by Eric D.

Sammy was a student librarian at the Jefferson County University Library, a place older than most states had been established in the U.S. She loved the engagement with the new patrons and often shared her favorite books, a mixed breed of true crime stories and historical autobiographies of feminist icons of yesteryear.       Her world changed one Friday evening when a young freshman girl came to visit.      "Scuse me. Uh, Hello?" the student remarked standing b...

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“Beckoning the Blood Moon ” by Eric D.

      The first time I saw Nicky, I was out celebrating with my friend Craig on an early Friday night. We headed over to a new Italian restaurant and there she was waitressing in her white collared shirt, and black slacks with the matching tie.      My first impressions of her was a sensory overload. I had never seen anyone so physically alluring.      It was like an aura of ecstasy just radiating around her. She smiled and handed ...

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“I'm a Thorn in my Flesh” by Eric D.

I'm an anomaly on this wretched Earth and a piece of shit who doesn't deserve to live. My conclusion to that statement is a private matter that I am working with my therapist on. I am saddened that good people around me often pay the price. In this life you must always keep your guard up and be cautious or some stranger like myself will be there when you least expect it.My therapist seems to think, my pessimistic behavior is attributed to an eating disorder called binge eating disorder, this is after I described to her d...

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“The Sixth Night ” by Eric D.

      Memories of my Dad shouting at me kept replaying in my head after he found the fresh bruise marks around my veins. His reaction was to ship me off to stay with my brother and his family way down South in a small town surrounded by an abundance of oak trees and overzealous religious beliefs. The community seemed like a close-knit group of people, everyone with plantation-style houses spread apart by large acres of grassy lawns.      Wh...

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“Phantom Brushstrokes” by Eric D.

Submitted to Contest #210

CW: Some Adult Language.Adriana and I had been in a dry spell all day without selling a single piece of artwork, a disappointing realization for our first time at a comic con. Adriana who had been sitting at her booth next to mine kept reminding me of how much money we could have made working from home. On a good day on commissions, we'd make 20 dollars for a full-body line art, that's about 2 or 3 hours of work within a week's time frame. It's maybe fifteen bucks more for an expedited piece. Adriana had been a little pr...

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“The Turning of the Bones” by Eric D.

Submitted to Contest #205

My mood had changed drastically after hearing the big news. Nothing could ever prepare you for hearing about a loved one dying, even when you know it's coming. That was the first time I saw my father cry and his lips quivered when he broke the news to me that Grandma Myra was dead. I had watched him turn from a man who'd never shared an ounce of vulnerability to a sobbing child. It scared me. I couldn't bear to watch him this way, so I ran and ran as fast as I could. In a way, I was running from the inevitable realization of death. <...

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