Haide McRay

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2021

Stories (3)

3 Stories

69 karma pts

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“The Wind in a Bottleneck” by Haide McRay

Submitted to Contest #240

The wind enters through a gap under the canvas covering the window. It dances into a corner and caresses the sleeping child’s cheek. The room is bare, just scarred wood floor, and broken windows with canvas nailed on the outside that blocks the light of the dying day. The room is swept and clean, not like some rooms, where filthy clothes, empty bongs, bottles, crushed cans, hypos, broken furniture, and sometimes pieces of desiccated bodies litter scabby carpet–or cracked tiles, or peeling vinyl–and pile up against crumbling plaster walls. Th...

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“I Won't Be Long” by Haide McRay

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #167

I Won’t Be Long Yolan’s weathered hands are clasped in front of his head, which rests on Geta’s bed. A light blanket covers Geta, her hands open and motionless at her sides. Yolan does not pray. He simply rests. The aches in his legs and back never cease. He raises his head and looks across Geta’s bed to the window, where bare black branches of an ornamental tree shiver in the early March afternoon. A red bird with a black mask and yellow beak sits on a branch. “He has a sweetheart, Geta. I have seen her on that same branch. Her feathers ...

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“Drift” by Haide McRay

Submitted to Contest #83

Drift The late afternoon sun beat down hot on my head. I was treading water. A stiff chill started deep within and spread to my extremities, despite my protective suit. I wondered if it could be shock. I glanced around for the boat. It was to my right, not far away. I gave a signal and our driver headed over to retrieve me. I held on where I was, the water lapping at my face. It tasted like tears.  Shay and Riley surfaced as I was being helped into the boat. There was a tech who looked me over, removing the tank and my BCD. “Here, d...

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Author bio

I am a developmental editor, former teacher, and nature freak. I keep chickens in my urban backyard and nurture plants and cats in my house. I hope to see high-speed rail in the U.S. within my lifetime because I would rather read on cross-country treks than drive.

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #167
I Won't Be Long – read story