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Hannah Lynn

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023

Stories (93)
Comments
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178 Followers
106 Following

93 Stories

3393 karma pts

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Countdown

Submitted to Contest #267

TEN!NINE!EIGHT!SEVEN!SIX!***The crowd chanted along, the excitement building as the second hand ticked away to a new year.She desperately wanted to be part of the merriment, the celebration, the “this is our year, babe” sentiment that Joe was brimming with. He was still in the blissful state of “it’s finally happening” but she knew better.“Ready? Remember, no champagne for you!” He had teased her before leaving the house, smiling at her from his bubble of one. She would be more than happy to do without the alcoholic midni...

25 likes 16 comments 16
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Wedded Bliss Or Blues?

Submitted to Contest #264

"Jack and Coke.” He leaned towards the bartender, shouting above the poor rendition of Elvis swooning to the crowd. “Make that two,” I raised my fingers in a mock peace sign which seemed easier than trying to be heard over the crowd of well wishers. “Don’t you just love weddings?” The Jack and Coke stranger smiled at me while he relaxed against the bar. “No, not particularly. I avoid them at all costs, but this one was mandatory, unfortunately.” “Not a big believer in love?” “That’s not it at all. It’s all the schmoozy o...

26 likes 23 comments 23
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Red Hot

Submitted to Contest #262

“Come on, buddy, let’s get you to a shelter.” They peered into my box, shining a beam of light into my eyes. “Fuck off,” I wanted to say, but I knew better. Best not to antagonize the public, especially the cops. They would haul you out and shove you into their car quicker than you can shake your ass at them.  I held my tongue and said nothing, waiting for them to move along.The sweat was collecting on my forehead, dripping sideways down my face, stinging my eyes. I felt sick, nauseous, and disgusted. ...

24 likes 33 comments 33
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Fight The Good Fight

Submitted to Contest #261

“Is the AC on the fritz again?” “I wouldn’t know. Power’s out.”“What?” I felt sweat dripping down my back. No air conditioning was not what I wanted to hear. There was too much work to do, and the room was already stifling in the early morning hours.“Yeah. Seems like someone didn’t pay the electric bill.” Carol looked at me square in the eye, hands on her hips. Was she daring me to argue that fact?“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Call them. Use my credit card.” “Are you sure, boss?”“I’m sure. ...

23 likes 22 comments 22
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A Fortunate Woman

Submitted to Contest #260

“I thought it would be bigger,” the voice rang out from the crowd. “Not good enough for you, dear?” I held in my laughter as I snuck a look at my husband to see if he heard the back and forth as well. His twinkling eyes told me he had. “Some people are never happy,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m happy. Very happy.” I looked around the square hardly believing my eyes. Always number one on my bucket list was the trip to Italy. So often had I spoken about it that I had channeled the voice of Charlie Brown’s teacher “whomp, ...

32 likes 25 comments 25
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Was He Okay?

Submitted to Contest #259

(TW …  depression and suicide) He was sullen. Again. He was sleeping all day. Again. “What’s with that kid?”  “Leave him alone. He’s fine,” I hissed, not wanting to be overheard. “He should be helping. It’s not fair. Why do I have to do this shit by myself?” My older son was right. It wasn’t fair. I stood outside my younger son’s closed bedroom door contemplating my choices. “Hun, you ok?” I could ask tentatively, only for him to reply, “What do you want? Leave me alone.” “Get up.&n...

27 likes 18 comments 18
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Fifteen Faces

Submitted to Contest #258

The poster was torn and tattered. It was time to make the rounds again, pulling down the old, weathered flyers and replacing them with crisp new images. Perhaps changing from black and white to color would bring the photos to life, reminding the public that they are still out there.  More than just faces on poles, they are children desperately needing to be found and brought home. The prospect of this new project brought me a small degree of comfort. Doing something, anything, was better than doing nothing at all. Thirty ...

33 likes 20 comments 20
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Cast of Characters

Submitted to Contest #257

“You have to tell him, Jackie.” “Actually, I don’t have to,” came the quick response. “He deserves to know,” Robin whispered urgently. Dipping her paintbrush into the newly opened can, Jackie thought once again how strongly she disagreed with her friend’s statement. After the way he had treated her, he didn’t deserve anything. *** “Again, Anthony. Read the line like you actually mean it.” “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear… that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,” he read the words scribbled on the scrap of paper. “Thos...

33 likes 25 comments 25
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The Big Race

Submitted to Contest #256

The crowd went wild as I took off from the starting line in The Big Race. Through the cheering I heard Mom shouting “Run, Sammy, Run!”  I knew without looking that she was smiling from ear to ear and clapping her hands for me. She was probably jumping up and down also. I kept my eyes straight ahead running as fast as I could.  I quickly passed my best friend Tyrannosaurus Rex because, let’s face it, he wasn’t the fastest runner in the toy box. We trained together in the park, and I got a little bit faster every day, ...

31 likes 38 comments 38
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My Mommy

Submitted to Contest #255

April 30, 2023 “What brings you here today? It’s been quite a while since the last time we met.” “I miss my mom,” I blurted out, cutting right to the chase while sitting down tentatively.  “Oh, Ruth…” a rustle of papers as Dr. Jordan flipped back through her notes. “I didn’t realize…” “No,” I quickly clarified. “She’s okay. I mean, she’s not okay, but she’s still here.” She’s still here, I thought to myself. But was she really? The image of her being brought home from rehab via ambulette flashed before my e...

20 likes 17 comments 17
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Dancing With Her Daughter

Submitted to Contest #254

The gentle waves lapped against the ship as it slowly pulled away from the port of Livorno. Holding the stem of her delicate wineglass, she watched the sunlight’s reflection shimmer and swirl on the surface of the wine and the sea simultaneously.She reminded herself to be grateful for their recent harvest. The years of hard work had finally restored their vineyard back to the successful business it had been for generations. That knowledge made her first sip of the fruity wine that much sweeter.   Looking out ove...

24 likes 24 comments 24
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BOOOOMMM!!

Submitted to Contest #253

“Let’s bang out these deliveries as quickly as possible so we can get home and eat.” “Yeah, I’m starving. Imagine if we order this exact meal for ourselves tonight?” I looked at my husband, hoping that he would agree. “Spend our profits? No way.” “Yeah, you’re right.” I fought to hide my disappointment as my hunger pains mixed with the growing fatigue.  “It’ll be worth it, you’ll see. Just another few deliveries and we hit our goal for the day.” He smiled at me, trying to keep my spirits up. We stopped for ...

29 likes 26 comments 26
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The Beast

Submitted to Contest #252

Remember the boy in high school? The beast got you good. So good that you drove past the store where he worked just to catch a glimpse. Back and forth on that busy road in your old beat up car with no air conditioning. Your back was sweaty, and your hair had turned to tendrils around your flushed face. You stood in the drug store across the street turning the spinners of postcards and road maps. Humiliated and embarrassed but unable to move as you watched him load and unload the trucks. No one knew but the ...

21 likes 16 comments 16
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Francois

Submitted to Contest #251

“Merde,” he mumbled gruffly. “You say something, hun?” Barb peered over her reading glasses at her husband. “Nothing, dear.” He looked at her and smiled. “Is that the book you found at the thrift store?” Dave gave no indication of hearing his wife’s question as he sat in his favorite recliner, tattered paperback in hand. “Hun?” Barb raised her voice vying for her husband’s attention. “Yes, dear?” “I asked if that’s your new book?” “It’s hardly new. In fact, it’s quite old.  I think it might actually be worth somethin...

19 likes 15 comments 15
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My Words

Submitted to Contest #250

Flashing cameras created orbs of lights dancing around the lobby. It was not my first time at the Manhattan Club Gala, but the anticipation washed over me as if it were. My novel’s position as number one on the bestseller list was tenuous and hung on for dear life.Standing at the bar, I listened to the conversations floating through the air. Greetings were exchanged with various levels of sincerity, making it difficult to discern between friend and foe. We were, after all, each other’s competition for the coveted award.As...

19 likes 15 comments 15
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