Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2021

Stories (14)

14 Stories

1774 karma pts

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“No More!!!” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #146

It has been pouring rain for hours! Men could notice it due to the large number of earthworms that has come out. Temporary gun-powered lighting allowed them to observe the little creatures. The earthworms were escaping from water; nevertheless, some of them have been swimming desperately in little puddles formed by the footprints of hundreds of boots. The puddles looked like seals stamped on letters made of the ground of mysterious maps… urgent massive letters that came but will never reach their multiple addressees. Addressees who didn...

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“The Right Gift” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #121

Author's note: hatred and violence due to racial differences.“Thanks a lot”, John White said sarcastically. He closed the front door, went to his cold bedroom, opened the drawer of his wooden nightstand, took his old revolver, sat down on his comfortable bed, breathed in deeply, looked at his upset face in the mirror, and killed himself without thinking much about it… or after a fast-convincing thought. John White was raised in a rural southern county where lifestyle and social etiquette have remained the same for ages.* *  *J...

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“Miraculous Rain” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #112

“It’s been a long time…” “It’s been a much longer season, indeed.” “Do you think this is it? I mean, this time?” “How can we know? Nobody knows…” “Of course, we know! When you face Death, you know… maybe, at the very last moment, but you know.” A few, the strongest ones standing, looked around. Cities were abandoned after the food was completely consumed (what provoked insane violent chaos), nothing was left in the markets or supermarkets. Water purifiers were still working, so, drinkable water was still available. Unfortu...

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“Tides” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #105

In the beginning, there was no creation… just gods. They were grouped by families. Thus, gods used to travel long distances to visit other families. They went from here to there and all the way back. There was only darkness. Gods were full of power; however, even though they were almighty, they couldn’t find ways to spread their vital energy, called life. Time, the only matter that existed, passed and gods suffered from not having a physical location to stay and to do things together. As separated families, their only shared activity w...

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“Another Day” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #105

The cold didn’t let him sleep; it was a long night in the streets. Some conditions refuse to leave… the cold stuck to his body for hours. Logan felt it deeply in his bones, there wasn’t much to do. He was 52; nonetheless, he looked older, much older. “Some people drink life like drinking a water jet. I guess I need to drink life a drop at a time”, Logan reflected. Logan picked up the 2 boxes he uses as a bed. Then he put them behind an old gate of a forgotten closed factory. He chose that spot to sleep over because he completely identi...

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“Tricky Twins” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

The day both brothers were born was not a regular one, it was a tricky day for their mother; in fact, she didn’t see it coming… Their biological father met their mother at a party long ago; a party in which alcohol was the official drink and drugs were the official food. You know, the kind of party people who lack self-love or parents’ love attend; empty hearts willing to fill their souls’ hole with whatever is at hand. This kind of party is teens’ favorite. Nevertheless, these wild parties only have an obvious result: to maintain their s...

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“Artificial Connection” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

TV sets are turned on. Sunday “Breaking News. This is Aspen Woods reporting for HVVM Channel, your channel. Although this year’s drought has been increased by the global climate change, authorities found the cause for this year’s wildfire in California: experts concluded it was detonated by a match… Believe it or not, after many laborious hours of investigation, specialists from the California Fire Department claimed to follow a firing track, as they called it, to an area by the roadside, where they found the remains of a match, probab...

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“Two Wildflowers” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

It was the third or fourth day waiting for it. I was there, in the Field of Flowers, for hours… preying on it. My father told me that he had seen the deer around, a lovely male one; unfortunately, on that occasion, he didn’t have his rifle with him since dad was riding Grey Storm, his finest Andalusian horse. Dad enjoys spending time with his horses, deep love between them. There’s something between horses and men as much as dogs and men. Mother Earth planned it all from the beginning: to make men fall in love with these 2 faithful s...

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“Why The Suffering?” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

It was a sunny and beautiful weekend morning. The kind of weather that suits this kind of lovely towns where things and traditions remain the same. Everything in the right place! The house’s walls were salmon-colored and decorated exquisitely. The front garden plants were selected carefully to always paint the home’s atmosphere with endless colors. You were also able to see the backyard fruit flowering trees from the 4 points of the compass, what a view! All neighbors envied how the garden was built, perfectly balanced. Outside, some k...

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“Angels Around” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #101

They say we still have heavenly skills for a while after we are born; unfortunately, they don’t last long. This is called “the tragedy of growing up”: as we get old, we lose our heavenly abilities since we tie up ourselves in this world and its physical life. Nevertheless, God’s deeds surround us, it is all up to us if we see His deeds as blessings or as curses… My parents used to consider themselves “modern” citizens. Among many other modern ways of thinking, God was an old fashion creature who was required to be extinct (humans ...

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“"My job interview went well..."” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #97

Even though the hall was decorated with expensive and exquisite taste, it was a cold shelter. I guess warmth comes with the atmosphere, not with the place; it’s like living in a mansion, but not a home. All job applicants were quiet and counting seconds while looking at either the detailed ceiling or their polished shoes. A job interview shouldn’t be like attending a funeral but an opportunity to meet people. I guess it’s like shopping at the local market, going to school, attending church, or walking your dog. Everyone was anxious but on...

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“Snowy Memories” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #96

Tom’s digital alarm clock radio went off due to a this-early-morning car accident that he didn’t know about. Tom was working late at home last night (he couldn’t finish some documentation at work); consequently, he went to bed feeling extremely exhausted. A fearless driver stupidly challenged Nature and ended up crashing his car against a utility pole; as a result, its power transformer simply exploded. Tom’s deep sleep didn’t allow him to hear all the skirmish caused by this collision: some curious neighbors having theories about it an...

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“I'll See You Next Week, Darling” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #81

The first beams of the rising sun guide him. Step by step he goes; walking slowly, no rush. He’s contemplating the spring greenest grass like the perfect carpet; the new shapes of the trees that invite their friends (birds and squirrels) to come back and to stay; the colors of the new flowers whose natural perfumes call colorful butterflies and fast hummingbirds to have their best banquet. His moderate walking allows him to watch everything in slow motion, to genuinely notice and appreciate this world’s details.This early morning, Carlo...

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“Eve's Saturday Morning” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #80

“Are you awake, sweetheart?”“Yes, mom… I am”, Eve said and then she yawned. A nine-year-old child doesn’t have much to worry about, does she? Children’s work is playing and enjoying life; however, helping at home is a plus. And Eve knows it! (hard work will never hurt any kid)Eve belongs to a loving family. They have worked in their workshop and store, for generations. Commerce has always been a good friend of them. They are not rich people but prosperous ones. It’s the result of hard work which, by the way, has given them a great reput...

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Author bio

A Costa Rican teacher who loves literature and outdoor activities. Something about my writing? Well, every story is alive and has its own personality and needs; however, as their author, I don't want my short stories to be only a parade of beautiful words but a good story to tell. I hope I can accomplish that goal.