Jacob Mathews

“Commitment Issues” by Jacob Mathews

I used to hide Jemiah. Really, I did. I'd sneak her in through the back door and make her wait on the porch until I've checked if my roommates are asleep. Then she'd come in and cuddle me all night long. Asking me questions. Giving me love. That was some of the best sex I ever had. Best head no doubt. But still, I never accepted her for more than someone to keep me good company. And I certainly didn't want my friends to know what kind of company she was keeping me. She was a bigger girl than I was used to and not somebody I ever saw myself w...

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“The Fisherman ” by Jacob Mathews

Generic medieval Europe in a coastal town. Timothy doesn't have much to do but work, eat and shit. He's a fishing boat captain, and one of the most successful in the village. People respect him. Adore him. His joy, however, felt fleeting. Wake up, catch fish, come home, go to sleep. Church and the market were the only deviation, both of which felt more like work than leisure. It was a far cry from his earlier life. Not that he was doing much differently, but things felt new. He was a young man looking for love. Now, he's been with the sa...

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“Say No To Danielle” by Jacob Mathews

Say No To Danielle!-YouWhat a weird thing to scribble on the front page. Not a dick? Not a joke? Not a phone number with 'if you like to have fun;)' written next to it?It's huge lettering but thin lines. The sentence starts in the middle of the page like they didn't have time to move their pen all the way to the left. Why such messy handwriting yet emphasis on importance of the note? I'm questioning how I can read it with the way the letters merge into one another. Then again, it says I wrote it....And the efficiency of the message. Why one ...

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“Colombian Princess ” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #258

The picture was nostalgic. Creases on the corners, faded colors of blue and white, smiles so big you'd think they just got married. I found the old photo of my dad and who I assume was his Colombian girlfriend buried in the attic with a 'don't touch' label on the box. He died a year ago so for the anniversary of his death I decided he no longer had power over the mystery crate. I didn't show mom for obvious reasons, although it looks to be older than their marriage. Dad must've been in his early 20's at the time, and as a man now reaching th...

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“A Gritty Realization” by Jacob Mathews

A girl plays football at her local high school. Everyone hypes her up - her mom, the teachers, some students, local community leaders. They make her feel like a hero for even being on the team. However, she's not satisfied with her play on field. The coaches and players aren't so encouraging. They make it known that she's delusional - she has no business being on the team. While she knows she isn't as good as some of the bets players, she believes she can be. She works out, she trains, she tries really hard to do her best. She doesn't want t...

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“Anger” by Jacob Mathews

The story starts on a train. Our main character looks beyond pissed at something. Everyone else avoids him. He walks to his car angrily and screams as soon as he gets in. Once he gets home, his anger grows. He throws shit, screams, punches the air - it's a look into anger itself and how it unfolds. Eventually the anger turns into sadness, and crying, and then back to anger. He goes through stages of grief and acceptance. All without dialogue. Why is he angry? Will he learn to accept or forgive? In the end, we never find out. All we know is h...

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“Friend for a Friend ” by Jacob Mathews

It's cold outside. Dreadfully cold. That's to be expected in the sleepy town of Wisconsin as December fast approaches. That's why Sam bought his hoodie almost two years ago now. For moments like this.Unfortunately for Sam, he left the white and puffy Adidas hoodie at the worst possible spot - Avery's house.The holidays rolling around aren't bringing warm and cozy vibes for the newly minted ex's. In fact, they're experiencing the down side of the season more so, staying inside at alarming rates and feeling the pressures of loneliness.Sam howe...

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“A New Hope (The Dreadful kind)” by Jacob Mathews

A girl is in despair because her mother is in the hospital. What really tears her apart is the reason. Her mother is a heavy drinker, and has been all her life. Her mother is filled with despair about life, and her chances at happiness. Our main character has fought hard to be the voice of hope in their household. She has a bright future and a chance to make the most of her troubled past. But the past keeps catching up with her. Mom got another DUI when she crashed into a dead end, nearly ending her life. The girl feels like it's time to fi...

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“Microcosm” by Jacob Mathews

Guy with a micro penis gets a job as a porno cameraman. He becomes friends with one of the actors and weaves his way into the friend group. He clearly looks up to these pornstars and talks like he wish he could be one. Eventually they ask him why not and one way or another the truth comes out - he's got a micro penis. He's always been addicted to porn and the idea of sex, obsessed with it, so he worked his way into a group that would make him feel like one of them. That would make him feel like a big dick sex haver. When in fact, he's a litt...

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“Milieus of Intrigue” by Jacob Mathews

It was 3 PM on a Sunday and the humidity was suffocating. To make matters worse, the trees weren't rustling, and the cloud weren't moving. It was a lingering heat, like a controlled fire pit except the fire was the sun and the pit was the entire city. Even the animals were scarcely coming out of the tree shadows, and at noon there was nowhere to hide. Still, I endured my daily walk because it helps me think. That is, if I focus on the right things. Sometimes my obsessive personality guides my journalistic pursuits into milieus of intrig...

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“Part-Time Peace” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #233

Warning: this story has themes of substance abuse and self harm. “Ah-”  Along with the short but tumultuous scream, he jolted up and opened his eyes far too wide for this early in the morning. That nightmare was intense, even by Trevor’s standards. Most mornings, especially away from home, he woke up in a sweat to his own yelp of terror. Like every other time, he responded by leaning up on his hands and staring at his mess of a hotel room in Vegas.  What was different about today was he didn’t lay back down in pain from th...

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“I love Tigers” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #142

Computers, old and new, grab your attention when you walk in. Behind them, 32 rows of knowledge fill the brown and grey concrete/brick building. The boring texture of the walls exuberate the uniqueness of each book. The best ones usually had their plastic coating ripped. They were used and withered. I drug my fingers across the covers waiting for my movement to catch a noticeable imprint. There are always so many. I never know what to choose. I read the descriptions of at least 30 books. I guessed the ending for all of them and assumed I was...

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“Victory in Defeat” by Jacob Mathews

“No more one stars Casey-”                “I got it,” I said walking out of the kitchen. I messed up once and my boss was already on me like white on rice. My keys were twirling around my finger as I whistled my way confidently toward the front door.                “No more one stars Casey,” a coworker said mockingly.             &nbsp...

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“Ending with Satisfaction ” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #102

Jack made sure to let his boss know he was going on a mission through North Africa and the Middle East to preserve peace and provide resources. That was who he was. His boss told him he wasn’t guaranteed a spot when he came back but Jack didn’t care. He’d been saving up for this, so he can make his mark on the world. His wife decided not to come which inevitably ended their relationship. Jack had fought hard for her and their son but this was something he always dreamed of. The moment he arrived in Somalia he placed himself in a homeless she...

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“The King's Meal” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #100

“It’s the best spaghetti there is. My secret recipe. Well technically my great grandmother’s secret recipe but she was hag,” Colin said. Him and his 5 other rich friends gather around for a supper time meal. It’s 5:30, the perfect time for a 40 something rich man or woman to feast and also the perfect time to discuss business. This wasn’t entirely about business however. At least 4 of the 6 friends are under heavy allegations as rich folk are in the 21 century, and even if only one gets convicted it makes them all look bad. “Let’s not g...

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