James Alcivar

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2020

Stories (8)

8 Stories

164 karma pts

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“Belen” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #98

She stopped under the shade of a tree. The light filtered through the leaves into the car as she looked out onto the familiar road. Belen rolled down the window trying to get fresh air. The wind lifted the dead leaves onto the windshield. She did not feel well. The road was empty, and she was alone. She waited for a car to drive by or someone to cross the street. No one came. Belen had five children. Four of them left her as soon as they were old enough to work. Only one of them finished school. They didn’t speak to her anymore now that t...

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“Of Course I love you” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #94

The bedroom was dimly lit by the light shining through the half-open closet door. She confessed she never liked to have the lights on during sex. She felt exposed, too seen. He loved seeing her body in the light, her curves, her dark skin glistening with sweat, but he relented to her desire just as she did to his. They made love in the dark. When it was over, they collapsed opposite each other, exhausted, breathing heavily, giving each other sly looks, amazed at what they’d done and felt. He picked her up and put her head on his chest stroke...

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“Hamsa” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #62

Mama was a superstitious woman. She hung the dreamcatcher with the bristling white feathers above her bed, and her wooden bedstands were brimming with opalescent stones brought by mysterious vendors to ward off the pernicious spirits, the entry ways were lined with salt, horse shoes were hung on nails, and in the center of her room was the Hamsa, the evil eye watching over her. Despite all her protective symbols, Mama was never content, she always needed more. Mama loved to say she knew the future, specifically my future. I remember days i...

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“The Tree and the Seed” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #61

Trigger warning: mention of child abuse It was a well-kept cemetery. The grass was cut evenly, the flowers arranged with tender care, the wooden casket polished to a shine, and there was Henry’s father, Robert, eyes closed, serene and resting. He died of lung cancer. Strangers gave Henry their deepest sympathies as they streamed into their seats. “He was a good man”, said one. “I’m sorry for your loss”, said another. Henry was straight-faced, nodding severely, clenching his jaw for the full effect. The doctors told Robert he was termi...

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“The Gifts That Were Taken” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #57

In cold and reckless dreams, I wandered, searching for the old spirit – he who comes in the night. Twisting and turning through fallen branches I came to a grove where a great and resplendent light emanated. This voracious light spoke to me and said, “You have searched for me and your quest is done. At the rising of the sun and the morning prayers echoing through the woods, the birds will sing their song under a gentle brittle rain, so too, like the transient rain will you fall and be buried in the Earth. Worry not, kind soul, just as the r...

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“The Banana House” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #56

It was three in the morning and I was wildly drunk. The music shut off, the lights came on, and the dancing ended. The people started walking in droves out of the place, wondering where to go next. The last people left at the bar were either too drunk to know it was time to go home or desperate to see if by some miracle they’d end up with someone to come home with. I was still trying to decide which of the two I was. Coming out of the place I saw a couple that met earlier. They tripped and fell on the concrete, laughing too loudly, convince...

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“Untitled” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #53

August 4th 10: 27 PM It all happened a few minutes ago. I was sitting at my desk when he came into the room. He knocked on the open door, letting me know he was coming in and leaned his shoulder on the door frame. His gut was bulging out of his shirt as he bent at an angle. Dangling in his hand was a glass of old par and ginger ale, but it was mostly watered down at that point. His eyes looked tired and he kept staring at the window behind me. I was sure that wasn’t his first drink. “What’s up, Dad?”, I said He pushed himself off the doorf...

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“The Ten Thousand Doors” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #49

He awoke, as if from a dream. His mind was foggy and lethargic. But like a jolt of electricity, everything came flowing back, and he remembered who he was. “My name is Henry”, he spoke. “And I was born on Earth in 1993” Here, he felt weightless. It was the vast vacuum of space and so, he floated, completely still. Suspended in the dark ether, was the simple wooden door. The door frame glowed a white luminescence. He found himself gravitating, pulled, towards it, reaching out for the handle. Every fiber of his body drawn to the door. He twist...

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Author bio

The world was once still and gray. A boy wandering in the woods found a leather bound book, dusty and worn. The curious youth opened the front cover with his feasting eyes when a beam of light burst through book and gave the boy glasses to see the world. The leaves turned yellow and pink, the ground erupted into a sea of green and the brilliant blue sky filled the boy with wonder. So it goes, words gave the world meaning. I am a Latin American writer charmed by the world of stories.