Jess Wood

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2019

Stories (10)

10 Stories

152 karma pts

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“Real People” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #53

Gooey ice cascaded over Sam’s hand faster than she could lick it. The taste of childhood burst into her mouth and for a second, she held it before her, admiring the bright, innocent joy in the sunset colours of the rocket lolly. Back when she had dreamed of being an astronaut, a diver, anything she wanted. An icy drop splashed against her skin, shaking her out of the daze and returning her to Ali’s back garden, across from the friends she hadn’t seen in years. ‘What will you write about?’ Courtney was asking, tucking her thick curls b...

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“Intoxication” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #52

For the first time in months, everything was fine, but I couldn’t ignore the doubts in the back of my mind. I shook my head as I carried the last box into the living room where Dylan was already setting up his Xbox. ‘We’ve lived here for all of ten minutes, I can’t believe you’re already on that, Baby Bro.’ ‘I told you to stop calling me that,’ he complained but he didn’t stop smiling. His joy was infectious. With a matching, uncontainable smile, I set about moving items to the right rooms. For months I could only visit Dylan at the orphan...

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“Fast Space Dirt” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #51

‘Nova. Of Latin origin, meaning ‘a new star’.’ Bea read out, her face shining under the light of her phone as she scrolled through the search results. ‘Welcome to having an astronomer as a father…’ Nova replied from beside her, staring up at the glowing stars above which had become so familiar to her. ‘What’s your name mean?’ Bea typed quickly and scanned the page. ‘’Derived from Latin, she who brings happiness.’ Is that true?’ She asked, poking Nova playfully. ‘I guess I’ll have to say yes then, since you’re right here…’ Nova teased. Bea s...

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“Lemonade” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #50

He had been enclosed in the wooden hideout so long, he could barely even remember how he got there. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a clouded memory lingered, like a storm cloud. He tried to ignore it but the more he fought to avoid it, the larger it grew, looping in his mind like some eternal nightmare. He had run through the grass and kicked at flowers. He had jumped around, flattening leaves and cracking branches beneath the soles of his trainers. When his friends arrived, they filled water guns until they spilled all over the floor a...

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“She” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #49

I threw the door open loudly but the sound was drowned amidst the buzz of dozens of kids getting ready to go home even though the bell wouldn’t ring for at least ten minutes. I saw her sitting in her usual seat and immediately felt calmer. With a dramatic flair, I slumped into the chair beside her, throwing an arm around her carelessly. ‘Tough lesson?’ She laughed. I pushed a stack of papers onto the table with exaggerated malice. ‘Another pack of practice tests and two essays. It’s gonna be a fun weekend!’ I cry and bury my face in her sh...

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“Our Hands” by Jess Wood

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #24

It’s hard to say when I first noticed, but it must have been there, always. It must have watched when I was first brought home, swaddled in blankets, when our parents got together and left us lying side by side in the cot. It was there as we cried and as we laughed; as we took our first steps. It was there when I pulled on my welly boots, yellow with duck faces, yours red like the fallen leaves, and we ran outside to jump in as many puddles as we could find. We streaked mud on our faces like war paint and played until you had to go home, the...

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“Thaw” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #23

I stared intently at the snowflake which had just landed on the car window. It glinted in the hazy light. Its uniqueness gave it a special kind of beauty. Even as I watched it began to blur around the edges, shrinking into a tear drop which tracked the window and became lost amongst the hordes of others. One was beautiful but millions, trillions of them, at the will of the merciless winds, was the opposite. What should so easily melt away had become a barrier, freezing not only the air but the seconds themselves. All the cars were stuck in g...

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“Nectar” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #22

I hate New Years Eve. I hate the crowds and the noise and the pretending everything will be different next year just because one number has changed in the date my laptop displays at me every day. It’s a lie. Nothing is going to miraculously transform me between now and midnight that will suddenly make next year worth living. And here I am, in the worst place I can imagine on the busiest day of the year: London. People are yelling and jostling as I try to push through the throngs. Such proximity and effort is stifling and I can feel the sweat...

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“Last Christmas” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #21

The emptiness he had placed in his pocket weighed his jacket down with untold heaviness. His weathered hands reached and fumbled subconsciously with the material, paralleling his mind which he couldn’t drag away from the things he would rather forget.Just for tonight. He would ignore everything just for one last night.The innkeeper placed his hands on the worn oak counter that stretched wall to wall. Candles on each table emitted a warm glow which couldn’t stretch to the bar, although it tried. Tinsel and bells and lights adorned the walls a...

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“Home” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #20

Even though I had walked the route a hundred times before, the blinding force of the snow storm made me question each step. ‘You should just apply. They’d be lucky to have you, there’s no way they’d turn you down!’ Ellie fought to be heard over the storm. The dislocated quality of her voice was disconcerting, emerging - muffled - from beneath layers of knitted insulation. ‘There’s no way they would want me!’ I yelled back, almost laughing at the extent of her naivety. ‘Besides, I’m not even sure that’s really what I want to do.’Ellie frowned...

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Author bio

Eternally working on a novel ✌🏻

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #24
Our Hands – read story