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Joyce Schook

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (30)

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37 Followers

2 Following

30 Stories

506 karma pts

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The Fall

Joyce Schook

When your stomach hurts truly hurts from lack of food you'd be surprised what you'd do. Layla gets to her feet than yanks the blanket away from the side of the couch. Her younger sister April is still sound asleep on the other end of the couch. Layla yawns. She heads into the narrow kitchen which is directly across from the living room.The microwave clock reads 6:15 but its blinking. Layla passes it on her way to the sink. She wonders if the power went off while they were sleeping or if her Mom stopped billing the bill. Layla is sickening by...

0 likes

Out of Time

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #305

Not knowing how this ends well that's a chance I'm willing to take. I keep thinking tonight is my last night on earth. The fear is unreal. Never have I experienced so much dread. I run and I run until it feels like my legs will buckle underneath me. My heart beat is so loud that it drowns out everything else. I'm going to die, I accept that now. Its not an easy conclusion to come to but I'm out of time and out of luck. I cant seem to lose them no matter how fast or how far I've come.Again I'm hiding behind another tall stockade fence. The th...

6 likes

The House on West Shore Road

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #300

Trigger warning: mention of death and suicide. Violence and grief.We drove passed it at least once a month. It was in serious need of TLC. The house on West Shore Road had remained empty for a decade. I remember trying to understand why a house that could be in such an amazing neighborhood plus a house that was once beautiful and charming could remain empty for so long. One night just after I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher, my husband rushed into the room and he looked like he was about to burst with excitement."Ok, tell me why you ha...

6 likes

Five More Minutes

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #297

I don't dream about you anymore. I used to every single night. The house was too dark when I would wake but was impossible to fall back to sleep. There's a gaping hole inside my heart. Its been there since the day you went away.***July 17th is still the hardest day of the year for me. And as it draws near again, I try to imagine another year without you. So much has changed. Your Dad and I are no longer together. He couldn't bear to see me suffer from the unimageable grief of losing you. He moved out a few months after your accident, leaving...

5 likes

Not Who She Appears To Be

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #295

We met on the first day of school. She had red hair. Not scarlet or crimson but strawberry blonde that looked beautiful whenever the sun would hit it just right. My daughter Cassie was super emotional about being away from me all day and I was trying my hardest to keep her spirits up. I was telling her jokes on the drive to the school. We held hands as we walked together to the building. "You're going to have so much fun and make new friends. And we can have a snack together when you get home."Miranda introduced herself to me while we were s...

5 likes

The Reunion

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #261

Dear Morgan,I just want to express my gratitude to you. Your kindness meant the world to me. You were more than just a great hostess, you were a friend to me. At first I felt out of sorts in your home but you quickly made me feel welcome. I was relaxed and comfortable in no time. I was forever that shy kid who always held her tongue. You gave me permission to be my most authentic self. And I just want you to know it meant a great deal to me. There are still angels on earth, I believe that because I found one in you. I am still trying hard to...

3 likes

A Tale of Two Cities

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #248

I was born in Staten Island, New York. I love where I come from. Some of the best parts about me are because I'm from this city. People say New York is the city that never sleeps and its honestly not far from the truth. There's an energy in New York that you won't find in other cities. As a writer, I have the advantage of living almost anywhere I choose to. It was soon after college that I realized to stay in this city would require me to get a second job if I was to live here comfortably.I knew just about everyone from my old neighborhood. ...

8 likes

A Red Dress and An Easter Egg Hunt

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #244

You never know that one moment will alter your perspective on the life you had before. Once it happens, your in a state of limbo. Unable to move forward and not ready to revisit the past. A past that was merely an illusion in which you were nothing more than a naïve participant.On the Thursday before Easter, Emily had the entire house to herself. This was the weekend her family gathered together for a family reunion and holiday that she hosted each spring. It had turned into a tradition that she always looks forward to. Today Emily woke at s...

5 likes

It Had To Be You

Joyce Schook

"Here we go again." Sophie hears coming from her sons bedroom. She ties the front of her bathrobe before knocking on Ethan's door. She can hear him searching for something under his bed. She grins and knocks again. "Everything ok in there?" "Yeah, Mom! I'm almost done!" Sophie turns the doorknob and slowly slips her head into Ethan's room. "Ok, buddy. I'm going to start breakfast. You have five more minutes." Ethan looks up from the debris on the floor that surrounds him. He pleads with her by a sullen look in his eyes. "No, buddy. Five minu...

1 like

The Book Kate Wrote for Beverly

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #186

Maggie couldn't breathe. The longer she remained trapped inside this confined space the worse it became. Her heart beat louder than it ever had before and Maggie wasn't able to concentrate because it drowned out everything else. There wasn't enough air. Escape was everything. Maggie rolled onto her back and positioned herself so that her legs were higher than her head. She used all her body weight to kick at the object that was currently keeping her prisoner. One, Two, Three powerful blows to the black monster and then one enormous lunge...

15 likes

The Runaway

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #163

Trigger Warning: Contains Domestic Abuse/ mental/verbal abuse.I sit and stare out the window of the train car. There she is. Fall in all her glory. My absolute favorite season. And I have to admit she's even more beautiful in this part of New England. Rich vibrant shades of scarlet, gold, orange and emerald green saturate every strand of landscape. It comforts me to know that as I embark on this journey, the world itself has decided to transform too. It seems fitting that as I change, grow and embrace my dreams mother nature has come along f...

11 likes

Ella Ryan

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #130

I am the first born daughter in a large Irish Catholic family. I'm also the middle child of six. Plus I'm an Irish twin. I know it all sounds a bit confusing but I swear its accurate. I have two older brothers (Shawn and Timothy) plus two younger sisters (Maureen and Kathleen) and Daniel is the youngest or as our mother refers to him her baby. I still find this both strange and amusing especially now, that Danny is twenty three. My family is so much more than a family. We are extremely close and furiously protective of one another. Sundays a...

9 likes

The Speech

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #123

Deanna felt her stomach drop at the mention of her speech. It was less than a week away now, though she had practiced in front of her mom, step dad and younger brother, she was in no shape to deliver such a powerful message to the class of 2020. This morning Deanna ate, showered and returned to her bedroom. She lifted the yellow folder off her dresser. Walked to the full length mirror which hung on the back of her closet door. Deanna opened the folder, took out the speech and started to read a loud. " I want to begin by letting everyone here...

9 likes

Voices In Her Head

Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #119

Listen...It was two am. The house was quiet. Emma padded down the stairs then checked every window and door on the first floor. She saw the alarm had been activated (by Robert) and let out a sigh of relief.Then she pulled her terry cloth robe tighter before making her way back upstairs.Emma had just gotten back under the down comforter when she heard it again.Listen...Emma shut her eyes tight and placed her hands over both ears. I have to get some sleep tonight. She thought to herself.Why was this happening again?***Twenty five minutes later...

12 likes

Leaves of Change

Joyce Schook

I took my usual walk at nine am. I thoroughly enjoy this alone time. The weather has been so mild for this time of year and I intend to take full advantage of it. I inhale deeply. Fall is my absolute favorite season. Its not too hot and not too cold but just perfect. Everything is so vibrant all around me. I just take it all in. In just a few short weeks the trees will be bare and winter will have its hold on us.I make my way down Lexington and then turn right on Concord. The grass is still damp with morning dew. A woman pushing an umbrella ...

1 like