Kate Simkins

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2024

Stories (19)

19 Stories

915 karma pts

?

“The Sailor & The Sea” by Kate Simkins

Submitted to Contest #269

The woman in the mist, will sing your name to thee,you’ll follow and be gone,if you find the Mirror-Sea.Her voice will call you in, but home, you’ll never be,if you follow the Siren’s Song,into the Mirror-Sea.If you go with her below,you will never be free,because you were already lost,when you found the Mirror-Sea.So listen to this well,it’s the last I can say to thee,beware the Siren’s Song,if you find the Mirror-Sea.Sea Shanty, circa 1793.I held it in my hand, reverently.A compass.A simple, thing, really. For a sailor, especially. I must ...

8 comments 8
Read story

“The Cost” by Kate Simkins

Submitted to Contest #268

The day came that he had to start again, from the very beginning.“Lucifer?” A gentle voice spoke, a kindness in the dark.His eyes opened before he felt it; the great gnawing emptiness. It should have been full; of life, of light, the joy of peace eternal. But it was gone.“Where am I? Assie, where are we?” Lucifer’s voice was panicked, uncertain, reaching for Asmodeus’ hand. He found it, waiting, as it always was.“You’re out, Luce. We are all out.”Lucifer looked at him for the first time, eyes adjusting to the pre-dawn light. “Out?” He whispe...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Mirror She-Me” by Kate Simkins

Submitted to Contest #268

I first saw her in the mirror.Me, but not-me.Same, but not-same.Beginning, flashes, something caught in the corner of my eye. Turning and then just seeing. Myself. Normal. Shrugging. The woman in the mirror responding as she should.But then, stopping. Her own movements. No denying her presence.There were differences; hair length and colour, not-same.And similarities; eyes, same. Expression when scared witless, same.She can’t talk to me. She is frustrated. She can’t hear me. More frustration.I write a note, scribbled on the back of a supermar...

5 comments 5
Read story

“The Glade” by Kate Simkins

Submitted to Contest #267

Meg wept. There was no sighing, or gentle tears sliding down her face in a picturesque way. Not this time. Meg sobbed and wailed until her eyes were raw and her throat was hoarse.People skirted around where she had collapsed onto the edge of the street. The busy bustle of a workday lunch all around her, Meg was oblivious to everything but her sorrow. Feeling as though her heart would burst, she eventually ran out of tears.There was one person who had sat near Meg during the hours of her sustained anguish. This was a small boy, barely tall en...

7 comments 7
Read story

Author bio

I'm a mother, writer, poet, daughter, almost-wife, step-mum, and many other things! I've had my first children's story accepted for publication and I am self-publishing another book that will be released in Early April 2025. Find out more about me and my writing at: www.kate-simkins.com Update: Also happy to be a new Reedsy Judge!

Winning 1 story 🏆

Contest #271
The Bench – read story