Katelynn Laird

“Reunion (Part 2)” by Katelynn Laird

(Part 2)I pulled up at Michael’s house at five after six. Trying not to wobble in the four-inch heels I wore, I made my way up to the door and rang the bell. At least in these shoes, Michael wouldn’t dwarf me. Normally, he was almost a foot taller than I was. A guy in kakis and a polo answered the door. Brandon, I assumed. “Hey, I’m Jess. Uh, is Michael here?” “Yeah, hey,” a voice called from behind Brandon. Michael walked up beside him in the doorway. In addition to his tux, he wore shiny black boots and checkered belt. ...

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“The Bedsheet Veil” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #65

The Bedsheet Veil Halloween had always been my favorite time of year. The spooky decorations, dressing up, free candy: I loved it all. Halloween never failed to create that feeling in the air that anything could happen. People reverted to their inner child-at-heart (if they weren’t kids to begin with, anyway). Laughs came more easily. Even getting scared was somehow fun, an adventure. I’d donned a long line of awesome costumes through the years, if I do say so myself, from Ninja Turtle to pirate to zombie-rock star (of course that is a thin...

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“Reunion (Part 1)” by Katelynn Laird

Reunion  Why we were having a five-year reunion I didn’t know. But then again, my high school had never done anything normal. I was actually a little gratified when I got an email from the planning committee. I’d been on the student council and planned all our school’s events back in the day, but I still didn’t expect someone to reach out. Despite a general distain for my high school years, I was excited to plan the reunion. That is, until I found out who headed the committee.  Hailey and I were friends once, maybe even best frie...

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“Jonah's Story” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #55

The scrape of the blade against the cold, metal table sent a shiver up his spine. A pleasant shiver. He’d waited too long since last satiating this primal urge, an itch that never quite left the back of his mind. While once he’d desperately stamped out the life of any small woodland creature, or occasional errant pet, that he could find, Jonah now had his extracurricular activities down to a science. Long had it been since a simple squirrel’s broken neck soothed his itch. Everything had changed when an unlucky serial killer came to town year...

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“Ten Years Later” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #54

     I hadn’t seen Jesse in about ten years. We met back in ninth grade and immediately had a lot in common. We could have been good friends. Instead, he professed his love and I dumped him, only to realize that was the dumbest mistake in my life. Not only had I hurt him and ruined everything between us, but I chose that moment to discover my strong feelings for him. Oh yeah, and somewhere in there, he started dating my former best friend, Rebecca. When we graduated high school and went off to different colleges, com...

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“Memories That Smell Lakey” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #51

The smell of the lake is hard to describe. It permeates the air the minute you step from the car, thick and moist, fresh and murky. Lakey, for lack of a better word. A sense of anticipation grows as we drive through the tunnel of cottages: a long, green canopy of drifting leaves, rows of small, picturesque houses lining either side. We are almost there, transported to what feels like another realm, away from real life. With that first breath, deep and bracing, something down inside me settles, content, at peace. This is the place where a hun...

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“Origin Story?” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #48

The first time I died, obviously I didn’t expect to wake up from it. The car came rushing at me too fast, a blur of screeching sound and cobalt blue metal. I just stood there in the middle of the street, headphones half hanging from my ears, staring death in the face like an idiot. Moving didn’t even occur to me. I don’t remember the impact. No pain either. One second I was crossing the street and the next, nothing. Nothing but darkness, like going to sleep. Like a dream I couldn’t quite recall. And then I opened my eyes. The first thing...

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“Origin Story?” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #48

The first time I died, obviously I didn’t expect to wake up from it. The car came rushing at me too fast, a blur of screeching sound and cobalt blue metal. I just stood there in the middle of the street, headphones half hanging from my ears, staring death in the face like an idiot. Moving didn’t even occur to me. I don’t remember the impact. No pain either. One second I was crossing the street and the next, nothing. Nothing but darkness, like going to sleep. Like a dream I couldn’t quite recall. And then I opened my eyes. The first thing I s...

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