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Kaya Atkins

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

Stories (6)

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3 Followers

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6 Stories

142 karma pts

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Vice Versa

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #105

ANGIE: The sun seeped down until hidden behind the horizon. I walked inside to turn the television on and switched to the news. The bottom headline read “CAUTION: New disease found in flies causes a ‘zombie’ like state. Spreads through bodily fluids. Wash your hands often, do not touch any part of the face.” I pause and rewound the television. After rereading what must have been ten times, the phone rang. It was my friend, Caroline. “What is going on?” I asked her as I picked up the phone. “That’s what I was calling you about. Ye...

14 likes

Bystander

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #102

Another new neighbor arrives. The previous neighbors only stayed six months and left without a word. I should invite them to the barbecue tomorrow. I walk over to the two-story maroon house. With the sun at its highest point in the sky, the flowers under the second-story window were fully lit. Bruno nudges my hand and I focus on walking again. I stroke her white head as she trots next to me. As I near, I can’t see anyone besides the hired We-Haul workers. Instead of stopping and offering to help, I act as if I’m going on a walk. ...

6 likes

Cry in the Woods

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #99

I slowly unzipped the tent window to peer outside. It was too dark to see anything. “Annie?” “You heard it, too?” she whispered. My friend Annie and I went camping for the weekend, a summer ritual that we’ve done for several years. After the sudden death of Annie’s father, she refused to talk to anyone but me. After being diagnosed with depression, she adopted a service dog named Charlie, a now eight-year-old Belgian Malinois. “Was it Charlie?” I breathed. “No, she’s right here, but I think she heard it too.” We both s...

22 likes

Vice Versa

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #98

ANGIE: The setting sun made the forget-me-knots look as if they were glowing. The sun seeped down until hidden behind the horizon. I walked inside to turn the television on and switched to the news. The bottom headline read “CAUTION: New disease found in flies causes a ‘zombie’ like state. Spreads through bodily fluids. Wash your hands often, do not touch any part of the face.” I pause and rewound the television. After rereading what must have been ten times, the phone rang. It was my friend, Caroline. “What is going on?” I asked...

13 likes

Cry In the Woods

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #97

I slowly unzipped the tent window to peer outside. It was too dark to see anything. “Annie?” “You heard it, too?” she whispered. My friend Annie and I went camping for the weekend, a summer ritual that we’ve done for seven years. After the sudden death of Annie’s father, she refused to talk to anyone but me. After being diagnosed with depression, she adopted a service dog named Charlie, a now eight-year-old Belgian Malinois. “Was it Charlie?” I breathed. “No, she’s right here, but I think she heard it too.” We both sat...

12 likes

Help

Kaya Atkins

Submitted to Contest #92

C/W: Abuse, anxiety Ringo shakes, his tag jingling against the leash clip. As I'm walking to the second-to-last class of the day, some kid bumps into me. My bruises ache under my sweatshirt and jeans as I shuffle sideways, my anxiety levels rising. Ringo looks up at me, the bright afternoon light shining on his dark fur. I keep walking, struggling as I try to maneuver around the oblivious students in the hallway. I stop and move against the wall, agitated by their carelessness. Finally, after the halls clear, I sit down against ...

11 likes