Ksenija Rubež

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2022

Stories (19)

19 Stories

392 karma pts

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“Bellis perennis” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #205

People say that one cannot love an animal as they love another person. Unfortunately, one has to experience a loss of life to realize the falsehood of this statement.  The pain is still sharp. As soon as I start thinking of that overwhelming event, an unstoppable wave of hot tears fills my eyes. I never thought that crying could be initiated so easily. Almost effortlessly. I find myself in the most random moments doing the most random of things, reminded of this reality, and I want to sob. I hold back my tears as I write this. He was so...

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“Who wants who dead? ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #203

How can I keep on breathing when all I can concentrate on is not being able to breathe? The rope around my neck tightens. Its rough material peels the skin off my neck. I try to reach her head or any part of her body, just to catch a bit more breath. I cannot reach the candle that I hit the other one with. I can hear her groaning. She is tired as well. My senses grow weaker. If I do not do something, I won't see another day. I remember the small staircase with a tangible height. It is right behind her. She is probably not thinking of th...

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“Sunglasses ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #201

*this story contains some swear words, violent thoughts, a brief description of a one-night stand* I scream out loud. The best of the best. I am on top. Sealed. The belt around my waist. My corner lifts me up in the air. My family in the cage with me. The title unified they say. Not that I ever cared about titles, scores, or records. I was always the champ. Everything about me is champ-like.  I walk back to the locker. People. So many of them. I seem to be sound isolated. I keep my hands raised. Flashes. Constant flashes. I seem to...

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“The purple talking thing” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #198

The morning of the trip. As I brush my teeth, I feel those butterflies in my stomach. The bad ones.  My mother. Buttons up my shirt. Keeps looking me in the eyes. Smiles. Smile of support.  In the car, I look through the window. I try not to think of what is coming. My focus on the trees.  On the parking lot. A few meters away from us the bus. My mother. She talks to someone. She is so tall. Her shadow protects me from the hot sun. I look at her great hand around my tiny hand. My fingers so small and short. Her thumb gently go...

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“The conspiracy ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #194

“We are falling apart since he died!”  “No! We started falling apart on the day when he started marrying foreign consorts! His wife had more power and influence than the grand vizier! (Persian: head of government)” “Well, that is one of the reasons!”  “No! THAT IS THE REASON! What did he think would happen? Before she died, she managed to get rid of everyone who would threaten the safety of her children, including the rightful heir to the throne! Then, the worthy children that she had all perished. One via suicide, one via executio...

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“Đurađ's perfect day” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #188

Rain. Around eight in the morning. It was a four-day work week, and now it was time for the three-day weekend. How can such a day go wrong? Universe, you have an impossible task ahead of yourself, Đurađ thought to himself with a smirk.  Rolling around in his bed lazily, he stuffed his head back into the pillow multiple times. Finally, the day had come when he had the opportunity to get up whenever and be irresponsible. Excited, he could not stop thinking about the upcoming day. Since he got the new job, he never got the opportunity to ...

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“Prostration, astronomy, and a black cat” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #187

The prostration (Arabic: sajdah or sujud) is thought to be the most important part of the Muslim prayer. According to the prophet Muhammad, one is nearest to God during prostration. The noblest parts of one’s body are touching the ground, signifying utmost submission and humility in front of God. For some, it is also the most therapeutic part of the entire prayer.  So, it was for Salma. She would find herself meditating in that pose, in a sort of ecstasy of repeating the Arabic words Subhana Rabbi Al Ala (Glory be to my Lord, the Most E...

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“Treason” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #186

“He keeps gesturing at her, my lady”  “As if, his loud whispering is not enough. Is she responding in any way?”  “She is ignoring him. He will become desperate again” “What do you think he will do, Charlotte?”  “He might make a scene, my lady” “Your voice is unsure, Charlotte. What do you really think he will do?” “He will become drunk, then he will start blabbering nonsense, and finally he will get into a fight. Yet again” “Let it out all out Charlotte. Steady your breath. You know how much I value your insight. Describe the ...

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“Rivalry of the colors ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #184

He laughs out loud. Ha ha ha.  The main magazine of Purplelandia never failed to make him laugh. Articles, columns, or short stories written by talented writers of Purplelandia would find themselves in the mother of all magazines of this purple planet, named Landia. This was issue 8888. Purplelandia was known for its genius writing skills. Reading and writing were the most respected skills a citizen of Purplelandia could develop. Each Purplelandish child is trained in the skills of reading, to the point that it can read at least one boo...

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“Marwa and Sukayna ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #183

“How about we invest the money intended for Green Owl into building the architecture for our writing hub?” “No. We should use the space that we already have for a smaller scale presentation of our idea, and then if the investors like it, then we start investing more money” Sukayna – who was her only interlocutor in a meeting of twelve people – flipped the pen through her fingers, and gave a sarcastic smile to Marwa’s reply. Managing not to throw the pen right between her eyes, Sukayna says “Our project involves a lot of people...

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“Diana Princess of Themyscira, Clark Kent, and Batman” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #182

Sunday. Afternoon. She was immersed in And Quiet Flows the Don. She did not mind the lengthy Russian classics, overwhelmed with the never-ending tragedy.  It was snowing outside. She had a coffee cup on her nightstand, which was already half empty. The thought of making more of it brought a smile to her face. The comfort of her pajamas, the softness of her bed, the — The alarm goes off. This shit again. The alarm system going off was a weekly, sometimes daily occasion. She always forgot to call someone to fix it.  Checking the came...

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“Supertramp Cabin ” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #181

Leaving the van, the headache would not stop. It all started this morning during his last running session in the city. He had to crouch, in order to try and regain his balance and clearness of sight. The pain was similar as if someone had put something around his head and was squeezing his skull to the inside.  The headaches were common since he quit drinking, among other things. They would just pop up anytime and anywhere.  When nausea and the unbearable wave of pain had passed, he got up. Out of his pocket, he took out a terribly...

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“8, 4, 10, 2” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #180

Entering this place, she realized it smelled of smoke.  For a country where smoking was frowned upon, and you could not find a public space, indoor or outdoor, to smoke at, this came as a shock. The smell was stained, it was that smell of a room that was smoked a lot in, but no one ever vented it. She spread her nostrils in disgust upon realizing, besides the stained smell, how filthy this place actually was. Chewing gums and food crumbs were now embroidered into the carpets over which everyone was walking. It would not have been so dir...

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“French pastries, gymnastics, a cat, and cigarettes” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #179

Opening the friend group chat, he sees a pinned video. He plays it.  The video shows him, and his friends – with whom he was about to celebrate New Year – all drunk making New Year’s resolutions. He starts cringing and remembers the pledge that they made last year. Fuck! He slams the table.  In the video, he says “So I will get a beautiful black cat, then, I will learn to do a headstand, I will learn how to cook croissants, and I will get rid of shitty people in my life”  “But…” The drunk voice of the cameraman protested by sa...

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“Tum” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #178

Tom yet again came in a costume.  Tom wore a suit printed with images of his cats, and this time it had one more cat than the previous year. Nothing about his behavior throughout the year would give away that he had any whiff of personality, but once that end-of-the-year party would arrive, he would roll up in some sort of cat-themed costume, or in this case, suit.  At least cats are ritually clean, if anything, Majid pondered, while staring at that costume. He remembers when he attended the first party here, he was utterly sh...

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Author bio

I like coffee. I like books. I like reading, and occasionally, writing.