Lori Svensen

“A'mara Winter's Day” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #59

 Eneka put on her thick boots, gloves and heavy cloak before leaving her quarters. She normally liked stable duty, but not today. It reminded her once more how far away she was from her homeland. Stepping outside into the blinding white, she wished she had sunglasses on to help her see her way to the stables. Not that it would matter as her view was obscured in the swirling white surrounding the complex. Her boots crunched as she walked. <How could people live here?> she wondered, as she shivered and hurried up the covered p...

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“Overcoming Terror Together” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #58

 “Hold!” Mila cried out as she ran for the zip-lift at the end of a crazy day that had made her late leaving the high-rise on Irola. “What a day to be late!” “Why?” Judea asked as she joined him. “Do you have some hot date tonight or something?” “Something!” Mila replied, not wanting to tell him that she did have a date with attractive Ton who worked on the floor below them. And now, it was quite likely that she wouldn’t even have time to shower. She should just cancel. She sighed as she pushed the button for the street level, wishi...

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“Death is Not the End” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #52

Waiting for the light in the persistent February drizzle, I rubbed my non-umbrella hand across my swollen tummy, then fingered the jade dragon pendant which always hung around my neck. It would give me the good luck I needed as I approached the hospital for what might be my last appointment before D-day. Except, I didn’t want to induce the twins early. I just wanted to have a natural delivery – at home. The way Geoff and I had always planned when we started our family. I remembered the amazing night we spent together under the stars at the...

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“Moments at Fairy Falls” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #50

 Logan’s hand felt warm around Jill’s as they started up the Fairy Falls trail. As they walked, memories flooded back to the beginning of May – four months ago – when she had finally suggested they go for a hike together. They had been talking about it at work throughout the wet and windy winter, all the places they’d hiked separately. Each boasting over something they had found while on one of the trails. But this one was special because it was the first one they’d done together. Not a particularly strenuous walk, but one of outstand...

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“Althea's Answers” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #49

 Althea fidgeted nervously as she sat in the stella’s waiting room. It would be her turn after the girl who just went in to see the ancient healer. She hoped they wouldn’t be too long. The past week had been almost painful. She could still hardly believe that she had given herself to Mellis that last night at camp. Maybe there’d been something in the nightbrew they drank around the campfire. Something to explain her irrational behavior. Sure, Mellis was extremely handsome, and had focused his attention on her most of the week. Maybe i...

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“Holly's Hero” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #48

 Holly Hunter looked at the shop with trepidation. Her brother had said this was the best place in Bristol to find strange and unusual superhero comic books to add to her collection, but it looked more like an art gallery from the pavement. A drop of rain leaked from the grey sky and hit her nose. Holly shrugged and quickly pushed the door to go inside before the rain let loose again, the bell ringing loudly to let the owner know someone had come in. The display in front of her had the typical common superhero comic books. She alrea...

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“Homecoming” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #47

 Your heart beats quickly as you think about the evening ahead. You couldn’t have planned a better homecoming had you tried. So, it was a complete coincidence that your return coincided with the annual Governor’s Ball, but what better place and time to announce your return to your home town? You have already heard that He is engaged to that brown-nosing over-achiever that you loved to hate during high school. After all, she stayed local, while you gallivanted around the world the past few years. At some point, you managed to convinc...

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“Writing Companions” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #46

 “How’s it going?” I asked as I sat at the computer and gazed at the long-forgotten manuscript. “When you left us, we weren’t doing very well at all, if you remember!” the beautiful woman with the purple cloak replied. “I am stuck on my past, remembering something that happened… only you haven’t told me what yet!” “Sorry, Saraca. Life got ‘busy’ for me. My life turned upside-down. I couldn’t write… Too busy, too stressful.” “You’re not going to abandon me again? Write about something else?” “Not right now. I’m going to finish yo...

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“Circle of Life” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #44

Birds twittered in the trees as the soft sound of the ground grated on the metal shovel. The quiet sobs of two children disturbed only as much as the soft breeze blowing through the trees above them, slightly shaded by the gathering clouds.Jennifer wiped a tear from her eyes, more for the heartbreak of her two daughters rather than the loss of a single pet lasa named Fluffy. They hadn’t even had the animal that long, rescued from the local shelter – like most of their pets – maybe something had been wrong with it from the start. Still, it di...

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“Johnny's NewToy” by Lori Svensen

 Mom must have got into a fight with Dad again, Johnny realized as he crept into the living room to play video games. The room was a mess! She had left a few beer cans around the room, which meant when she finally awoke, she’d be crabby.His tummy growled as he looked at the empty Ben & Jerry’s carton on the end table, next to a strange looking object. Bright pink, he was still drawn to it. Johnny picked it up and examined the strange device.It was made of a rubbery-plastic substance which smoothed and narrowed to a dull point at one...

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“Reading a Butterfly” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #42

 Andriel sighed as she looked out on the crowd outside the tent. Her black cloak weighed heavy on her shoulders today.“No one will come in if you behave like that!” the admonishment came from behind her.Andriel turned and beheld the old woman who had been her constant companion the past three years. The woman looked about 50, but she knew Elora to be at least 120! She had yet to start learning the spells that would keep her from withering in old age.“Not needed for you yet!” the woman had insisted every time Andriel asked to be taught t...

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