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Lydi B

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2020

Stories (22)
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54 Followers
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22 Stories

568 karma pts

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Drifting Through Powder

Submitted to Contest #189

While the rest of the winter sports enthusiasts shuffle toward the mountain’s base, I crunch my boots in the opposite direction. He won’t follow me after our little spat, not with five inches of fresh powder on the slopes. The morning’s first tracks are too important to him. A bus rolls by, pebbles crunching under the tires. The outside racks hold over a dozen sets of skis and snowboards. While the bus slows, brakes squeaking, I continue to put distance between myself and the buzzing energy near the mountain. A quarter-size snowflake drifts ...

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An Echoing Bark

Shortlisted for Contest #129 ⭐️

When the frigid stranger entered my inn, the thump of snow-dusted paws swallowed our greetings. The patchy tan and white coat barreling toward me could belong to only one canine: my precious Dublin.“Burns, come’ere,” the man shouted from the door, but I was transfixed. I dropped to my knees, accepting enthusiastic tongue slaps on my face.Those familiar snorts took me out of the hearth-warmed great room and hurtled me back two years ago. The last time I saw Dublin, he was running for his life…“Sorry, ma’am,” the man said, pulling “his” dog an...

31 likes 26 comments 26
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Boyshort Dissonance

Submitted to Contest #123

To the tune of buttons and zippers tumbling in dryers, I typed an irresistible message into my phone screen.Me: He just shoved his jeans in washer number 6As expected, my bestie’s reply buzzed less than a minute later.Brandi: Whaaat??? Better not be screwing with me, FlissI grinned as he pushed the button to start his load. Turning my back, I snapped a picture of him through my armpit. My flowy sleeve and long ginger waves obstructed half the shot, but Mr. Slim-Dark-And-Toned was discernible enough. I sent the image.Brandi: OMG Keep. Him. Th...

6 likes 4 comments 4
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Owning His Portion

Submitted to Contest #121

“Thanks a lot,” Nadia said in her squeaky cartoon character voice. “This lovely spread wouldn’t be so grand without all your contributions.” Or my dad’s mansion surrounding it all, you shrew. Nadia’s silicone smile froze halfway across her cheeks as she gestured toward our brimming table. My dad nodded and kissed her cheek, forcing me to suppress my gag reflex. All twelve of us—several of whom should not be present—sat down to Thanksgiving dinner. Plates and silverware clinked as dishes of sweet and savory offerings paraded around the tab...

9 likes 4 comments 4
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Miles of Looping Change

Submitted to Contest #118

Today’s the day I change. I need a shift in my current path, and I’m running out of time. She’s jogging around the corner through a curtain of drifting oak leaves. In a few seconds, our eyes will meet. Our time together plays through vibrant flashes of memories. *** When I forced my aching knees onto the park trail that morning, I didn’t know I would pick up a passenger. A sweet voice called to me, just as I rounded the fountain. I turned to the young woman filing in beside me. I had seen her many times, walking the mile loop just like...

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Tech Dump

Submitted to Contest #82

««« Warning: Language, sexual innuendo »»»I was awakened by a wailing alarm. My dream fingers had been on a course for that lacy bra strap. In reality, I’m lying alone and groggy with my nethers as stiff as a vintage joystick. The alarm quieted. I glared at the helicopter gadget hovering above my bed. It’s the size of a golf ball and rooted into my brain through a transmitter chip in my left temple—my ZeeBudd, Charli.What’s a ZeeBudd? Wow, you must either be someone who kills and cooks their own food or old enough to remember tapping a ...

9 likes 3 comments 3
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Flawed Expectations

Submitted to Contest #81

“I'm sorry...for the last two weeks.”My statement filled Terri’s entryway like a whistle through an empty office.Terri drew a breath he meant to form into words. None came. As our counselor had suggested, he was slowing down to run his thoughts through a kindness filter. I loved Terri's unique ability to set pride aside and act on another’s advice. Humility conflicts with American culture's current interpretation of “have it all—now”.My new decision conflicts even more.When Terri was able to keep his voice even, he said, "You ghost on me and...

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Seconds to Discourse

Submitted to Contest #74

“I saw her. Getting in your car!”My eyes and blue-inked pen formed a frantic partnership to solidify every nuance of the situation into my worn notebook. Snowboarder’s posture as he leaned over the bar with palms flat on the surface. The tips of Employee’s fingers working around the rim of a glass. This was exactly the sort of scenario that often drew me to local spots before dawn. While most sane individuals snoozed through the subzero temperatures blowing through the valley, insomnia and my passion for writing compelled me to hunker d...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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Pleasant Company

Submitted to Contest #73

Aunt Rowena’s stooped but ever-imposing shadow lingered at Tessa’s back. The elderly woman’s weak vision followed her niece’s every motion: adding another plop of golden mashed potatoes to her plate, taking a sip of champagne, then tilting her head to smile through the previous spiteful commentary. Rowena slammed the end of her cane against the pink quartz floor. Having purposely missed the immaculate runner rug, the resulting crack reverberated off the high ceiling and bounced between the walls and tall, pristine windows. The twel...

7 likes 2 comments 2
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Cherry Ginger

Submitted to Contest #71

As soon as I spied that gradual motion of her contracting jaw, I knew Cherri was unimpressed. The flavors of the sample-size bourbon chocolate chunk cookie—the claim to fame of the newest local bakery—still moved about her mouth, but her slanted brow meant impending bombardment.Cherri hummed and leaned over the display case, on her tiptoes for maximum emphasis. “Not bad, but I could probably make better. Too sweet. Not enough chocolate chunks.”Deborah, the wrinkled and corpulent owner, shot earnest eyes straight back into Cherri’s. The women...

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Humble Endings

Submitted to Contest #70

A smile pushed through my somber expression upon sight of the image. Displayed on my monitor was a photo of two men, one of which I used to know in much younger form. The crinkles of thirties scrunched their eyes into the most genuine exuberance as they held up two fish of varying sizes. The caption read: Bram’s is bigger. Bram. Was that the name of the man he had chosen? Had he found his joy in the aftermath of what may have been the most traumatic event in his life? For nearly two decades, I had hoped and prayed for happiness for my dear,...

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Sometimes Treats

Submitted to Contest #69

I was awakened from a most tantalizing dream by an exciting indication through my nose.  Food. Specifically, the quintessential sometimes treat. My favorite thing! Where? Everywhere. In that room? I raced and skidded to a stop on the slick floor.  Yes! It’s here. I lift my nose for a lengthy whiff, several snorts following. Alpha stood by the tall surface, creating all manner of clunk noises. Whatever odd aroma she produced was nothing in comparison to what permeated the very air. It was all around, teasing and encompassing all my ...

9 likes 8 comments 8
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A Ballsy Proposition

Shortlisted for Contest #68 ⭐️

"What if I shared my most condemning secret?" Annette lifted her eyes from the dessert menu to meet those of her equally as decadent date. Ray had tapped into the essential plot element of intrigue with that line. His countenance had grown rigid, the humor of their previous conversation long gone from his otherwise glorious gaze. Every time she concentrated on those deep blue orbs, she felt a mixture of elation and enough jitters to about send her rocketing for the nearest toilet. Anxiety always made her nauseous. If she were a character i...

25 likes 14 comments 14
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A Quest Among Gnats

Submitted to Contest #67

Slap.Another gnat’s buzzing had ceased, though a swarm of them flitted to pick at each wanderer’s eyes. Shwick.Bruggs smeared the remains of the miniature corpse into his prickly, sweat-drenched jawline. Beside him, Jekkis swung his machete in a downward arc to clear an oversized leaf flung back at them by their leader’s progress.Both men eyed the slight woman five paces ahead. The mauve feather in her hat proudly waved atop a waterfall of curly black hair; a mask meant to coerce them to carelessness. It wasn’t the flintlock pistol at o...

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Blind Boldness

Submitted to Contest #66

The message on Marten’s phone marked the point of no return. “Sure. Come by around 1.”A single obstacle with an indeterminate expiration date was the only hindrance to Marten’s success. He was well aware most people dreamed of fancy things or fame. For him, a dream with two parts was in reach, and he planned to embrace both. After that? Well, he doubted he would care. He couldn’t see over this hill, but after twenty-four years of life, the top was in sight. The thrill of it brought beads of sweat to his brow. Marten emerged from hi...

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