Mara Rouge

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2023

Stories (17)

17 Stories

287 karma pts

?

“A close call ” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #249

A bird kept singing at my window. As I listened to its sweet sound, I slowly opened my eyes to realize that the sun was already out. Well, it had been out! It was nearly 8 o’clock. My alarm did not go off. I was certain I had set it the night before. I knew this, for sure. I had organized my tote, selected, and arranged my clothes, hung them in the closet, and polished my shoes. Setting the alarm was the last step before turning off the light. This was my routine.“Something must have gone wrong, then,” I thought for a moment. I glance to the...

Read story

“Viral Brew: A Tale of Friendship, Fame, and a Misunderstood Moment” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #244

Alex and Sam’s friendship began on their very first day of kindergarten, right outside their new classroom. Sam was struggling with her emotions after her mother had left, her tears flowing freely. That's when Alex, a fellow classmate, approached her with a kind gesture. He rummaged through his backpack and produced a handkerchief, offering it to her with a gentle nudge. “Here,” he said softly. “Take this to dry your tears. I’m feeling a bit scared too, you know,” he confessed to Sam in a hushed tone. The girl with fiery red hair and striki...

Read story

“Two Can Play The Game” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #241

The car idled at the stop sign, and the engine's low hum was a stark contrast to the silence that had settled between the two passengers. Vanessa disrupted the quiet moment with a sudden burst, out of nowhere, “Fire him. We should not renew his contract. You, WE, need another sitter. He is great, but... I think he will be best elsewhere, with another family, not with us.” “Wait. What? I don’t get it. Everybody loves him. The kids, me. I even thought you did too. Kids are happy. You are happy, at least up until now. I get more me time. What’s...

Read story

“The Company We Keep” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #239

At night, Granny’s house hid all kinds of wonderful and whimsical surprises! As soon as she would switch off all the lights in the house to go to bed, a beautifully orchestrated symphony would start in the house: from her living room to the kitchen counter and ending in the dining room. It was a stark contrast from the daytime when the house was very quiet. That was when you could distinctly hear the whis...

Read story

“A Near Miss” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #237

How was it? What? The KISSS, you idiot! We didn’t! You whaaaat? I though you— Naah, we both chickened out. You wouldn’t believe it. His mom found us in the dark, sitting side-by-side. We got nervous, scared, awkward, you know? …uncomfortable, like guilty of something. Oh no! So, what happened? Nothing, just as I told you. We didn’t kiss. May be next time. His mom....did she say anything to you? No, she asked to leave the room. I took my stuff and ran out. Matt also left right away. I think he must have left his mom there, upstairs, in the b...

Read story

“Songs of Farewell” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #236

I made my way to my mother’s house with a mix of anticipation and nostalgia coursing through my veins. It was my move day from what has been the only home I had known to my own place. As I stepped through the familiar threshold, I was greeted by the sight of my mom, diligently packing my belongings into boxes.

Read story

“I've Got This!” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #233

For weeks, this advertisement (AD) kept showing up regularly on my feed. “In a week, you’ll start to feel it, In two weeks, you’ll start to see it, And in three weeks, others will see it. But you just have to get started. And if you don’t know where to start, check this new app. 28 days of commitment will change your life.” ...

Read story

“When Dreams Align” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #231

Dear Diary, It has been a while since I shared something here. Well…guess what? I dreamt that I had the best New Year’s Day lunch with my closest relatives. Everyone showed up and was on their best behavior. We shared our New Years resolutions (all the things we wa...

Read story

“Unlikely encounters” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #227

Some tiny but treacherous flakes kept touching his coat. Jake was walking back to his office. He noticed that it had started to snow, again. People were gradually pulling their hoods on to cover their head. A woman, working in his building, nearly fell. Luckily, Tom was there to come to her rescue. She was wearing high heels and trying to quickly get in a car that had been waiting for her. ...

Read story

“Inner beauty” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #225

For the Memorial Day long weekend, Vera visited Amy, her friend in Stowe, Vermont. Her trip was planned at the last minute, but both had been wanting to see each other for quite some time. She thought, with their busy schedules, that this might have been the best time for it to happen. Vera and Amy had met in college in Boston. After graduating from Emerson, Vera stayed in town and found a job working for a local...

Read story

“Whispers of the Past” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #224

It was nearly two o’clock in the morning. Everyone was sound asleep in the house, except for one person. She had just finished counting sheep number 607 when she opened her eyes, trying to think of another way to trick herself to sleep. “I need to sleep, I want to sleep, I must sleep, …. but I can’t sleep!” she kept saying to herself in the middle of the night. Lily was the eldest child o...

Read story

“Rocky ride” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #219

"Hon', did you hear that?" Elaine asked, her voice filled with concern. "Yeah, something about a disabled train ahead of us," replied Ian, with a tone reflecting his frustration. I found myself in the company of the McAllisters, a situation that usually meant Elaine's incessant chatter and Ian's desire for peace and quiet to read his newspaper. "Just when you need to get th...

Read story

“Downpour Dining” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #218

We were set for a night of delicious food and impeccable service. It was our monthly girls’ night out and my turn to select the restaurant and making all the arrangements. I had read so many good reviews about Cassis, the talk of the town. It was a new French restaurant that had just opened. I thought it would be the ideal place for us to catch up, outside work. The location was not idea...

Read story

“Brewtiful Moments” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #216

“A tall blond for Lily!” “Coming!” I was just putting down my bag when I heard Jamie call me. As I walk back to the counter, I see a woman getting my order. I guess she did not realize it was for me. “Excuse me—" I say to her. “This one is mine.” “Oh, I am sorry. I thought this was my order. I did not hear him call anyone.” “No, I am pretty ...

Read story

“Fortune's Deceit” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #215

“Hold on a second, Marsha.” Peter’s conversation was suddenly interrupted by a series of knocks coming from behind his closed door. “Come in!” As he turns around to check who it might be, Peter immedi...

Read story

Author bio

Mara Rouge is an aspiring novelist and short story writer. Under this pseudonym, she aims to capture her experiences living on five continents and to imbue beloved folk stories from her childhood with her unique perspective. In her writing, Mara she tends to puts her own spin on traditional tales and folklore, crafting stories that are both fresh and familiar.