Marcia H.

“Winter's Warmth” by Marcia H.

As Izzy stepped outside of her small cozy house, the first thing that enveloped her was the crisp biting air. It clung to her skin like a hundred needles sending shivers down her whole body. The scent of the cold clean air and the invigorating aroma of the frost kissed pine needles on the trees outside looked as if they were frozen in time.  The snow beneath her boots was soft and echoed a soft satisfying crunch with every step. It was the sound of winter’s symphony, a reminder that nature had orchestrated its own frosty masterpiece. ...

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“Who's Cooking the Catfish?” by Marcia H.

Sparrow had just landed in a new city after an exhausting long flight which left her disoriented and very jet lagged. Despite her exhaustion which weighed heavily on her eyelids, sleep remained elusive. The unfamiliar time zone had her internal clock upside down, leaving her wide awake in the dead of the night.  Fueled by a mix of restlessness and her desire to make the most of her time in the city foreign to her, Sparrow decided to embrace the city’s nocturnal charm. The city breathed differently after midnight. Sparrow’s appetite fo...

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“Kitchen Memories” by Marcia H.

The first thing that hits my senses is the rich, earthly base note of freshly brewed coffee beans. It’s a deep and robust scent that lingers in the air, promising a bold and invigorating start to the day. It’s like a warm familiar embrace which wraps around you as soon as you enter the small kitchen.  As I approach the kitchen the source of the aroma hits my nostrils I begin to detect subtle hints of toasted caramel and chocolate. The sweet compliments of the coffee’s natural bitterness. The harmonious balance dances in the air around m...

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“Blackthron Mansion” by Marcia H.

The old mansion stood  in Century City like a shadowy sentinel amidst the desolate landscape. It had an eerie presence. The decaying mansion was known as the Blackthorn Manor. It was a testament to an era gone by. Its architect was once grand and opulent but now had succumbed to neglect. All of the residents had long passed away and the mansion just sat there with its crumbling walls which were choked with ivy and moss. Gargoyles sat on top of the roof with their grotesque faces frozen in scary expressions. They looked as if they had wi...

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“Confessions ” by Marcia H.

Claire sat by the window, the soft glow of the afternoon sun casting a warm embrace across her cozy family room. A steaming cup of herbal tea rested in her hands, it's comforting aroma intertwining with the delicate scent of all of her books that lined the shelves. Beside her on the table lay an envelope, the penmanship on it unmistakably belonging to her pen pal, Edna. Their correspondence had spanned over two decades, their letters revealing the nuances of their lives, dreams, and fears. But today, Claire sensed something different in the ...

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“Two Old Broads and One Parade” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #186

“Have you ever been to the snow?” “No, but I think that snow is overrated anyway.”  “That’s sad that you have never been to the snow.”  “That’s not as sad as us sharing a seat on top of a fire hydrant.”  “Now that is true but that is not the only sad thing.”. “You’re right. The saddest thing is the thing that we are ignoring.”  “Yeah, that’s true and my butt is getting numb from this fire hydrant. I don’t see how I used to sit on them as a kid. When my dad took me and my sister trick or treating and we would...

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“Sweet Ant Alive” by Marcia H.

Ants and I have always had a complicated relationship. On one hand they are on the earth to serve a purpose and on the other hand they are annoying as hell. There is nothing like waking up, putting your cold feet in some of your warmest bunny slippers and wrapping yourself in the plush pink robe that one of your kids re-gifted you for Christmas only to come into the kitchen and see what looks like thousands of ants crawling on your perfectly white kitchen counters. As if that weren’t bad enough, they were on the one possession that you treas...

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“Circle of Coincidence” by Marcia H.

Janna could not believe her eyes. She sprinted across two lanes of traffic and flagged down the nearest taxi. She swung the door open a little too hard and screamed at the taxi driver, “Follow that car!” The taxi driver didn’t miss a beat. He didn’t even turn around to see who she was. He did like he was told as if he had seen these exact words a million times. Janna could not take her eyes off of the red sports car just ahead of them. She hoped that her taxi driver had some skills and that he could catch that car. After all, what was in tha...

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“The Mountain Within” by Marcia H.

The mountain of grief is very high and sometimes it is hard to get over it or under it. It is just there all the time and staring you in the face even when your back is tuned. It is always there. I hadn’t had to deal with grief since the death of my brother almost six years ago. He died suddenly. He was a big Prince fan and a big sports fan and ironically he died the same day as the musician’s Prince’s birthday and the big Golden State Warriors play off game that year. I remember it vividly as if I was still in the moment. That day it was ar...

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“Mistle-Toe” by Marcia H.

When the office dog, Lucy, comes inside the front door with a human toe in her mouth you know that it is not going to be the ordinary holiday party that you planned. Shakira was horrified when she turned around to find Lucy with a human toe hanging out of her mouth. Lucy put the toe in front of Shakira’s feet. She didn’t know where the toe came from and who’s foot it came from but she knew that she had to find out. Lisa, Shakira’s best friend, came into the office a few minutes after Lucy. She screamed when she saw the toe still sitting on t...

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“Training Day” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #173

Kina waited patiently for her new trainee to come to the store. She had been a cashier there for the past six years and was finally put in charge of training the new cashiers. This was her first trainee and she could not wait. The training room was apart from the store. It was a room in the basement where they had a cash register set up and some clothing and other accessories that they could scan and go through the motions of what a cashier does. Kina would train them for three days before they get “thrown to the wolves” as Kina calls it. So...

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“Finally Home” by Marcia H.

I felt like I was drowning. The water was rushing over my head fast. I kept trying to catch my breath and find my way to the top of the waves pulling me down. I tried to scream but nobody could hear me underwater. My screams were in vain. I knew in my soul that it was time. It was time for a vacation. I needed to be alone with myself. I needed to leave the things that were drowning me behind even if it was just for a couple of weeks. I brought the train ticket and  did not tell a single person. I didn’t want them to tell me anything at ...

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“Mind Blowing” by Marcia H.

The hospital room had little particles of dust flying around especially when the sunlight came though the one window beside my bed. It was my first time in the hospital since I had my son almost 15 years ago. I stared at the blank blinding white walls. They were too white and too bright. I hated hospital walls. At least when I had my son, Jake, the walls in the maternity room were an off yellowish color. My eyes darted from the walls to my husband, Kent. Kent gently grabbed my limp hand and held on to it tightly. His grasp was a little too t...

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“The Day Henry Lived and Died Again” by Marcia H.

The lace curtains moved slightly from one side to the other as the breeze from the last day of summer entered the room like an invited guest. Sophie stood there on the outside of the window and looked inside. She knew what she would see. Right in front of her was an empty room with blood droppings on the snow white shag carpet.  Sophie wiped the tear that had left her bright green eyes and she let out a gut wrenching yell, “It is all my fault!” “I should have tried to do something to stop this. I didn’t try at all.” She continued. ...

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“Big Umbrellas and Belly Laughs” by Marcia H.

The clouds parted in the sky as if the heavens were opening up. An angel on earth was getting ready to leave. When someone young dies people proclaim that it was too soon. I am one of those people.  I wanted her to be with me for many years. Our intention was to stay friends forever. We didn’t know that forever would come  13 years after we met. Her job was done here on earth, at least that is the thought that got me through countless tears and endless memories. I imagined her climbing a big ladder into the clouds and into heaven. ...

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