Melinda Madrigal

“GREY WORLD” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #290

Love doesn't exist. Love is tainted. Love will get you killed. Love has no meaning in a world where hate, where distrust, where dishonesty, where control exist. In this world. My world love has no room for any of us. Hope is forbidden. Intimacy is forbidden. Caring and compassion is forbidden. Anything that has to do with love is forbidden. I walk around in a world that is devoid of human emotions. The only emotions I see and feel is fear and sadness. I feel fear every day I walk down the street. I fear for myself. My friends and family. I ...

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“MIDNIGHT CONVERSATION” by Melinda Madrigal

My eyes are heavy. My head is throbbing. Hell, my body is killing me. I want to get up but my body is protesting. What time is it? It's half an hour to midnight. I need my bed. Come on legs work. I get up from the chair. I begin to work. Jelly legs, I fall to the floor. This is so not my day or rather night. I hit my legs a couple of times. A couple more feet to my room. Come on legs work for me. I get up again. This time I make it to my room. This feels good. My bed is extra comfy. I quickly fall asleep. Sweet dreams world. Oh God! what i...

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“THE LIGHTHOUSE: RETURN TO HARBOR HAVEN” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #288

Home, I'm finally home. After nine years I'm home to heal and reconcile with my mom. I missed my mama so much. I hope she forgives me. Before I enter my childhood home, I watch my mama sitting on her rocking chair with her eyes closed no doubt thinking about my father. She looks so peaceful. I finally get enough courage to go inside and face my mama. I walk up to the door, take a couple deep breathes and open the door. My mama is in the kitchen. I walk to her and stand behind her. I take another couple deep breathes. I say "I'm home mama." M...

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“THE LIGHTHOUSE: LAURA'S MEMORIES” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #287

CW: Themes of grief and lossChamomile tea has always soothed me during the bad days and I have been having a lot of bad days. I have days when I cry. I have days when I smile and laugh. I have days when I just don't care about life.I can't count how long it's been since my husband, the man I love more than anything in the world went missing at sea. It's been a hard time for me. I never knew pain like this.My baby girl Jaylen took it the hardest. She was so close to her friend. It's hard for me to talk about my daughter. She was my rock. The ...

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“THE LIGHTHOUSE: COLTON'S STORY” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #286

This is Colton's story as he goes out to sea, he shares his memories of his life, his wife, daughter and the lighthouse he left behind. I wave goodbye to my beautiful family. My wife Laura, the love of my life and my beautiful daughter, my angel, Jaylen. They are my rock. They keep me going. They keep me alive. I memorize their beautiful faces. Their smile and their beautiful eyes. My girls are the reason I do what I do. They are the reason why I take these dangerous trips. I want them to have a good life. The best life possible. Fishing is ...

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“JAYLEN'S JOURNEY TO THE PAST” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #285

Jaylen's journey home to Harbor Haven continues when she unexpectedly goes to the past and witnesses the beginning of the love story of her parents. Nine years is a long time to be away from home. Reading my father's last words gave me the strength I needed to pack all my belongings and leave Glenn Brook for good. I still don't know how my dad's letter found me, I'm glad it did. His words gave me what I needed to find peace. It still hurts that he's not here but at least I have a piece of him with me. I'm eager to get back to Harbor Haven, I...

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“THE LIGHTHOUSE” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #284

Home is where the heart is. This is a saying my mother lives by. This is a saying my mother always used to tell me. My mother always believed that your heart will lead you to the place you were always meant to be. My mother still believes this. She writes to me all the time. Her writings are a lifeline to my home. In the letters my mom says to me "Jaylen, let your heart lead you home." Only if it was that simple. I lived in the most beautiful place imaginable with the most beautiful and loving family and then tragedy struck. In the blink of ...

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“NOA AND HER FAMILY” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #283

Christmas week is in full swing at my parent's house. The entire Rios family is coming. I'm excited to see my family I haven't seen in years. This is not just the Rios family Christmas but also the Rios family reunion. The Christmas week started early Monday morning with me and my sisters helping mom fix the house while the men folk my dad and brothers set up the decorations. Once me and my sisters finished fixing the house, we went to help mom prepare dinner for the next day. Then we helped mom bake. Baking is my favorite thing to do. Plus,...

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“SCARLETT'S NEW BEGINNING” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #282

"The disappearance of Scarlett Campbell has rocked the small community of Stone Ridge Falls. No trace of Scarlett has been found. Her family is extremely worried for her. They urge anyone with information to come forward." "Two weeks has passed since Scarlett Campbell vanished without a trace. Today police have discovered the body of an unknown male. Many within the Stone Ridge Falls community fear the unknown male is Tyler Campbell. The husband of Scarlett who also vanished without a trace." "More details have emerged on the identity of the...

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“KRAMPUS THE EVIL OF CHRISTMAS” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #281

Tale as old as time tells the story of an evil being who comes out of hiding once a year to terrorize the kids of the world. On this day when all the kids of the world are writing letters to Santa Claus wishing for the best presents, this being is watching and waiting. His name is Krampus and he is waiting for your child. Krampus the evil of Christmas is here. Merry, merry little boys and girls of the world. Your wishes may they never come true. I will make your nightmares come true. Krampus the evil of Christmas is here ready to strike fear...

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“SISTERLY CONVERSATION” by Melinda Madrigal

"The weather is looking good today, isn't sis." "The weather would be looking good today if you weren't late." "I had no choice. If I came early my parents would be asking a lot of questions or better yet they would have me followed." "My parents would do the same. For some reason they don't want us to know we exist." "Here we are. Who knew we lived two miles from each other." "I guess our parents never suspected we would find each other." "My name isn't Sara. I couldn't use my real name." "Funny you should say that. My name isn't Kelly." I ...

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“ZOMBIE WOMAN RUNNING FOR HER LIFE” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #279

Dirt, worms, maggots are crawling all over my body. I have a splitting headache. My legs and arms are twisting in the wrong direction. I straighten my legs then my arms. That feels good. Bugs be gone. Dirt be gone. I feel like a new person. Wait, something is wrong. My eyes are blurry. I blink twice. Nothing. I rub my eyes. Okay, that's a bit better. I never had the greatest eye sight. Oh no! I know that sound. My stomach is growling. I need food. Where to get food? Something is else is wrong. I'm not home. Where am I? I don't like this feel...

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“A SOLDIER'S CONFESSION” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #278

Families are supposed to be close. Families tell each other everything. But what happens when one death bed confession changes everything. One confession changes your whole life and that of your family. My family was as close as a family can be. Our love for each other was so strong. I believed nothing and no one can tear us apart. But I was so very wrong. Grandpa Charles was the best man I ever knew aside from my father. He was strong and fearless. He was also the biggest teddy bear. His love was unconditional. Grandpa Charles always forgav...

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“THREE WICKED WITCHES AND ONE NOT SO WICKED WITCH” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #277

Once upon a time in the town of Ashwood Falls there lived four sisters, who's name began with the letter B. The oldest Beatrice. The second oldest Bianca. The third oldest Blake and the youngest Bella Rose. All four of the sisters are witches. Not the good kind of witches but the most-dastardly witches in all of Ashwood Falls expect for one. They play the most evil of tricks on unsuspecting people. The three oldest are the worst. Beatrice, Bianca and Blake, dark-hair beauties with the most enchanting greens, the color of Emerald and the most...

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“FAMILY IS NOT FOREVER” by Melinda Madrigal

I always believed family was forever. I believed family can conquer anything. I believed any situation we can get through. I was young. My mind was young but family was everything. Here is my story. From the time I was a little girl I believed my family was strong and tight knit. That we would be together always. There were my parents, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents on both sides. We would come together at which ever house and have fun. There was food and drinks, music and dancing. I was happy that we were together. Family vac...

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