Michelle Oliver

“Internal Monologue of a Pantser” by Michelle Oliver

5 daysThere is a clock ticking. It’s freaking loud, marching down the seconds like a Drill Sargent yelling orders at a recruit. I must take the battery out. It would give me so much more peace, instead of listening to it harp on every day about time and how it’s passing. Yeah, I know! Shut up, you stupid inanimate object. The incessant ticking is NOT helping.The deadline is five days away. I pull up my comfiest chair and plonk myself down at the worn writing desk. There is plenty of time. I start up my laptop and tap out an idea, an opening ...

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“Hope” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #274

DenialWhen the contractions began, I panicked, which was not the best thing for a woman in labour to do. However, a woman in labour also shouldn’t be on her own, yet here I was, alone, afraid and exhausted. I was not ready.In the past six months, I had aged twenty years. I know it’s only been six months, because I’d just had my three month unltrasound and found out that we were having a girl when they arrived. The media called them Aliens, then they called them Conquerors, then they didn’t call them anything anymore. All media, all powe...

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“Ding, Dong…” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #273

Mary Jenkins lived alone. This was not by choice, but by circumstance. Her husband, Patrick, died young, leaving Mary in a house on five acres just outside of town. In the early days of her widowhood, she hid from the world there, nursing her broken heart, keeping to herself. As time passed, it became habit, until, at sixty-three, she enjoyed her own company more than she endured the company of others, causing the children to call her the Witch of the West. No one knew her well enough to call her wicked.Mary’s life had been spectacularly une...

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“The Werewolf’s Wife” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #272

There is nothing worse than fleas, and I come crawling home covered in the buggers. Megan gave me that look as she stood at the counter fixing breakfast. The look that says, Oh, for the love of God! I know that expression well. The side eye roll, the firmly clenched lips that are going white about the edges, and the stiff shoulders. I slink by her sheepishly, straight to the shower, knowing she won’t appreciate fleas at breakfast.In the bathroom, I transform. I have found that it’s the best place to do so, as I always emerge from my other se...

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“The Blue Marble” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #270

Jadis knew the restaurant wasn’t particularly fancy, or even very friendly. That’s why she chose it. No-one asked questions at this far end of the galaxy, not if they wanted to stay alive. Zark sat down opposite her in a cloud of tentacles and body odour.“Zelgfish pie?” He asked, holding the plate out on one globular tentacle.Jadis shook her head, her stomach revolting at the sight. “Look, I just want to go home. OK?”“Favours ain’t free,” Zark said as he shovelled the pie into each of his mouths.“I’ve got the goods.”One white whiskered ...

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“Left” by Michelle Oliver

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #269

All that glitters is not gold, or so the saying goes. Marissa fiddled with the band on her left ring finger, sliding it up to the first knuckle then back again. A golden prison, but so pretty. The diamond sparkled in the light, catching the suns rays and reflecting it back like mini fireworks.“What are you going to do?” Jane asked, her limpid eyes studying Marissa’s face with the earnest concern only a best friend could feel.“I don’t know.” Marissa huddled in the chair she’d pulled up to Jane’s island bench, her head throbbing with the echoe...

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“Labour's Lost Love- a drunken tragedy in three acts” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #257

CW: Shakespearean bawdiness!****Act 1 ****——Scene 1——(Enter Lord FARRINGTON and Sir MONTRAY, two young lords of lofty houses, both in a drunken, rambunctious state of dishevelment and good humour.)FARRINGTONThis night have I been greatly entertained with such delightful hospitality delivered with such grace and charm and wit… (Farrington stumbles drunkenly.)MONTRAYGood faith, dear Farrington, we have been charmed, Such hospitality knoweth no bounds, Nor bonds nor aught whi...

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“The Swing of Things” by Michelle Oliver

The rhythmic screech of metal on metal pierces the night, echoing in the dark like demon screams coming for your soul. Instead of fleeing, I march toward the sound, unafraid, yet anxious still. I’m either a brave lad, or I’m stupid. Maybe both.Maria sits, toes dragging in the dirt, scuffing a groove deeper and deeper into the dirt, as she swings back and forth absently on the ancient playground equipment, setting my teeth on edge with every ear piercing motion. I take the seat next to her and join her, gently swaying, my swing groaning in a ...

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“Not A Bad Man” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #252

“Oh, for the love of…” Selina muttered the curse under her breath, biting off the profanity at the end with gritted teeth, aware of the little ears flapping on the other side of the bathroom door.“Mama!” the snot-faced, adorable terror that controlled her life hollered loudly enough that the neighbours would likely call 911.“Mama needs to pee. Give me a minute.” Ha! As if a two-year-old understood the concept of time or personal space. From the moment he toddled his first steps—actually, from the moment he could crawl—Jasper had followed Sel...

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“What’s Going On?” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #249

What if life offered second chances? If you could press rewind, or stop, or start from a certain point again, just like watching a YouTube clip. Would you take the redo? Would your life be different? Press play.▶️ The train grinds to a halt midway between stations and you look out of the window onto a freeway that better resembles a car park. It is as if the entire world has been forced to a stand-still. Swirling around you in the cramped carriage, there are chaotic bubbles of conversation peppered with exclamations of dismay, and your heart...

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“A Silent Night at Last” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #245

Knock, knockHello, are you awake? May I come in?Yes, sorry, shhh…I know. I’ll speak quietly. I promise I won’t wake the baby. He’s a tiny thing, isn’t he?I, um, well, I traveled a long way to be here. I’m glad I didn’t miss it. The star, you know. It gave it away. Been watching that star now for weeks, since it appeared in the east. Well, OK, Melchior has. He hogs the telescope, but you know it’s so bright now we don’t need to use a telescope anymore, so I’ve been watching it every night.Oh, here, this is for you. I know, I know, it’s not mu...

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“Allondial and Remu (remastered)” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #245

To hear the stories told by old women over the fire, one would believe the world to be inhabited by ghouls and hobgoblins. This is not true. The world is full of magic for sure, but the magic has been here longer than the old women, longer than humankind and longer indeed than memory can express.In the beginning of time, Allondial was born. Her first breath was a gasp that awakened humankind from the eternal sleep of non-existence. Her smile was gentle as she gazed upon all creation as it woke, and humankind smiled back. Enthralled...

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“#Sweet Sophie” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #244

“For God’s sake, Sophie, what were you thinking?” T.J yelled, his voice hysterical and high pitched.“I wasn’t thinking anything,” Sophie Beckett replied, her enormous blue eyes welling with emotion. “I was eating an ice-cream!”“Look! Just look at this,” T.J turned his phone screen towards her. “Does this look like someone eating ice cream?”The image was grainy and zoomed in close, but it was unmistakably Sophie, her eyes closed, long lashes curving against her cheekbones, in an expression of forbidden bliss as she licked the melting ice-crea...

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“The Jemloran Premises ” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #243

Taken from the personal log of Rahkan Cerirak-Biologist.Galactic Date: 90032.44.37Current Planetary Cycle 8.46.86The Jemloran Premises are wrong and I need to prove it.Premise number 1-The intelligent species that once populated this planet have long gone extinct.The remnants of their technology can be found at many different archaeological sites. Once a star begins to expand, it disrupts the rotation of all its planetary objects, pulling each planet’s more massively loaded side towards the star’s gravitational centr...

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“The Roomba” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #239

FACEBOOK MARKETPLACEROOMBA 600iDetails:Condition -Used like newDescription:Slightly used, comes with all accessories and two chargers. Price negotiable. Need gone ASAP.****Christine kicked off her heels as soon as she walked through the door. The French baguette peeking out of the brown paper bag in her hands wobbled precariously as Sir Lancelot wove his way beneath her feet while she attempted to place the groceries on the bench.Lancelot was a Persian crossed with a rag-doll, and the combination equated to hair—lots of it. Christine sc...

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