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Molly Mcguigan

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2021

Stories (4)

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4 Stories

31 karma pts

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The Light in the Window

Margaret lights the lantern at exactly 7:12 p.m. every evening.She never misses a night. Not in twenty years.Even when the town was swallowed in an ice storm, and power lines snapped under the weight of frozen branches, she bundled herself in layers, struck a match, and made sure the lantern glowed against the darkness.A beacon. A promise. A plea.She wonders, sometimes, if the neighbors see it and shake their heads. If they whisper about her behind closed doors, lowering their voices as though grief is contagious."That poor woman. She still ...

0 likes

Double Dose of Christmas Magic

Submitted to Contest #283

**Mention of pregnancy loss** Snowflakes swirled in lazy loops, sticking to the windshield as the car heater worked overtime to keep the chill at bay. Mia sat quietly, her hands twisting the zipper on her coat. Bing Crosby’s smooth voice filled the car, singing about dreaming of a white Christmas, but it barely registered over the nervous energy humming between her and Ben.“Hey,” Ben said, his hand finding hers and squeezing gently. “It’s going to be okay.”Mia gave him a small, tight smile, but her stomach was in knots. The houses they passe...

3 likes

In The Pastor's Care

Submitted to Contest #282

**This story contains descriptions of violence** Franklin Wyatt had a voice that made people lean in, a voice you’d trust to guide you through a storm. In the sleepy town of Crosshaven, sometime in the mid-1980s, Franklin was more than a pastor. He was a caretaker for the foster kids no one else could handle and a fixture at every town potluck. People saw Franklin as a quiet man with an unshakable sense of purpose. No one would’ve guessed he was running from a past darker than any storm cloud.Years ago, Franklin had done the unthinkable. He’...

8 likes

Darkness on the Lost Road

John Sterling was a 24-year-old, well-liked man. He was laid-back and handsome, tall and lean, with short, shaggy light brown hair and deep, dark brown eyes that twinkled when he smiled. It was that disarming smile that first captivated 20-year-old Julia Ingram when they met at a party one night in the early 1980s. Julia found herself drawn to John's easy charm. Despite her initial reservations, John's kindness quickly won her over. Julia’s family and friends, skeptical at first, soon realized that John genuinely loved both Julia. To Julia, ...

0 likes