Nataly Feldman

“I am sorry I made you go” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #94

‘KISS! KISS! KISS!’ – chanting was surrounding me as I was trying to not break under the pressure and cry. I lifted my arms, shielding my face, as if I was hiding from a physical attack. Looking through the gap between my elbows, I saw teenagers, who were looking like zombies eager for brains or vampires dying for blood. I glared at the stupid bottle, tip of which was pointing at me, it seemed like it was laughing at me. I gathered all of my strength and yelled, ‘NO!’ Everyone went silent for a solid second, then the owner of the party stood...

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“Rainbow Pretzel” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #93

It was the first time the Block family went to a carnival – in all previous years little Tommy was too young, which made others stay at home. Every single year on the carnival weekend, Suzy would be very annoyed by the fact that her brother was stopping her from having fun. But now Tommy was 5, so they could go all together and enjoy the infamous rainbow pretzels and relatively high rollercoasters. The youngest child was old enough to go to the carnival itself, but Samantha and John, his mother and father, would still be limited in their mov...

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“It wasn't another nightmare” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #92

They killed my mom. They slaughtered my mother and made me watch. I woke up in a cold sweat again. Another horrible dream. Nightmares have been haunting me for over a month now. I am struggling to remember the last time I had a good sleep. Sometimes, the horrors do not seem as realistic as they normally do, so I can deal with those without waking up in the middle of the night with tears in my eyes. Tonight’s nightmare was different – it was so realistic; I didn’t even think I was dreaming. I witnessed my mother get murdered in cold blood by ...

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“Darkness” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #92

C/W: mentioning of depression and self-harm... Darkness have been my best friend for a while now. I wake up every morning and cannot see a thing. I can only feel her surrounding me with her horrible depressing clouds. Sometimes, I struggle to get out of bed solely because of how heavy the storm gets; it pushes me back into the linen sheets and makes sure that I don’t move for a second. My mind keeps alive but the body never listens. She enjoys holding power over me. When I first met Darkness, I was just a ten-year-old boy living my childhood...

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“The Magic Dog” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #92

Mary and her little brother, Cam, were sat under a fuzzy blanket in the living room, watching cartons. This was what they always did before going to bed. Maria had learnt to put her three-year-old brother to bed while parents were at work a long time ago. She was now nine, but her parents returned to work when baby Cammy was only one. They were reluctant to leave a girl, who was just supposed to go to school, looking after another kid, but they did not have much choice. Unfortunately, they could not have left children with a nanny because th...

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“Italy was cruel to me” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #92

I absolutely hate summer. In all complete honesty, that one is the season I despise the most. You can get angry all you want, but nothing, I repeat – nothing – shall stop me from complaining about the sun. I have never understood sunbathing. The whole procedure, to me at least, does not make any sense. I see it as people lying on their backs waiting for the sun to make them crispier and, for some reason, darker. You cannot watch anything on your phone, read a book, while you are facing the sun because you will burn your eyes. Even if you are...

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“Listen to your little friend” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #91

C/W: homophobia, transphobia She walked over to where we were sat with a scary grin. I have never seen a smile this frightening before, so I got nervous, however Sangue seemed calm. ‘Is there anything we can help you with?’, they smiled back at her and reassuringly looked at me, ‘It’s okay,’ Sang mouthed. ‘Oh hello, ladies, you...’ she couldn’t finish because I interrupted her. ‘We are not ladies, sorry, miss, continue.’ ‘Yes, I was saying that you, girls…’ this time Sangue didn’t let her finish. ‘As my friend have already corrected you, we ...

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“Spitefulness ruined my world” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #91

I have always had issues with deadlines. Since school time I couldn’t get myself to hand work in on the set time. I have never viewed it as an issue, but my parents would always get very upset with me. I could never wrap my head around the reason why. It is just time; I can’t take control over it or manipulate it. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to do magic. And why are the students the only ones with deadlines, but teachers are allowed to be checking that homework for days? Bearing that in mind, I’ve hardly completed any work in the set per...

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“Vespertilio” by Nataly Feldman

Aly had never felt like she was in the place, where I belong more than there. It is truly amazing how kind everyone was to her and, from what she has witnessed in the first few hours of being there, to one another. She absolutely adored the smell of fresh air, and seeing the majestic emerald tree crone was something she was looking for from that. She will be sharing a room with one other person, whom she hasn’t met yet, but she was hoping they would be marvelous. Alanna sincerely wanted to get along with them. She considered herself to be ra...

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“I just wanted stability” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #90

C/W: death, mentioning of depression «А только воз и ныне там» - this Russian phrase from Krylov’s fable suggests that nothing changes and all the energy dedicated to moving something in opposite directions always fails. This perfectly describes my relationship with my siblings. As far back in time as I manage to remember, we have never been close, even as little kids. I, Izzy, is the middle one truly always happened to be the middle ground when it came to Ollie, the oldest, and Maria, the youngest, arguing. I don’t want to throw accusations...

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“Captive freedom” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #89

  C/W: domestic abuse    Another morning that she woke up from a nightmare. This has become a well-known ritual three weeks ago. She struggles to recall the last time she had a peaceful sleep without it being interrupted by someone she dearly loves dying. He is still asleep, waking him up to ask to calm her down would cause no good. He would get angry again, as if it was her fault that she is crying every time she wakes up. She reached for the tissue that usually are on the bedside table. ‘They are not there this time, where d...

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“It’s not all that sad” by Nataly Feldman

Submitted to Contest #89

Annie stood up from her desk as her mother once again called her to help with her little brothers. She slowly walked from the corner of her room to the wide-open door. ‘Anna Fisher, for God’s sake, do I have to wait forever for you to get out of your room?’ Maria yelled from the kitchen. ‘I am coming,’ almost whispering answered Ann, ‘What do you need help with, mum?’ ‘Cook the dinner for the boys, Chris will be home soon. I have to go out for a little.’ Chris is Maria’s second husband, Annie’s stepfather. The girl is not the biggest fan o...

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