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Paul Michael Winters

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2022

Stories (8)

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Library

20 Followers

2 Following

8 Stories

220 karma pts

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Be Careful What You Ask For

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hello, this is AI Chat. How can I help you?”“Can you tell me how to track someone?”“There are many ways to track someone. What are you trying to accomplish?”“I want to track my boyfriend. I want to know where he’s going in the evenings.”“Maybe you should just ask him where he’s going.”“That isn’t really an option.”“In that case you have many other options. You could follow him yourself, you could hire a private investigator, you could turn on tracking on his iPhone, or you could hide a GPS tracker in his car. Would you like help on any of t...

16 likes

The Lookout

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #184

I have to escape the tatters of my ruined life, so I flee to the outdoors. Hiking, camping, and rock climbing have always been in my blood, but all my friends say I might have overdone it. They could be right.But one look at my view makes me secure in my decision. I have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panorama of the majestic North Cascade mountain range in a remote part of north-central Washington, with near unlimited visibility on this cloudless July morning. Precipitous, snow-capped summits reach for the blue sky in every direction. Dee...

16 likes

The Impossible Choice

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #180

I’m never sure which sensation I’m aware of first. My consciousness is slowly returning, and my head is still buzzing with the sedative they use to keep our bodies in stasis.There’s the feeling of the viscous liquid purging from my lungs, designed to provide oxygen and keep the lung tissue healthy. Imagine the deepest, wettest cough you’ve ever had, then multiply it times a hundred.The feel of the synthetic adrenaline courses through my muscles. A tingling sensation, spreading through every vein and capillary. It wakes the muscles up and rep...

19 likes

I Guess It's Fate

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #179

Lucas:The Seattle Public Library is my sanctuary. Sure, the Internet is faster and easier to search. But nothing beats the smell of musty books and the feel of crisp paper. I love to thumb through leather bound journals, and I relish the thrill of discovery when I find exactly what I’m looking for.And today, I’m looking for everything I can find about architecture. It’s the ultimate combination of art and science. This is what I want to study in college. I’m certain of it. Much more certain than being a movie director, which was my passion l...

18 likes

You Can’t Choose Them

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #178

I have to drive, because Andrew is a total wreck. He’s sitting in the passenger seat, chewing a fingernail, and his left foot can’t sit still. I peel my eyes off the road long enough to peek at him.“Hey. It’s gonna be fine.” I reach over, grab his shoulder and gently squeeze. “Besides, aren’t I supposed to be the worried one?”He lets out a deep sigh. “You just don’t know my parents, Marc.”“I know I don’t. That’s why I’m finally meeting them.” I smile.“Promise me you’ll love me no matter what happens tonight. Okay?”“Wow.” I laugh. “How bad co...

17 likes

A Thousand Lies a Day

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #177

(Semi-Autobiographical Fiction)The bell rings, and within moments, students pour out of classroom doors. The hallway fills with the echoing sounds of laughter, shouting and squeaking sneakers. Throngs of students move in every direction, all racing against the nine-minute period break.I walk through this chaos, down the middle of the hallway. I’ve got my headphones on, listening to the latest album by INXS on my Walkman. Trying to tune out the world. I keep my eyes downward and make myself as invisible as possible. By being unremarkable, wit...

14 likes

The Shadow Guild

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #176

Victor knew entering the Great Citadel Library was forbidden. But he saw that boy again. The one who had met his gaze in the Citadel gardens and held it just a little too long. Before the boy looked away, with flushed cheeks and the hint of a smile. After weeks of returning to the gardens, and searching every face in the crowd, Victor finally saw him again. Saw those captivating eyes and that serene smile. He had to follow.The library was restricted to highborn, and Victor was only a lowly merchant’s son. He scoffed at the caste system enfor...

23 likes

On The Run

Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #175

My name’s Logan. I’m fourteen years old. And I’m gay.I have this hope that living near a liberal mecca like Seattle will make coming out a lot easier. But boy, am I wrong. My parents freak out. Mom cries a lot. Dad gets angry. Like, really angry. There’s a lot of shouting. And finally, an ultimatum.“Stop with this gay shit, or find someplace else to live.”As if I chose to be gay.With tears streaming down my face, I load up a backpack. My dad screams at me and slams the door on my way out, yelling something about me never coming back.My best ...

15 likes