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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020
Submitted to Contest #297
The floor creaked under her before she moved, like the old boards could feel her shifting into lucidity. Pale blue light seeped through the cracks in the shutters, just enough to say the world hadn’t ended in the night. Lena sat up, slowly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The mattress gave a tired sigh, and the wood beneath her groaned like it had something to say. She ignored it. The familiar bite of morning air hit her as she crossed the room barefoot, the worn planks feeling cold and smooth under her soles. Over by the dresser...
Submitted to Contest #295
The church stood upon the hill, its weathered stones pale beneath the shifting light of the evening. Green and golden ivy had made its home here, weaving itself over its worn architecture. The narrow windows held simple tracings of colored glass which caught the waning light. Beyond the sanctuary, the courtyard stretched out beneath the open sky, ringed by trees whose spires pointed heavenward.The village had all gathered in hushed reverence, their faces shadowed and still in quiet congregation. The women watched on, swathed in long gowns of...
Submitted to Contest #271
As I sank into the couch, I took comfort in the familiar feeling of the worn cushions and I took great pleasure in running my fingers along the grooves of faux leather I often picked at. It had been another long day. There was nothing like letting my eyes glaze over while something was on the tv, just anything to get my mind off of how much my feet hurt and how spent my body felt. Just a few more days and I’d be able to pay the month of rent off and then I’d worry about the utilities. I looked over to the front door and double checked that I...
Submitted to Contest #188
CW: This story contains themes related to dementia and memory loss. When I was 15 and getting my learner’s permit, the DMV asked me to fill out my voter registration and asked if I’d like to register as an organ donor. I wanted to say yes, but my dad stopped me. He said that the hospital was more likely to let me die, since if they sacrifice me they could save several other people. I didn’t know if this was true at the time, and now that I’m older I’m pretty sure that’s not true. But I relented for my old man and declined to register. ...
Submitted to Contest #78
I was a winter’s touch I did not think you would petrify so suddenly Your hands gently laid atop mine as you guide. Your hands that had never felt this warm before. When the finishing brushstroke hit you examined the finished work, alleviated, then turned to me. I remember the first time I saw you, cheeks pallid and your face slack with apathy. Were you taking in the surroundings that you felt so detached from? Were you in deep thought or dissociation? English architecture is always trying so hard to retain it’s old roots, ...
Submitted to Contest #51
When you have your life taken away from you, there isn’t much that will stop you from enacting whatever payback you deem fit. When you have nothing to lose, there isn’t a lot that seems scary. When an enemy is so ruthless, you don’t hold a lot of sympathy. Don’t worry Dmitri. I don’t. “Lyudmila!” A gnarled and cigarette charred voice grumbled to me hastily. “It came from the building on the left, you see?” Her stubby soot and mud ridden fingers pointed to ruins. It was all ruins, the only hints at what once was were piles of rubble and ...
Submitted to Contest #50
Is he looking at me? My eyes try to watch anything else. Signboards, other passengers, my reflection. Yet my attention was always brought back to the man standing skittishly at the back of the carriage. I’m imagining things, I must be. Maybe he’s just zoning out and his eyes just happen to be rested on me? If you’re a fellow non-license holder, you’ll know that in the morning the subway can be packed. And not everyone has remembered to bathe. He looks ill, maybe he’s just really trying to focus on something else to avoid the ...
Submitted to Contest #49
Harrowing nights low on food left my men at the end of their rope. Earnest in all my intentions, but I know rationing the food is what made my men succumb to the depths. Leviathan hold strong, I prayed, hold until I can get them back home, hold until these torrential rains stop, hold until I can buy them another pint. Prayers mean nothing to the sea. Minutes felt like hours and my eyes burned from the salty waters. Everything still felt like it would be fine, it wasn’t our first storm and I’d like to hope that some men slept through ...
Submitted to Contest #48
“Alright class! Let’s set down our books and put them in our desks.” Miss Wright pauses, allotting time for the slower children in the class to understand the sheer magnitude of the task at hand. It was time for the macaroni challenge, a single event I had spent at least six hours preparing for. A considerable portion of my life, yes, but one must be prepared for such moments in time to assure victory. But most importantly, victory over David. He was my former best friend, an avid companion through the building block battlefields and tabl...
Submitted to Contest #47
You were a diligent worker. Your wife said so at least, but she has rarely had a chance to see you lately due extended shifts at the plant. Lest the State succumb to foreign powers, all invaluable workers were to put in more hours. However, you had found the strain of the current economic situation, due to powers outside of the nation’s control, to be overbearing to your senses. It would be around this time that you were first late to work. Normally, you were avid and keen to be first in line at your station, an impeccable example...
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