Sarah Martyn

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

Stories (22)

22 Stories

590 karma pts

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“Tuesday, 2001” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #279

TW: mentions of suicidal thoughts and actions, and historical retellings of a traumatic nature. 5:59 a.m. I wake up on a regular Tuesday to grab a subpar bagel and black coffee as the sun is rising. I won’t drive out of the way for the good stuff, though I want to. I’m too tired usually for that. Tuesday is almost worse than Monday. It just feels so far from the weekend, and it usually has no special events or purpose behind it…just the grind. My current grind is corporate. I won’t be here forever, but for now it pays the bills. The offices ...

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“Confessions of Desiring to be a Mother” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #273

3/14/2020 / Dumb virusI’m mere weeks away from marrying Kyle and our wedding might be in jeopardy because Kyle’s under a travel ban until May… it may inhibit our ability to have our April wedding. I’m still holding out hope. A virus I cared so little about has the potential to ruin our plans. 3/19/20 / Shaky groundI resigned at Central earlier than planned. Financially for Central, it’s right. For me, scary. Especially with the wedding in question still. I’ll marry Kyle without a wedding yet. I’ll move tonight but I don’t know if that’s what...

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“Gourmet Mac & Cheese from Super Spy Mom” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #267

Her favorite game was her sneaky solo act of listening to mom on the phone. Her name is Molly (the girl’s name, not her mom. Molly didn’t know her mom has a name other than Mom, Mommy, or Mama). Molly would sit around the corner in the hall as she’d peak at her mom on the phone. Her first goal was to hear her mom clearly as she spoke. Her second goal was to imagine who she’s speaking to (A superhero? A villain? Some spy for a secret organization?). Her least important goal was to not get caught, though she’d sometimes step on a creaky floorb...

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“Mandated Vacation” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #259

Consent. Cooperation. Compliance. Coercion. Force. The F word. It’s the odd one out, the hard line (and you can’t talk about it).They say, “we’re here for you” but they really mean “you’ll lose your livelihood if you don’t obey.”It’s the heaviness we carry lately with fake smiles and dwindling bank accounts as we go to work, dreading a conversation that isn’t supposed to happen but still might. Over a year ago, many were sick and even dying from this new disease. Now, less are dying but it’s more viral. It’s how diseases typically work: over...

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“I Didn't Choose This and I'm Better For It” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #255

TW: divorce, affair, mental health “You wouldn’t even care if I died!” I shouted to my husband. Should I even call him that? He was at the other woman’s house, just outside of it with me in the parking lot. He barely looked at me as I shouted like a maniac to my betraying husband. He sat in his car. All he said was “I have to go to work,” which only made me feel as though he wouldn’t care if I died. I felt like the crazy person people would call the cops on, but if only they knew how I was hurting. ***~A few weeks earlier~ The whirlwind I wa...

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“Navigating Grief at My Window” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #227

***TW: REALISTIC ELEMENTS OF GRIEF*** It's the first snowfall of the season, but it's been cold all year. Normally, the first snowfall is a special, quiet day with my love. This year, this snowfall feels more like bitter closure than a sweet tradition. You'd think that eight months without him would mean there's less of a sting, but it seems about the same. Usually, I hear of people hitting one year and they've at least been through all the firsts - the first birthday without them, the first summer without them, the first s...

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“Passing Ships in Parallel Lives” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #224

When you get married, you have this naive expectation that you’ll just cuddle a lot, see each other in constant quality time, and have ideal work schedules that never conflict with meals and date nights. Not so much. Maybe at first, but not for long. It’s brief and sporadic at best. It’s not naive in the way that in marriage (as you share a home and combine lives) you will inevitably rub shoulders and keep company more often, but you forget that adulting and real life interrupt those moments more often the older you get. *** “Hon...

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“Baked into Memory” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #220

“You ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's today, sweetie?” “Yeah mommy!” ___________________________________________ Hannah has been going to Grandma and Grandpa’s at least twice a month every month she has been alive these last 5 years. The only exceptions were when Hannah got a pretty nasty stomach flu last year, and when Grandpa had major surgery a couple years ago and needed to recover in peace for a few weeks. These are her mom’s parents. Her dad’s parents are great too, but they live so many states away so she only sees them ma...

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“Two-Faced and the Betrayed” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #213

***TW: mentions of divorce and an affair*** “This is a tale of two marriages, and I want you to figure out which one is real.” “Okay, I’ll listen and see if I can.” “Now, I know you’re my therapist, Diana, but you’ve become like a friend to me over the last year. I simply ask that you treat me more as a friend today.” “I can do that, Jonie.” “Well… let’s rewind a bit.” We met in high school, but we weren’t exactly sweethearts until college. In fact, I was someone else’s sweetheart from eighth grade until senior year, and not off ...

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“From Caterpilly to Butterflight” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #206

From Caterpilly to Butterflight Metathesiophobia: The fear of change. “God sure did make you a caterpillar, but don’t you think He created you to also become a butterfly?” Those were the words that little Caterpilly echoed in her mind over and over again as she sat at breakfast with Momma, Daddy, and her little brother Zip. Her Grandma Flutter said those words to her not just once, but a few times, months ago. Her grandma always seemed to know what to say, but Caterpilly almost never liked hearing it right then. The first time ...

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“What Wasn't Said” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #200

I can’t trust my own thoughts, but they’re sometimes my safest places to run to… only sometimes. * * * “Hi bro. How are you today?” “Eh… I’m tired. I woke up tired. I didn’t even do that much today,” Thomas replied. Dumb lazyass… how could you lay around and complain about your day? “What’d you say, Drew?” “I said don’t sweat it. We all have days like that. It’s okay to have a chill day and still be draggin.” “You’re probably right.” “I know I am, Thomas. Chin up. Mom says she loves you and will see you later this week. I’ll ...

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“Mr. Dover, the Bagel Bandit” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #198

It is a true shame to see bags of stale bagels thrown out at Franklin’s Bagels and Coffee each afternoon. But it is less of a shame to see at least one bag get rescued covertly by Mr. Dover, my social studies teacher. How do I know he does this? Well, I’ve been one of the recipients of some of those bagels on a semi-regular basis. Mr. Dover is one of those teachers that people want for a teacher. He lets us talk with our friends in class while still keeping us on task, gets us moving, and makes learning engaging. He even dresses up in costum...

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“Muted Love in the Cafeteria” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #195

Thanks, Dottie, Stephen said with his eyes. He didn’t exactly smile. His mouth may curve at the corner into, at best, a smirk. The fake kind he had to muster effort to make. He definitely didn’t speak. Ever since his mom became a widow, Stephen never spoke. He did speak at one point, but almost overnight, he stopped speaking. It didn’t exactly create a great experience for him at school, where he spent most of his time. Students and teachers alike gave him cold shoulders and dirty looks. They seemed to take his silence personally. At home,...

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“Dreaming of Burgers on the Moon ” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #194

"Psst...Jenny," Stacy called in a hushed but eager tone. "...huh? Go back to sleep," Jenny retorted. "We're sharing a room now. The least you can do is hear my wonky dream so I can go back to sleep. It’s driving me crazy.” "I didn't choose to share the room. It's not my fault Aaron is becoming a gross, stinky teenager. But whatever... Let's hear this dream then..." “Okay, so bear with me.” “Ugh…” “It started with a dream with this guy…” “Of course it did…” “Not like that! I mean, not really anyway. But this guy - you kn...

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“Concert Hall Murmuring” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #186

“Did you pre-order tickets when they got released a year ago?” “Actually, I didn’t. I was gifted this ticket yesterday by a friend who is sick and had to miss out. She grabbed the ticket many months ago though, I think. I didn’t waste a second before snagging it up when she offered!” “You know this symphony, though?” “Know of them, more like. I’ve heard some of their stuff online but have never seen them live… until tonight anyway!” “I have seen them a handful of times! I’m pretty sure I’ve shed tears at least once every concert.” ...

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Author bio

Christian. Wife. Singer. Blogger. Former Teacher. Author. Extrovert. Foodie. A creative. I don't submit to Reedsy OFTEN. I submit when a story inspires me. I truly appreciate if you follow to stay tuned. If you like my stories, I'd love a thumbs up! But whether you love it, have feedback, or could take it or leave it, give me a comment for input? If you hate it, send it to your worst enemies. I can't promise friendship or eternal love if you engage with my writing, but my thanks I can promise! To reach me: Email at sarahmartyn92@yahoo.com OR browse my resources and socials: linktr.ee/sarahsings ALL MY BOOKS/STORIES: https://snmsavedsinger.wordpress.com/category/my-books-and-stories/