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Sarah Martyn

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

Stories (26)

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52 Followers

57 Following

26 Stories

681 karma pts

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Mr. Dover, the Bagel Bandit

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...

10 likes

Muted Love in the Cafeteria

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,...

20 likes

Dreaming of Burgers on the Moon

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...

14 likes

Concert Hall Murmuring

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.” ...

29 likes

When Tomorrow Finally Comes

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #183

TW: involves terminal illness You’d think with how little stuff I’m bringing in my duffle bag, I wasn’t going off to college after living with my parents for 18 years. Maybe part of the lack of stuff is that my parents’ place has become my storage unit for all I won’t be taking with me. My mom actually seemed pleased I left so much, probably because, as she said, “you’ll visit often,” which I know she meant to say with confidence; it sounded more like a question choked back with tears. She added “I’ll pray for you every night.” And dad add...

23 likes

Empty Heart and Full Stomach

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #162

Warning: mention of eating disordersWhen most of your identity hinges on if you are liked by people (at least most people), you’ll dedicate a lot of your life to achieving that. Even the recurring failure of that goal won’t stop you, but you get tempted to quit trying. Nobody would ever care as much for you as you do for them.I’m not asking for much. I am new here, and would be content with a few close friends, and for every person who gets on with me to at least enjoy my company when I invite them over. I don’t need fifty constant companion...

13 likes

My Mystery to Solve

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #144

(Contains elements of a sensitive nature, including grief, the supernatural, and implied violence) When you’re strapped for cash, and you’re already busy with school and working in your spare time, you find more work. For me, that was cleaning out basements for the neighbors. One particular day, though, I discovered a calling (albeit, short lived) much deeper than earning some extra cash. I was at Mrs. Carruthers’ place, tackling one of the most cluttered gold mines of a basement I’ve faced yet. She was a long-time friend of my grandmother...

15 likes

Utterly Spent for Others

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #104

I'm good at portraying what I want on the outside but honestly, my true self is utterly spent for the sake of others.  ------ At my job, I'm interpersonal and for the most part, clients always enjoy my service. Those I serve and even those I work with might guess I'm the "social butterfly" and am an extrovert, but that's because they think introverts can't interact well socially... Or maybe they think that because I'm not shy, there's no way I can be an introvert. Unfortunately, it’s partially my fault. I haven’t done much to explain ...

15 likes

The Door to My Destiny

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #95

For all my life I have had a special gift. Every person makes endless choices a day, from what time to get their first drink of water for the day to what to spend their money on. For me, my choices come to me in some vision-like state… or at least I feel like I’m having a vision. But they also are very real. My hands touch real knobs and my face feels the real change in the environment; I experience real consequences to every choice I make. Always my choices appear as two doors, and I can only ever choose one. Nobody can see me staring at ...

21 likes

Party Paranoia

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #93

I normally like parties, Asher thought. Salty snacks, casual conversations, late hours… this party has all that. But something doesn’t seem quite right.-------------------------------“Asher, my man! Party at my place tonight! Will you be there?” Jason asked.“Wouldn’t miss it!”-------------------------------*rings doorbell* “YOOOOOO Jason!”“Asher! Now the party can start!” Jason exclaimed as Asher heard the noise of music and chatter.Asher noticed a few acquaintances, including Beth, the girl he’s been interested in.It didn’t take long t...

15 likes

Barely Standing

Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #90

April 2021 A gray, somber sky is somehow more beautiful with its counterpart, this antiquated bristle cone pine tree, towering beneath my vision. I sit beneath it as a fairly antiquated person myself... I try to come here daily, but busyness and the world's paranoia inhibit me from coming more than weekly some weeks. Leaving your own home upsets people, but what's ironic is this place is home...outside, under this tree. Still, the relief I feel seeing this tree after all these years gives me a reason to go out of my way for it. When I w...

12 likes