Shawnalynn Cromwell

“The Keepers” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Note: story contains mysterious deaths. The Keepers Sundown is coming fast and Lee is scrambling to finish her notes so she can leave for the day, stop for her check-in and get home. The protocol seems to change almost daily - since the incident a year ago.  How could they penalize the entire community because of some fool who thought they could beat the system? Lee Burgess has been the Chief Health Controller of the community’s Testing Laboratory for a year now in the town of Saint-Berry and never imagined she would be ...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“She Loves Me Not” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Note: This story's plot contains a crime of passion.Valentines Day is two weeks away, Emma is planning her candy menu for the big day.  She carefully looks over what her best sellers were the year before - and a huge smile comes across her face. For some reason, her orders are up exceedingly. In the back of her mind, she chalks it up to a year where the divorce rate has gone through the roof!This years' Valentine's Day will be her best yet for she is adding a new addition to her candy menu. But Emma does not plan to ...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story

“What's the Diagnosis? ” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #107

Mary-Ann could not believe her luck in finding a three-bedroom apartment with the utilities included!  Now all she had to do was convince her two best friends - to move into the three-bedroom apartment. They all made a pact to go to the same university.  She could have moved into an on-campus dorm - but she wants to know about the feeling of independence and freedom - from her parents. "Kate, Steve, please, please!!!" Mary-Ann pleads with her two friends to share the three-bedroom apartment. Kate pipes up...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Summer's End” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #99

No more can fit into the car - who knew a couple could pack so much for a road trip! "Mary, are you ready yet - we gotta get on the road!" her husband Cole yelled up to her. Mary sighs as she sips up the last piece of luggage. "I will be right down - just got my last piece packed!" She loads up a tote bag with all the essentials for the road (hand sanitizer, wipes, gloves, masks and garbage bags), among other things. It is a "Summer COVID-19 Road Trip" after all. Cole puts the last bag in the trunk and preps t...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Dark Side” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #92

The day is sweltering - Ava can't drink enough water - to quench her thirst to cool down. "Hey Dora, I am going to make some ice - my mind is mush from this heat!"  Dora lifts her head off of the pillow where she is lying on the couch. "Yes, make some in the refrigerator's ice maker - why didn't I think of that - geez!"  Ava and Dora have never experienced heat like this in all of the years living in the studio apartment. The air conditioning is on full blast, as well as strategically placed fans all around th...

13 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“July Snow” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #77

Peggy was almost finished with the outdoor arrangements; she was so happy to be planning her first official wedding! Peggy wanted to make a good impression - she was meticulous with everything! Her assistant Carol was stressed to the max - wanting to please her boss and potentially stay on as a full-time employee."Carol, have the Murphy's arrived yet?" Peggy asked nervously. "No, they are actually going to be running about twenty minutes late" as Carol relays this information to Peggy, she braces for her reaction. "Well -...

7 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Vow” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #65

The town of Mayhem is getting ready for the festivities Friday All Hallows Eve! The town goes all out for Halloween you would think it was Christmas. The small town does whatever it can to attract people, to help out its rocky economy.   The Mayor of the town hopes that this will be the best one yet! This year is the third one that has been held in the town. It is the brainchild of Samantha Harrington the Head of the recreation committee. She came up with the theme from the folklore of the town itself whi...

8 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Rain of Fire” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #60

The weather forecast is calling for another strange day, in the weather world who would complain, it is a warm spring-like day, in the middle of winter. Sandra George is a little down about the warm forecast, she was planning on going skiing later in the day. She cannot believe the difference from the morning to the afternoon. One minute it is bone-chilling cold and snowing and the next the sun is shining and the snow disappears just as fast as it fell! Sandra’s husband arrives home, entering the house, carrying his winter c...

13 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“On the Outside” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: suicide   It was so hard for Shawn not to feel the atmosphere of the room – it was cold and calculating and deliberately dispelling. She was in the throws of finishing her final student work term and was nervously excited to do so. It was a hard journey to get to this last work term – between taking “time off” to recover from an illness and then rebuilding a brand-new work term to return to, was mentally exhausting!     Not to mention being a mature student.   The morning meeting ...

12 likes 3 comments 3

Read story

“Comatose Minute” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #52

Sandy Parker is amazed at how many people showed up at her husband Hayden's funeral, she never realized how many people he had known, over his lifetime. "Why don't you go and take a lie down. I can see everyone is taken care of and look after the food." Sandy's sister assured her and gently persuaded her to go upstairs. "Yes, I think I will go and lie down…the day has been very draining, and please make sure the kids are not left alone," as she says this she moves very slowly up the stairs, only wanting to lie down and sleep f...

9 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“Unfinished Business” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #51

It is raining, and Marty decides to walk home from work, anyway. It is a warm summer's day, he thinks to himself, "I won't melt lol!" Marty lucked out with his work location and the closeness of it, to his apartment building. He is still amazed at how it all worked out. As he takes the elevator to his floor, the doors open, he sees his neighbour from apartment 45C as he puts his key in the door to his apartment. "Hi, Susan!" His neighbour swings around Marty waves back to her and says, "Hey, how's it going, hope you...

5 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Refreshments anyone?” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #49

Jennie checks her watch for the umpteenth time, wondering when her turn will be. She arrived an hour early she was so nervous about the whole thing if she missed her chance "again" it would be the end of everything for her and her husband. Her husband wished her luck and told her to keep focused.The other people that had arrived were not as nervous as she was just were better at hiding it than she was. "I cannot believe the spread they put out for everyone some good eats!" said a man enthusiastically while stuffing yet another...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Dark Walk” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #44

The Dark WalkThe water was ice cold and hypothermia was a certainty and not a maybe likelihood. The splash of her body falling into the water was loud, like a quick burst of noise, in the quiet crisp winter night. But not something that would be noticed by anyone at this time of night.  But fortunately for Kelley, a fisherman was on his boat doing some repairs in the cabin of the boat. He stuck his head out of the cabin and looked around for the cause of the splash and then from the corner of his eye, he saw a body i...

6 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“A Loss of Faith” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #42

A Loss of FaithIn 2017 I was employed at two jobs back to back. The first of the two was my dream job - I loved it! It was as an Adult Literacy Practitioner. The reason I was able to fill the position as - I had shown I could do, some of the duties - required of the job - in another venue.  I was asked if I would be interested in filling the spot - temporarily until - someone was found.  I jumped at the chance but eventually and sadly - it came to an end and by that time - I had secured ...

4 likes 2 comments 2

Read story