Stevie Burges

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

Stories (45)

45 Stories

1407 karma pts

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“Falling by Default” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #276

Sam had just received an email from Amy, the daughter of a recently deceased friend. Sam had never met the daughter and, frankly, was unlikely to. In the email, Amy, recently reaching her 50th year, wrote to tell Sam about rejoining the dating scene. After exchanging a dozen emails with Amy about the single life, she finally admitted that, at 70, finding romance wasn’t exactly on her agenda… or so she’d thought. Quite honestly, looking at the average 70-year-old male didn’t appeal. Not only was it unlikely that the experience ...

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“The Arranged Marriage” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #274

Luna lived in a small, impoverished village with her mother and sister, Aurora. Her mother had spent years preparing Luna for marriage, the only viable means for a woman to secure food and shelter. After Luna's father abandoned them, they struggled to get food for the three of them, and things were destined to worsen. Luna's mother began to urge her to marry before their situation grew even more desperate. Luna had only met her father briefly. He was a well-known drunk, layabout and womaniser. He had finally deserted his dependent ...

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“The Familiar Stranger” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #271

Maya left the office and began her journey home. She was a reasonably attractive woman in her 30s, and life appeared to be good. She was based in a large corporate office, working a regular, well-paid admin job, surrounded by many young, fun, apparently “like-minded” work colleagues. Strange how she constantly felt disconnected from life. By the end of the day, her whole jawline ached, where she had been clenching her teeth due to multiple self-induced anxiety-ridden moments.   As she left the office that evenin...

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“The Price of Everything” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #268

Dolly was one of life’s moaners, although coming from a well-to-do family that was semi-famous. Despite living in a large, comfortable home and being sent to good schools and colleges, she had grown into a lazy bully of a girl. She felt she deserved very high regard from all and to be admired for whatever she turned her hands to. Without a doubt, all men should be mesmerised by her face, which had regularly been under the surgeon's knife, as well as her liposuctioned waist and thighs that were expected to be lusted after by al...

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“The Retiree” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #266

The RetireeShe had thoroughly enjoyed herself as an English teacher. Not only did she find the job satisfying, but she also seemed to have a host of acquaintances. She felt she had all she could want. A decent job, a good salary, many social opportunities, and an all-round appreciation of life. Just as she felt that life couldn’t improve, she was called into the Head’s Office and told she must retire. She knew she was of retirement age, but she thought she was indispensable, and they surely would never ask her to go....

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“Return to China” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #265

Heathrow, London, 2009.   I still vividly remember how stressed and exhausted I was while waiting in the airport departure lounge that April day. Fear of the unknown consumed me, and any positive thoughts towards my travel adventure had long evaporated. I forced my breathing to become calmer as I tried to sit quietly and wait for the boarding call for the Beijing flight. I was no stranger to this departure lounge at Heathrow. Two years earlier, I had been here preparing to fly out to commence my senior gap year in Borneo. I vo...

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“An Affair of Olympic Proportions” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #256

An Affair of Olympic Proportions In the summer of 2012, Britain buzzed with Olympic fever. Tourists thronged the streets, eager to witness the world's top athletes. Even Nicky, usually indifferent to sports, felt a thrill as she navigated the crowded pavements. All of the UK had outdone itself; even the sun had decided to shine and cast a golden hue over much of the country. Nicky, an attractive 30-year-old woman, squeezed through the large crowds, soaking in the excitement of London, her home City, hosting such a huge event.   Nic...

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“The Library” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #251

Jasmine slammed her laptop shut, the blank screen mocking her. She drained the last of her latte, its bitterness mirroring her frustration. Writing had always been her refuge, especially in retirement, but today, words eluded her like a cruel joke. Deciding a change of scenery might help, she left Lemon Drop Café and stepped into the unusually quiet main street.Turning a corner, she noticed a narrow, cobblestone lane she'd never seen before. Curiosity piqued, she ventured down the lane, her footsteps echoing softly on the smooth cobblestones...

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“The Reservoir” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #249

The ReservoirMargaret began to feel fear rising in her throat as she drove in the dark. Where the hell was she? “Oh my god, what’s that?” she thought. Peering over the driving wheel, she realised it was a vast body of water that had appeared suddenly out of nowhere. Her car’s main beam caught sight of a small country lane to her right and, turning the car wheel, began to ascend rapidly. As she neared the summit, putting her foot on the brake, she scrabbled around on the passenger seat and located the discarded map. L...

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“Up, Up and Away” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #247

Before World War II, life was relatively simple for Lorraine. As a woman, she was expected to find a man who could keep her to a standard deemed appropriate by her parents. The ‘happy couple’ would marry and, due to limited available contraception, almost immediately start a family. It was rare for women to still work after marriage. Instead, now that she was married, her full-time job was as a housekeeper, a wife, and, in a reasonably short time, a mother.Feeling that she understood her new role in life, she was surprised that everything co...

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“Love Amongst the Portraits” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #242

Emma was a single woman in her early 40s who adored art galleries and museums. For her, they represented sanctuaries where she could revel in solitude without succumbing to loneliness. The serene ambience of these spaces allowed her facial muscles to unwind from a week of stress and transformed her into a more radiant version of herself. As an independent soul, she relished mingling with others who shared her passion for art, enjoying the silent camaraderie of fellow gallery-goers. That spring Saturday morning, in bustling Central London, wh...

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“The Robot” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #239

Life had been good to Claudia. She’d never married or had kids but was friendly with her area's local children, neighbours, cats and dogs. She’d bought a cosy two-bedroom bungalow when she’d retired. Her tranquil property provided a peaceful sanctuary and was adorned with a quaint front garden enclosed by a low wall and a hedge. At the back of the property was a verdant backyard with many colourful blooms in large pots.  Celebrating her 82nd year, Claudia's untroubled life was abruptly shattered when a misstep on a r...

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“The Blind Date” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #237

The Blind Date Becky pushed her way through the swing doors of the bustling open office she had worked in for the last eight years. Becky, a slim, good-looking woman, about 30 years old, is a proofreader for the renowned ‘Whiz - The Young Persons’ Lifestyle Magazine.’ “Whiz” had just received the Magazine of the Year Award (1982), and Becky, like all those who worked for the magazine, was justifiably proud of the achievement. In the 1980s, the magazine’s large office was mainly staffed by young, excitable women whose main goals in ...

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“NY Resolution: How to be Cool 2024” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #231

Hi Both,As the year draws to a close, it's that time again - time to jot down our resolutions. I'll be honest; I've never been too keen on this task. But this year, why not share my vision for a dazzling 2024 with you both?Resolution 1: Unleash the New MeReinvent me entirely. How hard could it be? Isn't that what resolutions are all about?Resolution 2: The Eternal Diet StruggleWhy is it that every New Year, I find myself chanting the same mantra - go on a diet? It's like my excess weight only becomes visible with the turning of the calendar....

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“Xmas Lunch” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #228

Lilian despised Xmas—the frantic rush to buy presents when the shops were teeming with customers. Navigating through the overcrowded shops, wondering what the hell she would buy. Each counter was knee-deep in potential customers, and given her petite stature of 5 feet, the whole experience was a daunting task. Once the gift shopping was complete, the next challenge would await her - boarding a bus or struggling to the underground train station amid bustling pavements outside the department store on Oxford Street.  Th...

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Author bio

I live in Chiangmai, Thailand, but I am from London, UK. I retired from teaching in China in 2020 and have taken up writing as a hobby. I find writing very challenging but getting slightly more manageable as I practice. I love reading the stories on this site and am so impressed with all the skilled and talented writers that contribute to this site. smburges@icloud.com