Sway Dodson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2021

Stories (6)

6 Stories

123 karma pts

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“The Passenger” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #189

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. The snow had started off as a light mist, now pummeling the ground in heavy blankets. My car’s wipers battled with the incoming snow, my heart racing and my hands tightening on the steering wheel. I feared I would lose control of the car and crash into a tree or something, with me stuck upside down in the car until someone discovered my frozen body, my knuckles forever gripped in the ten-and-two position. My brain registered the figure as I looked down quick...

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“Teach Me How to Grow Up” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #183

Content Warning: mentions of domestic violence, postpartum depression, anger issues, substance abuse Something in my brain shifted when he slammed his glass on the table and shouted “grow up!” He continued speaking, a blur of angry expressions and fists hitting the table. My head was swimming, ears ringing, like my hearing had been knocked out. I was more focused on the glass, a gift I’d gotten him as an inside joke: world’s best teacher. He chipped the rim with his temper tantrum. Every pound to the wood made the whiskey slosh and...

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“Mama's Mix” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #162

A pinch of salt, a dash of pepper. Add more milk. Stir until it thickens. Most people, I’d guess, can say nice things about their mother. She’s beautiful, she’s funny, she makes the best chicken pot pie. Well, in our house, we don’t eat chicken pot pie, and the extravagant things we say about our mother are actually true. My mother is the strongest person I know, and I don’t say that because you’re supposed to say nice things about your mother, I say that because she has been through the deepest pits of hell and climbed her way back...

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“You Have to Open the Damn Box” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #133

“Okay, babe, yes, that sounds good,” I pass the phone into my other hand, glancing at my reflection in the mirror still hanging on the wall. I listen to Rob talk about dinner plans and what we would do tonight when we arrived at the new apartment. I mumble my agreement as I take the mirror down. I try to not look at my eyes, missing circles of age, or my forehead, smooth and youthful, or my hair, which should’ve been greying years ago. I tell my fiancé I love him, and to drive home safely from work. I walk into the living room,...

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“The Diner” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #110

It was the summer of ‘96. Everyone I knew was drunk on love, or just the idea of it. I had different plans, though. I had just moved out of my parents’ house and wanted to save for college. I got the job at the diner the next day. There wasn’t anything especially eye-catching about the diner. The outside was plain and unassuming. Inside, black-topped bar stools lined the back counter, and the booths were red and cracking. The tile floor was black and white checkered, and it needed a decent mopping. My first customer was Lau...

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“Closure” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #108

CONTENT WARNING: DEPICTIONS OF R@PE AND TR@UMA --- You never think it can happen to you until it does. And when it does, you think it can never change you. But you’re wrong. You’re so wrong. --- I met Gavin while I was working at a coffee shop. I wrote my number on his latte and he called me after my shift. We dated for a few months, and got really close. He was kind, and funny, and genuine. His eyes were a mossy green, the color of leaves in August. His were the kind of eyes that you look into and f...

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Author bio

20 part-time server, part-time writer. I write mostly poetry, but I want to write more short stories. Let me know what you think of my stories--any feedback is appreciated, even negative, as I can learn from any of your comments. Thank you for reading!