Tessa Gray

“In An Instant ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #68

You’d watched the sunrise that morning, as you did every morning, sitting beside Cassandra in the Hamic you’d built for her a few months earlier. It had been so peaceful, so calm, so ordinary. There’d been nothing about the morning to indicate that the day it gave birth to would be one full of sorrow and regret. The sky had just begun to turn pink when Cassandra had suddenly stiffened. You’d felt the change instantly, her entire body becoming taught as a bowstring, the muscles in her leg where it pressed against yours going rigid. Your g...

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“In An Instant ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #49

 It was less than an hour by carriage, but she didn’t want to take the carriage, she wanted to ride. You convinced her not to. You said it would be safer for the baby for her to be ensconced in the cushioned carriage seat, and not bouncing around in the saddle. She’d scowled at you, both because of your eloquent description of the riding she loved so much, and because she knew you were right. “Fine,“ she‘d agreed exasperatedly, “but only for the baby.“ You replay that moment now, The last word she said to you bef...

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“If only” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #48

 The firelight cast flickering illumination over the girls countenence. Her face was only half visible, one side lit by the dancing flames and the other hidden in shadow. It didn’t matter. He knew her features as well as he knew his own. He knew the line of her jaw, the curve of her cheekbone, the shape of her ear, the curl of her hair, the cast of her eyes, nose, mouth. He especially knew her lips, the way they sometimes curled upward into an unconscious half smile when her thoughts were filled with something she’d ...

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“Trust Your instincts ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #48

 The inside of the closet was dark, as the insides of closets often are. The girl sat with her back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to her chest and arms wrapped tightly around them. The floor around her was scattered with boots and shoeboxes, hangers and pieces of clothing which had fallen from the rack overhead. There were shelves above her, three of them toward the top of the closet. The lowest was full of wellthumbed and much beloved books. The one above that held knickknacks, family photos and some glass orn...

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“ Collision course ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #47

You were gazing out the window. Nothing beyond the glass held your attention, you were only staring through it because the alternative was looking across the table at your dinner companion. She was speaking, saying something about how she knows you can’t be serious. Distantly, you noticed raindrops have begun to fall. This morning’s forecast called for a cloudless sky by the evening. Apparently they’d got it wrong again. You keep your gaze fixed on the rain, you don’t let it stray in her direction. You can’t. If you do, you’ll see her tear...

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“ Impossible is Only a Matter of Perspective ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #43

It was impossible, that’s what I would’ve said if anyone had asked me about it. I would’ve told them in no uncertain terms that conversing with the dead was simply not possible. But then it happened. The impossible happened and as it turned out it wasn’t so impossible after all.The morning began ordinarily enough. I was awoken by the unwelcome and unmistakable sound of my alarm clock. I pressed the snooze button and briefly considered unplugging the thing. As tempting as the idea was I discarded it, knowing that if I did my mother ...

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“ Impossible is Only a Matter of Perspective ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #42

It was impossible, that’s what I would’ve said if anyone had asked me about it. I would’ve told them in no uncertain terms that conversing with the dead was simply not possible. But then it happened. The impossible happened and as it turned out it wasn’t so impossible after all.The morning began ordinarily enough. I was awoken by the unwelcome and unmistakable sound of my alarm clock. I pressed the snooze button and briefly considered unplugging the thing. As tempting as the idea was I discarded it, knowing that if I did my mother ...

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“A Midnight Conversation ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #42

 was almost midnight when the call came. Like many others on this particular evening, Frank was still awake. Unlike most people however, it was not a view of Times Square that captivated his attention. Instead, he sat gazing intently at his cellphone, as though he could will it into making a sound. When it finally did, he pressed the accept button before it had finished its first ring.  “It’s done?” he asked by way of greeting.  “What do you think? You know I don’t make mistakes.” The words might have sounded arrogan...

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“The Promise of a New Year ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #27

It was the same each year. First came the feeling, then the need, and then, finally, the blood. He didn’t let himself wonder often. Wondering inevitably lead to longing. Longing required not just acknowledging desire, but embracing it with all the fierceness of a lovers hold. And desire was so very dangerous. But there were evenings, when the time between midnight and twilight seamed never-ending, that he couldn’t stop himself from asking. Would it be any different if he allowed the indulgence more than once every twelve months? Wo...

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“A midnight conversation ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #22

A midnight conversation It was almost midnight when the call came. Like many others on this particular evening, Frank was still awake. Unlike most people however, it was not a view of Times Square that captivated his attention. Instead, he sat gazing intently at his cellphone, as though he could will it into making a sound. When it finally did, he pressed the accept button before it had finished it’s first ring.  “It’s done?” he inquired by way of greeting.  “What do you think? You know I don’t make mistakes.” The wo...

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“To Go or Not To Go ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #20

 “Mommy I’m hungry,” the little boy informs his mother. She glances over at where her son sits coloring at the kitchen table. “Ok Lex, just give me a few more minutes to finish up this painting and then we can go out for dinner.”The child pauses in his drawing, appearing to consider his mother’s words. “Can we go to McDonald’s?” he asks hopefully. “I want chicken nuggets.” “Sorry kiddo,” his mother replies reaching over to tousle her son’s hair. “You already had McDonald’s this week. We can go to the diner. Just let me finish worki...

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“An Unexpected Guest ” by Tessa Gray

When the knocking began, it was after midnight. Despite the late hour Dominic was still awake. “If it’s one of those girl scouts again,” he muttered darkly. “As if staying on a diet isn’t hard enough, there always coming around here trying to get me to by candy. I don’t know what their parents are thinking letting them wander around the neighborhood at all hours.” From where she lay on the rug near the fire, his German-Shepperd opened one eye and blinked at him as if in agreement. The knocking ceased and for a moment, Dominic thoug...

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