Tom Skye

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2023

Stories (19)

19 Stories

1109 karma pts

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“The Pod and the Purpose” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #277

There are moments when one must question the course of their life. Did one make a misstep, demonstrate poor judgment, or was one simply subjected to a sobering dose of bad luck? And if one truly has a purpose, was it met? For me, this period of deep introspection began eight hours ago when I heard the girl start to moan. True, the bedroom was dark and the two of us were alone, but I promise you, I never touched her, not once. I was completely trapped and paralyzed, and I had to endure her moans the whole night. They were constant and ti...

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“Island Winds” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #240

The bombs had fallen near the village again the previous night, but this time, the house hadn't been hit. Billy and his mother had waited late into the morning around a small fire for news concerning the conflict. The room had a single bay window. It was patched up with cardboard, and harsh winds darted in and around it. Billy peered through curiously as the cardboard flapped. Being situated on a small coastal island, the circulating winds were not unusual in Hamley's Village, but today, amongst the brown leaves and ash, the wind carried a p...

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“The Road to Reflection” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #239

Thirty-Three reversed the car out of the bay and exited the parking lot onto the road. "240 miles to daily checkpoint," he said as he propelled the vehicle northward. Waves of sunlight flickered off the surrounding dunes, dazzling him, and he tossed his head side-to-side to shake away the glare. Accelerating hard, the car quickly reached 65 mph, and he lowered his cap."Ah, we got six hours," said Seventy-Five, biting his fingernail.Thirty-Three navigated the chicane. "Yeah, only six hours after your third bowl of soup.""Well, the soup sucked...

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“Money, Blood, and Coffee” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #238

TW: Strong language and violence throughout.Hey girl. I'll take one large ginger spiced latte and a chocolate chip muffin, please... …and sorry if I look a state. I just walked over from Bark and Solihull, the solicitors one block up, and you wouldn't believe what went down. I'm guessing this red shit all over my face and shirt is a giveaway, but damn… a guy just got his head blown half off. And don't get all nervous around me. Do you think I would be standing here hands-free if I had anything to do with this shit? Nah… I haven't so muc...

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“Can't Help Falling in Mud” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #237

This is Melissa; I'm out right now; please leave me a message… Beep.Hi there, Melissa. This is Daniel. You probably wouldn't believe it if you saw me, but I am walking down the street covered in mud. Let me explain. I had such a wonderful time with you this afternoon. I've not gelled with someone like that so quickly in forever. I guess you could say I've never been very lucky in finding a suitable partner. But the moment I laid eyes on you at the fitness club, it really was like being struck by lightning. I have never believed in falling fo...

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“Nostalgia is an Illusion” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #236

Dr. Sean Dalton sits by the porthole as the space station orbits the Earth for the 483rd time. This shift has been a long one. The curvature of England's south coast is visible through the domed acrylic. Home is down there, and so is she. It is 3 days until his return.He pushes himself from the wall with his feet, and his chair rolls on its wheels to a nearby desk. He clicks the mouse, and a video plays."Hi, Sean. Hope everything is going well up there. I miss you lots. I read in the garden today. I like it out there because I can sense you ...

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“Jasmin's Panacea” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #224

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but “That’s funny …” — Isaac Asimov After thirteen hours of work and forty-seven minutes of sleep, Jasmin peeled her forehead off the desk and sat back in her chair. The glare of dawn through the window dazzled her momentarily before she lowered her eyes and began rebuttoning her lab coat. As she rose from her seat, she shrugged away the aches and stiffness from her shoulders and neck and walked across the laboratory, muttering under...

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“Pig Meds” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #223

Professor Smyth-Gladstone is ten minutes late. Lynn, his PA, assures me he is on campus. Standing with my back to his door, lightly tapping my head against the wood, I consider making chit-chat with Lynn but hold off as she devours what looks like a field of carrots.Twenty minutes late. I shuffle the three sheets of organic molecules, mechanisms, and tabulated data in my hand for the fiftieth time. They're still the correct print-offs; they're still the correct data. I lift on my toes, still tapping my head. The cold coat hook slides against...

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“Brown Fur” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #222

It was the fourteenth day in a row Daisy found herself animal tracking in the forest. By her feet was another clump of brown fur. She kneeled to pick it up, rolling the tough strands between her finger and thumb before allowing them to settle in her palm. A short gust of wind lifted them from her hand, and she watched as they spread across the air and into nature. The surrounding trees towered beyond sight and lined deep in every direction, but the thick greenery that shrouded them cast no shadow, allowing light from a blazing pink sky to il...

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“A Ghostly Discourse” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #221

Thomas and Giles were sitting at the kitchen table preparing for Halloween night. Though the boys were unaware of his presence, Arthur sat at the table listening to his two grandchildren.“No, the holes in the sheet aren’t the eyes, idiot!” Thomas exclaimed.“Well, what are they then?” Giles asked. “Is this more comic book knowledge?”“Listen. The reason a ghost looks like a sheet isn’t because they are white and wavy. It’s because they are invisible. They drape a sheet over themselves so people can see them.”“Ah, so the holes are like spying h...

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“Prison Chip” by Tom Skye

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #219

I am awake. What is this cell? Blackness, emptiness, where am I? How long have I been here?"Ok, Congressman Jones, Dr. Spears, now for the final leg of the University tour. I am Professor Colin Shelley; please step through here. You are now to witness the jewel in our crown. The fruits of our exploration into organ on a chip."Shelley led them through the laboratory. Rows of partially lit fume hoods lined the room's left, and a larger biosafety cabinet was positioned in the far-left corner. Benches with various apparatus and glassware we...

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“Natural Painter” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #217

Craig closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and took a deep breath. Opening his eyes, he looked down at the paintbrush in his hand and then over to his younger brother, sitting across the room on the floor. "OK, Jonny. Do you see this big white square sheet with the tree stump on? This is your canvas."Jonny looked up momentarily, then down again. He was facing away from Craig and the canvas, building with his Lego. On a white plastic base in front of him was a Lego wall patterned with repeated red, blue, and yellow rows. Craig walked across th...

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“Pinch the Sun from the Sky” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #214

The sun's final sliver hovered over the Ibiza horizon as James pinched Shauna's knee to his right. They watched from the roof of a 20-story hotel three blocks from the beach. The two of them sang together:"Oh, tell me why, do we build castles in the sky? Oh, tell me why…."."I would pinch the sun from the sky for you if I could," James whispered.Shauna began to laugh as James belted the female vocal with eyes closed to disastrous effect. The ecstasy pills from the previous night were still lingering, and both were keen to embrace the moment b...

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“The Apple Heist” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #213

Lorna led the four children across the street and into Pottery Barn like ducklings to a pond. "Right, Jonny, Amy, Cora, Corey; I just need a quick look around. I'll only be 10 minutes, 15 minutes tops. We will meet the others soon. Just hang around here and don't touch anything. I'll have my eyes on you the whole time." She gave each of the children an imperious glance and disappeared further into the shop and out of sight. Today was Jonny's 7th birthday, and his mother was taking him to Soft City with his younger sister, Amy, and the 8 ...

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“About Alice” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear friend,To whom this letter is addressed, I do not know. It has been written by me in some form or other many times over, but for now, I have no means to send it. Perhaps I am writing to myself, for myself, but hopefully not forever, though the activity is somewhat therapeutic.I find myself in a pickle, stuck in this hot cabin deep in the moors. I share the space with my beloved wife, Alice. She suggested coming here for a month to find ourselves, to clear our heads, but that month feels like many, and my head is more bruised than clear....

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Author bio

Just enjoying this whole process really. I love the writing and I love the feedback. It's brilliant learning from all the amazing on stuff by others as well. If anyone wants to reach me for additional chat about the work, I'm on Birchual@hotmail.com. I'm happy to do my best to critique anyone's stories.

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #219
Prison Chip – read story