Valerie Preston

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (86)

86 Stories

1502 karma pts

?

“The mistake that didn't matter in the end” by Valerie Preston

THE MISTAKE THAT DIDN’T MATTER IN THE END “Look Rachel. It happened. It was a bit of fun and a good release for us after clinching that deal. End of story. It happens all the time. People have too much to drink and make mistakes. Just keep it to yourself and it will be alright. I promise you. Don’t make it more difficult than it should be. No one needs to know but us and I won’t be telling anyone.  I’ll see you to...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Ccoming Home” by Valerie Preston

Coming Home When I was growing up I didn’t think I liked my family. I know it would surprise a lot of people to hear that said, not because you have to like your family, because if they knew my parents, they would understand, but rather from the point of someone saying it aloud. There were only three of us, my parents and myself. I was in a constant state of embarras...

0 comments 0
Read story

“We Won in the End” by Valerie Preston

We Won In The End It had been twenty four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. But like all of us, it had aged. Bricks needed a clean where the rain and damp over time had darkened them. Cream mortar in between was now grey, if there at all. Some of the red bricks had graffiti drawn on them, amazing artwork in bright colours some with the names of th...

1 comment 1
Read story

“I Can't Betray Anyone” by Valerie Preston

I Can’t Betray Anyone Life just seems too difficult sometimes. I really don’t know what to do. There’s no one that I trust enough to talk to and then again I would feel guilty telling anyone else what I know. Right now I want the world to swallow me up, a big hollow black hole to appear and just as I go to cross the road when the little green man appears overhead, I’m gone. I want to have a strok...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Long Road” by Valerie Preston

I looked across the room at my husband, the person who has been by my side through this long and difficult journey. Sensing I was watching him and thinking I needed something, he took two strides with his long legs and he was by my side once again. His strong, rough to the touch hands gently brushed away the stray strand of hair from my sweaty face. “Are you feeling ok my beautiful?” he asked quietly, his voice to me, as...

0 comments 0
Read story

“First Halloween Down There” by Valerie Preston

First Halloween Down There I knew as soon as I stepped off the pavement that it would hit me. I just wasn’t concentrating on the busy traffic – my head was full of Halloween thoughts. I was day dreaming and picturing me as ‘The Daughter of Dracula’ in the dress that I had just finished sewing the day before, and thinking about how I was going to make the punch disgusting to look at...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Scared to Death” by Valerie Preston

The path was long and winding. “It has to be just around this corner” I offered, but I had thought that at least five times in the last twenty minutes.. It was growing dark and shadows lengthened across the dirt road from, thick trees growing on either side. Long spindly branches were waving us on, pointing us in the direction that we should go. Not a difficult task seeing as this was the only road for miles. ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Autumn of Life” by Valerie Preston

Autumn of Life By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The paper would already be ash and once the leaves had burnt completely the rest underneath would go up in smoke. There would be no trace of anything and I would be safe. ‘Oh no’….”Hello Linda, Linda, where are you darling? Are you ok? I could smell smoke and got worried. I did call out but you obviously didn’t hear me. Where are you? What are ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Predictions No 3” by Valerie Preston

Predictions No 3 It was very dark and smelt musty. I couldn’t see a thing and I felt uneasy, as if I shouldn’t have come. I had been summoned to his bedside, and I really didn’t know him. I’d heard the stories, strange and sometimes creepy stories. Tales about mean and nasty things he did to people whom he took a dislike to. “I don’t like my wife” he had said, and a few weeks later ...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Fire That Shaped My life” by Valerie Preston

The Fire that Shaped My Life She cleared her throat and began… “It was a disaster. Black acrid smoke filled the air for kilometres. Bright orange and red flames licked the sky and danced around the forest, taunting bushes and trees, surging in for the kill – hot and furious. They had no mercy. All that was living was now dying. Birds fled their habitat in fright, squawking as they flapped wings wit...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Outsider” by Valerie Preston

The Outsider Old newspapers blew across the veranda and slammed the peeling front door shut. Jenny jumped, and waiting for her heart to slow down, she pulled the woollen blanket around her shoulders and sank back into the grubby and lumpy couch. White nylon curtains blew across dirty windows sending particles floating across the room. She watched, mesmerised as the bits went up into the a...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Plunged into Darkness” by Valerie Preston

Plunged into Darkness He looked in the full length mirror and liked what he saw. No, he loved what he saw. ‘A good impression, and all that’ he mused. The Italian custom tailored suit was a perfect fit. He was glad that he went with the mix of linen and w...

1 comment 1
Read story

“I Am Glad I've Moved On” by Valerie Preston

I don’t know how I got here and I don’t know how I’m getting back. Am I going back? It’s a strange predicament I seem to be in and I’m not sure quite what to do. I don’t really know where I am but things seem vaguely familiar in a way. I see an overweight elderly lady, rather ‘well to do’ by the look of it. “Excuse me” I begin and she ignores me. “Hello” I repeat louder this time. But there’s no reply. Not even ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“All that stress for nothing!” by Valerie Preston

“Hmm I’m not really sure about the blue dress. I do really like it but….. I think it shows too much cleavage. It’s a little bit too racy for my style”. “What about the red skirt with the white shirt then?” the shop assistant asked, already showing she was fed up by the lack of positive vibes coming from the customer. She had to put up with the indecisiveness and the same old ‘I’m not too sure. I’ll try it on one more ti...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Family Secrets” by Valerie Preston

Family Secrets “Are you joking?” he asked, mouth wide open. “That can’t be true. Who told you? When did you find out? Come on tell me what you know”. Jake shifted about in his leather office chair. He was enjoying being the ‘town crier’ for once, although the thought that it was scandal about someone from his own family was difficult to believe. Usually it was him who was asking the questions from Phil. H...

0 comments 0
Read story

Author bio

Valerie Preston has not written a bio yet!