Vera N

“The Telemarketer's Trial By Sarcasm” by Vera N

Ring, ring… Jack: (cheerfully) Hello? Kevin (Telemarketer): Good afternoon, sir. This is Kevin calling from National Utility Solutions. How are you doing today? Jack: Oh, Kevin! What a pleasant surprise! I was just sitting here hoping someone from National Utility Solutions would call me. My day’s going great. And yours? Kevin: (caught off guard) Uh, yes, that’s... great to hear. I’m doing well too, thank you for asking. So, the reason for my call today is that we’ve noticed you qualify for a government rebate on your electricity bill. Can I...

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“Back to 1999” by Vera N

The first thing that hit Jamie was the smell.It wasn’t the sharp, metallic scent of the present, nor the hum of technology that seemed to buzz everywhere in the world he knew. No, this was something different. The air was thick with the scent of fresh-cut grass, gasoline, and something warm and nostalgic—like the kind of sunburned afternoons when summers felt endless. He blinked and squinted against the harsh sunlight that bathed the streets.It had worked. It had really worked.The small, wrist-sized device in his hand—made of sleek, brushed ...

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“Maple Street Chronicles” by Vera N

I remember the first time I met Evelyn and Nia like it was yesterday. It was one of those crisp autumn afternoons that seem almost too perfect to be real—where the sun casts long, golden shadows across the ground, and the air carries the rich scent of earth, falling leaves, and the faint promise of winter. The kind of day where the world feels still, as if holding its breath before the changing seasons.I had just moved into the old Victorian house on Maple Street, a place that had been vacant for years. The house was a fixer-upper, no doubt ...

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“Poisoned Victory” by Vera N

The lights were blinding, flashing in every direction, casting long shadows across the concrete walls of the underground arena. The deafening sound of the crowd echoed through the space, vibrating the very air as the final countdown to the championship match began.Beneath the surface of the chaotic noise, Jane could feel her heartbeat like a drumbeat in her chest. She’d been preparing for this moment for years—working tirelessly, training in every discipline, mastering every technique, and now, here she was, at the final match of the Global ...

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“Two Strangers, One Holiday” by Vera N

The crisp winter air bit at Alannah's skin as she stood on her apartment balcony, staring down at the city streets below. The holiday season had descended in full force, with the world around her aglow in festive lights and glittering decorations. Yet, for Alannah, it was just another day, another reminder of the loneliness she felt during the most celebrated time of the year. The holidays had always been a big deal in her family—until last year. That was when everything began to unravel. Her parents had separated, her sister had moved abroa...

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“When The Holidays Don't Feel Right” by Vera N

It was the most wonderful time of the year—at least, that’s what the songs always claimed. The twinkling lights, the endless carols, the laughter, and the cheerful faces—it was all supposed to be filled with joy. Elena stood in the middle of her living room, the holiday decorations sparkling around her, yet something gnawed at her. She had checked her list twice, decorated the house to perfection, and had the turkey roasting in the oven, yet the sense of unease wouldn’t leave her.She glanced out the window at the snow gently falling outside,...

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“The Man Who Never Left” by Vera N

Sandy had always been a creature of habit. Her Saturday mornings were sacred—a quiet ritual that kept her grounded. She would wake up before the world stirred, make herself a steaming cup of dark coffee, the kind that wrapped around her senses like a warm embrace. Then, she would settle into her favorite armchair by the window, the soft glow of dawn spilling in, casting long shadows across the room. Her world was filled with the gentle hum of jazz, the soothing notes of Miles Davis or Chet Baker weaving through the air, wrapping her in a bla...

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“Whispers of the Alps: A Christmas Renewal” by Vera N

Submitted to Contest #283

Sophia stepped off the train and into the crisp December air of Cortina d’Ampezzo, a picturesque town nestled in the Italian Alps. The Dolomite peaks towered above, their jagged edges softened by a fresh blanket of snow. Her breath formed small clouds that dissolved into the endless expanse of pristine white. The station was quaint, with stone walls and a roof dusted in powder, blending seamlessly into the alpine surroundings. This was her first Christmas since the life she once knew had been turned upside down, and the quiet isolation of Co...

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“Bringing the Dawn” by Vera N

In the beginning, there was only mist. For generations, the people of Nebra had adapted to their veiled world. The sky above was a swirling gray haze, and the ground beneath their feet was covered with soft, spongy moss that drank in the ever-present moisture. Life thrived in the shrouds of mist; glowing flora illuminated the dim surroundings, and the people had evolved to see by the faint phosphorescence of their environment, navigating by instinct, sound, and the diffuse light of their foggy home.Among the Nebran people was a curious young...

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“Echoes of Mistakes, Murmurs of Hope” by Vera N

The morning air was crisp as Evelyn stepped off the train in the sleepy town of Eldermere. The station, a quaint relic of another era, smelled of old wood and the faint tang of diesel. She tightened her grip on the single suitcase she had brought with her—all that remained of her old life.Evelyn wasn’t sure what had drawn her to Eldermere. Perhaps it was the anonymity of the place, tucked away in the valley and surrounded by thick forests. Or perhaps it was the promise of a fresh start, untainted by the mistakes she had left behind.Mistakes....

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“The Sopron Pursuit” by Vera N

Submitted to Contest #282

The sun dipped low over the vineyards of western Hungary, casting long shadows across the rolling hills. In the small town of Sopron, nestled near the Austrian border, time seemed to flow more slowly. That was, until the quiet of the evening was shattered by the sound of screeching tires.Eszter Nagy, a former military intelligence officer turned private investigator, slammed the brakes of her sturdy Jeep as a figure darted onto the cobblestone street. Heart pounding, she stepped out to find a young man sprawled in the road, clutching a leath...

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“Songbird and Troubadour” by Vera N

Submitted to Contest #277

The warm tones of Elvis’s guitar blended seamlessly with Alannah’s soaring voice, their combined artistry enchanting the small café crowd every Saturday night. The duo had been a fixture at Maison de Lune for nearly three years, their music a tapestry of emotion that drew in regulars and newcomers alike.For Alannah, those nights were an escape, a chance to lose herself in the power of her voice and the magic of their music. For Elvis, they were a reminder of why he had fallen in love with the craft in the first place—the quiet camaraderie, t...

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“The Echo Of Lost Moments” by Vera N

The sea whispered secrets against the jagged rocks as Nia stood on the cliff’s edge, her hair whipping around her face like a wild, untamed flame. The salty breeze stung her eyes, but it wasn't the wind that blurred her vision; it was the tears. The horizon stretched endlessly before her, painted in hues of gold and crimson as the sun slowly sank into the ocean’s embrace. She knew this place too well—the old lighthouse at Sable Point, where she and Luka had spent countless summer days, dreaming of futures that now seemed like distant stars. ...

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“Fangs and False Smiles” by Vera N

I remember the taste of blood. That’s how I’ll begin because it’s what you want to hear, isn’t it? The blood, the carnage, the hunt. You think you know me, the Big Bad Wolf, the beast that haunts the dreams of children and prowls the darkest corners of the forest. But let me tell you a different tale—one that doesn’t end with a hunter’s axe in my back or a belly full of stones. No, my story is much darker than that, and it begins long before a little girl in a red cloak came skipping through the woods. Do you know what it's like to be born a...

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“The Wicked Ticking” by Vera N

In the quaint village of Everspring, tucked between emerald hills and a flowing river, lived an old clockmaker named Eldric. His shop, “Timeless Treasures,” was the heart of the town, a place where time seemed to pause whenever one stepped inside. The air was always scented with the tang of brass and the subtle sweetness of cedarwood, the ticking of countless clocks forming a soothing symphony. Eldric was a man of peculiar habits. He had a long, gaunt face with a silver beard that hung like a waterfall, and his eyes, a steely blue, sparkled ...

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