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Writer Maniac

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2020

Stories (67)
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1055 Followers
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67 Stories

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Merry Christmas to Me

Submitted to Contest #73

Trigger warning: domestic violence   I wake up to the sunlight hitting my face and temporarily blinding me.   Slowly lifting Lucifer’s hand splayed on my stomach, I take off the blanket, only to be hit by the cold wind flowing in from the open windows.   I place my feet on the ice-cold floor and regret not wearing something warmer last night.   Getting up to close the windows, the warm rays of light reaching my face give me temporary comfort.   The view from the window can only be described as a winter wonderland. Th...

72 likes 45 comments 45
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Better With You

Submitted to Contest #73

I stand backstage, the short skirt and top I’m wearing not helping with the heat.I’m pressed up against Layla and Shailene, their sweaty bodies making me more uncomfortable and suffocated with every second. Our star is late. And eight thousand people aren’t very happy about it. “LOGAN! LOGAN! LOGAN! LOGAN!” Freaking Logan. Can’t he come on time for once? People from all over the world travelled here just to see him, and he has to be all dramatic and make them wait. Typical Logan.“Now, please welcome to the stage, the one and only, Logan Youn...

76 likes 45 comments 45
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Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Submitted to Contest #72

I would have never thought that Oliver would end up where he was today. The smart boy who never overstepped any boundaries, who always greeted me and my wife when we ran into each other at the grocery store, who went on laundry runs for the neighbours, who brought back chocolates for the kids, wasn’t supposed to end up in an interrogation room. His sunken eyes look at me through the half-open door, and I’m compelled to enter and get him out. But I can’t. I must not let emotions get in the way. Not being a police officer has it...

103 likes 57 comments 57
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Paternal Stranger

Submitted to Contest #72

The package, wrapped in brown paper, lies on the porch, uncaring of its surroundings. I wrap my sweater tighter around my body and walk out of the house to be greeted by the characteristic chill of October morning air. Picking up the package, I examine it, noting that it’s slightly heavy. I go back to the house, my feet immediately cold at contact with the floor. Sitting on the couch, I carefully open it, to find a box filled to the brim with letters written in an unfamiliar handwriting, all addressed to me. I open the first en...

78 likes 39 comments 39
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Unexpected Love

Submitted to Contest #72

“Why am I never enough for you, huh? Why is it that there is always something about me or what I do that isn’t satisfactory?”“You’re over exaggerating, Aiden.”“No, no I’m not. I always have to make sure that I’m exactly the way you want me to be, and I hate it! I thought that you loved me for who I am, but I was so wrong. You don’t love me one bit, you just love the idea of me, the idea that I’m exactly who you want."“Stop it.”“Oh, I have to stop? Am I stepping out of line, Rosella?”“Yes, you are. Stop talking to me like this.”“Truth makes y...

120 likes 90 comments 90
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A Good Day

Submitted to Contest #71

The sacks of flour are passed from one man to the next, a few grains escaping from small openings.The women’s voices rise higher and higher, merging and combining, becoming a harmony sounding slightly unpleasant.Large quantities of sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder and baking soda are passed in the same fashion and put in different piles.“Now,” said Mrs Marano, who was in charge of this, “We will be following a simple recipe to make the cookie, which must be noted and memorized by everyone.”Yeah, she’s a bit strict.But all ...

68 likes 27 comments 27
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Red Water

Submitted to Contest #70

I leave a note on the table for Carter, telling him that I would be back in a few hours, and there was food in the fridge if he was hungry. Might as well be a good wife while I still was one. I hope that today goes well. I don’t want it to happen again. Picking up my car keys and house keys, I leave the house and lock the door. I slowly get into the car, taking care not to strain my right leg, and put on my seatbelt. Slowly, I drive out of the garage, and onto the road. Checking all my mirrors, and making sure that I’m f...

58 likes 11 comments 11
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An Unfortunate Series of Events

Submitted to Contest #70

The opening and closing clicks of the shutters of the cameras feel like a part of me now. Lights flash, some white, some blue, some red. I’m blinded. Chester is walking behind me, his hand on my back, trying to protect me from the crowd and comfort me at the same time. My parents and Courtney got left behind, calling everyone they knew to get enough money to get me out. Microphones are shoved at my face, trying to get a word out of me. But I’m not going to say anything. Anything and everything I say will be used against me.I pointed out to t...

77 likes 84 comments 84
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Repairing Relationships

Submitted to Contest #69

“No.” “What do you mean ‘no’?” “I mean that it isn’t worth it. Spending that much money isn’t worth it.” “How come when it’s something you both need, spending money is worth it? Whenever I need something is when the money is too much.” “Stop talking to your mother like that.” “Okay then, I’ll just shut up. That’s what is best for everyone, isn’t it?” Mom slaps me. My cheek is throbbing with pain, and I’m pretty sure it left a mark. But that isn’t going to stop me. “Whenever Madilyn needs something, the entire world wi...

55 likes 6 comments 6
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The Sun and the Moon

Submitted to Contest #68

I yawn loudly, not even trying to suppress it. Aunt Lucinda looks at me with mock anger, only for a second. Her familiar smile comes back on her face, the ends of her mouth curving upwards, and the area around her hazel eyes crinkling. The grass under me is still wet after yesterday’s downpour. If it had been up to Mother, she would have locked me inside, telling me that I would get sick. But I am at Aunt Lucinda’s for the weekend. Which means that I can do everything that is considered illegal in my own house, with Aunt leading the ...

67 likes 8 comments 8
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Bitter Fate

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. This was supposed to be the day they photographed and kept carefully in albums, the pictures they framed and placed at strategic points around the house, the day that they would share with their children and grandchildren without being prompted to. But everything had gone horribly wrong. The morning had been bright and clear, a few clouds dotting the endless blue sky. Estella was at the temporary house set up a few miles from the church, getting ready for her big day. The day...

71 likes 10 comments 10
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Family

Submitted to Contest #67

“I love you. Do you love me?”“Uh – yeah. Yeah, I do love you.”“How much?”“Too much.”******“You are getting distracted, Henry.”“I know Dad. But I – I can’t help it.”“You must. Stop being sentimental or I’ll have to do it myself. You know how I feel about getting my hands dirty.”“Forget about her. Or I’ll make you.”******I walk across the lawn and reach the door.Gently knocking, I look around, taking in my surroundings and committing them to memory.A plant next to the door giving off a sweet fragrance, the freshly wet grass in the lawn, the we...

60 likes 6 comments 6
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This Moment

Submitted to Contest #67

“Hello.”“Hey. Are you willing to be my fake boyfriend for a month?”******I’m woken up by the aroma of pancakes and bacon.I open my eyes and am warmly greeted by the lens of the camera, a blue light flashing, announcing that I’m currently being filmed.Audrey is standing right behind it, smiling at me, her perfect white teeth blinding me more than the flash from the camera.The camera crew fills my bedroom, expecting a reaction from me which they can record.I plaster a lovestruck smile on my face, my heart having melted at my boyfriend making b...

73 likes 23 comments 23
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Who Loves Lives

Submitted to Contest #66

“You are going to die today if you don’t do this right. And I mean literally.”“I know,” I squeeze out between clenched teeth.I pull the arrow as far as I possibly can without breaking the bow’s string and aim.My fingers let go of the arrow.It lands a few inches away from the centre of the target.I curse.******It’s my WWL today. Who Wins Lives. I’ve been training for this day for the entirety of my life.To ensure that I have a life after WWL.Quite simply, whoever wins, lives.The title should have been Who Loses Dies.That is a more accurate wa...

70 likes 27 comments 27
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Life and Lies

Submitted to Contest #65

Trigger warning: suicide   “Mom will be fine, El.”   “No, she won’t! She’s all alone and being alone is very sad.”   “I understand your point El, but she likes it alone.”   “Don’t be a doofus Melinda, no one likes it alone.”   “But…”   “No buts. We are going to stay with Mommy tonight.”   ******   “Daddy, we’re going to sleep next to Mommy tonight.”   Dad opens his third bottle of whiskey, not really deciphering El’s words.   He just grunts, and that is enough for El, who pulls my hand and dr...

57 likes 8 comments 8
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