Tag: short story

  • Burden by Huina Zheng

    Burden by Huina Zheng

    Mom, when you said you wanted to live with us, I thought you meant the seven-day National Day holiday, so I agreed at once. After all, we live in different cities and don’t often see each other. But half a month passed, and you had no intention of leaving. Ling…

  • The Carpet Salesman by Ellis Shuman

    The Carpet Salesman by Ellis Shuman

    Business in the carpet department was slow; in fact, it was non-existent. Ziv sat behind his desk from the moment the store opened in the morning until it closed for the night, and looked out at the furniture displays with little to distract him. Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  Occasionally, shoppers walked into Ziv’s…

  • Trial Run by Gabrielle Esposito

    Trial Run by Gabrielle Esposito

    It was a miracle, really, that only one of them was killed in the car crash. By the time the police finally arrived, they had each been pulled away from the wreckage once: first Dash, Lily, and then Clem. The cops found Dash and Lily shouldering Clem into place as…

  • Firefly by Warren Benedetto

    Firefly by Warren Benedetto

    Missy caught the firefly in mid-air, cupping her hands around it to form a tiny, dark cave. She could feel the insect’s delicate footsteps tickling her skin as it wandered across her palm, searching for a way out.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  β€œGot you!” she whispered, victorious.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  It was almost dark. The sunset was…

  • Mulberry House by Will Sheets

    Mulberry House by Will Sheets

    It was spring when the stranger found me. I watched him as he stumbled over the roots of the great oaks that had grown to obscure the once-pristine path that led to my gate. I couldn’t help but stare. I hadn’t seen one of his kind since Lord Asenger and…

  • Rats by Vee Weeks

    Rats by Vee Weeks

    β€œCarmella, come here,” Mama said through gritted teeth as I scooted to the other side of the sofa as fast as I could. Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  My bare feet hit the floor and I was so close to getting up and running out of the living room, but Mama grabbed the sleeve…

  • Sculpted by Victoria Male

    Sculpted by Victoria Male

    β€œSo, you’re the so-called β€˜excellent supplicant’ of mine who called me a bitch then vomited in my temple.” Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  Pygmalia scrambled to her knees and pressed her head to the floor, internally cursing herself regarding its dusty state. In Pyg’s defense, she had not expected the goddess of love and…

  • The Taxi Driver by Alexandra Carcel

    The Taxi Driver by Alexandra Carcel

    The woman on the street corner looked just like his mother. He stared at her, watching as she slipped around the corner, skirt swishing around her ankles. He blinked, and she was gone. Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  The doctor shook himself and looked at his watch. If he didn’t catch a taxi soon,…

  • Drowning by Jim Bates

    Drowning by Jim Bates

    β€œYou kids be careful,” my aunt called to us as we raced out the door. β€œI’ll be down in a minute after I finish…” Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β  My guess was that she was going to say, β€œAfter I finish taking the last tray of cookies out of the oven.” But my brother…