Ellie clicked off the line. Her shoulders dropping faster than the call. It was hard enough burying someone, making all the arrangements, taking their wishes and balancing them with your own ache for someone you loved. A mother, a father, even a selfish, two-faced monster in law. . . Ellie had buried them all. Both…
Tag: death
Overstaying
The spicy notes of cologne wafted onto the balcony with the flurry of Spanish. Rico telling tales of fish back home in Costa Rica, bigger than the kids he was talking to. It clashed with the stale stink of cigarettes and quiet. Mel was surprised at how much she had tuned out. The neighborhood below…
Betrayal at the Bungalow
“I’m not doing the job,” she said over her shoulder. The cord of her headphones snagged on her notebook as she turned the page and the corner. “Here is my phone number, it’s for the new address. Please send it out tomorrow.” She pressed end on her call; the open space of her bedroom waiting…
Strike of a Match
The small thin orangy line moved. Its little legs barely visible, just shadows dancing across the stained taupe cushion. Vermin, of an unknown origin. She wasn’t an entomologist, but statistically they shouldn’t be parasitic. She would have bet they were. It should have been more alarming. Especially when its friends joined the parade. One became…
Waiting to Die
The wall of dread stood before her tall, dark, and imposing. Small sparkles of light were visible behind it, at least she thought they were. She believed they were. She wondered if it was enough to break through. It hadn’t been the first time that she had stood before this wall, but for some reason…
A Token of Affliction
The purple puffy pouch rested against the stapler. Some of the air already deflated causing it to slump more than stand. Not that she had filled it with air or anything really to make it puffy, it had just kind of closed that way. Inside was a small token of affection, one that Margret was…
Beauty is Pain
Marissa could barely breathe. She felt something clawing through her throat. Her breaths were ragged and gasped. Pressure was building in her head from around her neck. She tossed back and forth, tangling herself in her purple sheets. Marissa felt her throat constrict and herself gag. Fumbling with her sheets, Marissa freed herself and shot…
The Hut
TW; the following dark and haunting tale may contain descriptions of sexual violence that are not suitable for some audiences.if you feel this might apply to you, please return to our homepage. The trees reached well past the limits of the sky. Plentiful, but not so thick or dense that you couldn’t enjoy the nature around you. Grass grew…
Counting Objects
Hands as raised as she could get them, as Sheila dropped to her knees she woke from her nightmare.
Time Froze Them Both
Scott slowly released his breath. He wasn’t sure how long he had been sucking it in. He continued to exhale as his pushed his foot into the floor. It was sore. The stiffness grew up his ankle and through his joints. He remembered the days when his stiffness lived in his boxer shorts. Those were…