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Latest Stories

December 16, 2024
Poetry Minjzi

5 In The Morning

At once, both within and without that dazzling crowd. You go from one to the other. Predictable, tedious, careless people. Darkness, and only a blinding light right in your eyes - looking at you. Deafening music drowns and bites your twisted thoughts. Drinks…
December 16, 2024
Mystery Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

I Professional Gamer

This is Betty, the voicemail said. I got your number from Jess. Why weren't you in school today? Everyone missed you. Sorry, I meant everyone missed your noise. Mr. Lagerback taught coding today. Hope you'd show up tomorrow. Or would what stopped you from…
December 16, 2024
Poetry Minjzi

Impression Of Delight

Let me enfold you, among the whispering of the night I say. It’s three in the morning, the end of December. She tensely rubs in and peels off her skin, sour from unease. With trembling steps, she runs from the puzzled reality. Knocks down all ruins and slumps…
December 16, 2024
Fantasy Stories Ocelotlzin

What Is Love

What is love? Anno Domini 934 King’s Aethelstan invasion. A forest at the north end of Scotland. “We need to be faster, let’s go to the woods and try to hide there.” Those were the words of Aedan to his family. The group of people were running from their…
December 16, 2024
Poetry Paweł Markiewicz

A Day From Life Of Klaus Werner Swamp-Man

The marvelous winter has come with the most tender Christmas Eve Klaus Werner Swamp-Man awaits dream august Moment is revealed Klaus a forester lives alone in a clear home amidst the grove In the evening praying by table he enjoyed freedom of silence Oracular…
December 16, 2024
Horror Stories Steven Bruce

The Package

The two men, dressed in hotel staff uniforms, stood before the lift in the quiet foyer. "You never ask," the older man said and thumbed the button. "But why?" the younger man said. "Listen, if you’re ever to take over from me, stop asking questions." "But…
December 16, 2024
Poetry Minjzi

All Is At Odds With Us

All is at odds with us. Doomed were the threads that tensely held the alliance of us. Amongst the wet gloomy walls, she was slowly walking. With each step further and further away from us. I used to call her Liu Lu. The elusive, unplausible, unpredictable Liu…
December 16, 2024
Flash Fiction Maxwell Bado

The Pebble And The Charlatan

When I was a boy, I used to walk through the woods with my father. One day, on an Autumn hike, my father entrusted me with a rock. It was small and square. A soft, reddish-brown, little stone. He placed the stone in my hand and said, “Hold on to this stone.…
November 25, 2024
Poetry Minjzi

Doomed Were The Threads

All is at odds with us. Doomed were the threads that tensely held the alliance of us. We are floating amongst the dreams and the past of us. Tranquillity of that fire will never arise. You thrive in the corners, in the inflows of me. Cut in in the slits, you…
November 25, 2024
Mystery Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

This Way To The Berry Desideratum

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." – Jorge Luis Borges Earth, circa 2200. A tree wilts and dies, gradually, To the roots. A cormorant glides across the surface of a sea, Picking a dead stinking fish. Golden Duke Hemlocks are…
November 25, 2024
Poetry Minjzi

Vanished Possibilities

It’s crossing over you and drowning you into immensity. Wrapped, intertwined, buried with vanished possibilities. You stand alone on the road where sorrow lives. And remember, remember how to rescue yourself from the silhouette of the past, stuck in your…
November 25, 2024
Flash Fiction Syed Hassan Askari

I Am A free Man

The sun hung low in the sky, covered by the clouds, casting a dim, shadowy light against the crumbling walls of Ghulam Ali’s small house. He sat with his mother inside the prayer room, a prayer mat laid in front of him. The silence prevailed everywhere as he…

Lainie sat staring at the unopened envelope. She let out a long sigh, sliced the package open, and slid the contents out onto the kitchen counter.

Three hours later, envelope in hand, she entered the restaurant looking hotter than a jalapeno. Dark curls swept up off her neck, her dress of champagne-colored lace blended with her creamy skin. She turned every head in the place … except two.

Lainie strode over to a booth where a man and woman sat in close contact, quietly conversing. When her husband looked up, Lainie watched the color drain from his face. His eyes widened, and he sputtered, “Lainie! Wha … what are you doing here?”

The woman he was with turned questioning eyes on Lainie.

So, the rotten bastard didn’t bother to tell you he’s married, Lainie thought.

Her face was filled with disgust when she looked back at Tom. “I’m certainly glad I insisted that prenup infidelity clause apply to both of us. Thanks for making this easy.”

“Now wait a minute, Lainie. Margo and I were just having a business dinner … an oversight meeting, that’s all. There’s no reason for you to jump to the wrong conclusion, baby.”

Margo gagged on her water. When she recovered, she glared at Tom. “You didn’t mention you were married. I guess this really was an oversight meeting!” She picked up her purse, slid out of the booth, turned and headed for the door.

Sweat trickled down Tom’s temple, but he was a lawyer, a man used to talking his way out of anything. Just as Lainie expected, he put on his most charming grin. His eyes slid from her face to roam the curves of her body. “I’ve never seen that dress before. You look fabulous tonight!”

Did he really think he was so irresistible she’d forgive him no matter what? Lainie realized in that moment there was no denying she’d married a scumbag.

She squared her shoulders, glared, and said, “Tell it to my attorney.”

“But, honey, you don’t understand …”

“Don’t ‘honey’ me, Tom,” Lainie interrupted. “And I understand more than you know.” She dumped the photographs on the table, some of them landing in the unfinished dessert.

Tom spewed his wine.

Lainie picked up one of the pictures and gave it a glance. “Even I have to admit Margo looks pretty sultry in that red bra and panties. And look, your hands are all over her.”

Tom stuck his finger between his neck and shirt then tugged as if someone were strangling him.

Lainie’s eyes filled with sadness. “Unfortunately you’re not going to be able to talk your way out of this one. It’s over, Tom.”

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