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Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

The weather is hot and muggy but it is July. The day is beautiful. I stand in my wedding dress and feel like a princess. Like all the princesses I saw on TV and in the movies. I will be married in a few hours. I am eighteen years and excited, yet I have no idea what I am getting myself into. The man I am to marry is someone I have chosen, I think. He is five years my senior. He has a nice smile and eyes the color of chocolate milk. I have a temptation for guys with brown eyes. Perhaps because my first love had them.

The sick feeling hits me an hour before I am walk down the aisle. I will be someone’s wife, forever. I am hoping maybe this is a dream. The blisters on my feet from the white high heeled shoes, to match, assure me this is not a dream. This is real. All of a sudden I believe this adventure I am about to embark upon is all wrong. It does not feel right. Something is off. This is not good. I even share how I feel with my mother. She is adamant and does not falter. She has no sympathy because for her it is all about image. There is no way I can back out now. The wedding is in less than thirty minutes. Besides, this is Canada my mother assures me. “You can divorce him next week if you wish. Today you marry and tomorrow you worry about the rest”. She says with a fake smile. My heart sinks. I feel as though I am trapped. This is a nightmare. I have no where to go and no one to turn to. Except down the aisle.

As the music plays I do my part, I walk down the aisle. I put one size seven, white stiletto heel, in front of the other. I stall as long as I can. I cannot go back. I keep hoping I will wake up or my soon to be husband will change his mind or perhaps even have a heart attack. None of this happens. I think, perhaps, I do not know him well enough. We have only been together for a year. Perhaps it is too soon to marry? It does not matter now. I am in tears as the priest recites our wedding vows. I look up into the audience and everyone gives me their best smile. They believe I have tears because I am marrying the man I love. I do not think I love him. I just think he is a nice guy and I really care about him? I am now thinking this might not be the same thing as love. Perhaps I am too young to know what love is. And now, maybe, I will never know love. My heart weeps.

The priest waits for me to say the words “I do” back to complete the life long contract. I feel like I am agreeing to being tortured in public. I say it back and close my eyes to gain composure. The priest announces us husband and wife. I feel as though I have been sentenced to death row. Afterwards I try to smile and greet everyone. I thank them for their presence at my wedding. All I can think of is how I allowed this to happen? I am eighteen years old and married. I am too young. It will not work. I have no idea why but something tells me in my heart he is not the one for me. I have to prepare myself. I will need all my strength.

As the photographer takes hundreds of pictures of us, I pray. I pray when the photos come back my secret will not shine through. I do not want others to judge or question me. I will try hard to keep my part of the bargain. I have made my choice. Although I regret it already. This is not my new husband’s fault? I have duties to fill and expectations to meet. To be safe, my wedding photos will never be on display in our home or given to friends and family. I need to conceal truth at all costs.

My husband and I walk towards our apartment. He picks me up to carry me through the doorway. For a second I think I might be irrational or have wedding jitters. I genuinely smile. We make our way to the bedroom. The excitement creeps into me. In a few moments I will put on something sexy with lace for my new husband. We will make love for the first time as a married couple. My husband’s eyes lock with mine. He undresses quickly and says to me “I am glad that whole charade is over with”. My heart rips into two. I can’t help myself. I have to know. “What do you mean?” I ask in a whisper. He takes a step forward and gives me a hard slap on the left cheek. I take a step back. I am completely stunned. Who is this man?

“Never question me again. Never”, he says. He climbs into bed and is asleep in minutes. I stare at him. I keep expecting him to jump up and say “I got you”, or something else. I wait for over an hour and he never stirs. I wonder how this moment is possible. It is just us .I should be making love to my husband but instead I spend the whole night crying silently. I don’t want make him angry again. I stay up all night filling out thank-you cards for the guests at our wedding. My instincts were right. From this moment on, my husband is a complete stranger. The person I though I knew is just an illusion. My sentence begins a life long game of charades.

Bio:

Catina Noble has over a hundred publications including short stories, poetry, articles/interviews and photography. She has been published in a variety of places including; Chicken Soup for the Soul, Byline Magazine, Y Travel and Woman’s World. She is a member of The Ontario Poetry Society, a Professional Member of the Canadian Author’s Association and recently won 1st place in the Canadian Authors Association-NCR Poetry Contest. Please feel free to stop by at http://catinanoble.wordpress.com

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