-The best stories on the web-
Read or link to over 1000 stories listed under Stories to the left.
Submit your short stories for review as a Word document attached to an email to: Read@Short-Story.Me

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…

Dale  Keene ate dinner with his wife, Ella. In the middle of dinner, Dale stood up, grimaced and looked around the room. “Ella, what’s that?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear it?”

“Hear what?”

“The voice,” he said, and walked around the bottom floor of the house.

“What are you talking about, Dale?”

“The voice. Someone is saying, ‘Let me out’” Jeez, I hear it clear as a bell, but you don’t hear it.  It’s not my imagination. I hear a voice.”

“Maybe you should check with our doctor.”

“Yeah,” he said and called for an appointment. “Thank you. I’ll be there.” The next morning, Dale and his wife went to see the doctor. “Well, Mr. and Mrs. Keene, what can I do for you?”

“Dr. Marsh, I’m hearing a voice. It’s as clear as a bell.  It’s saying ‘Let me out’ and I can’t figure it out.

“Let’s take a look,” he said and used an otoscope to look in his ears. “Well, I looked in both ears and everything is normal. Maybe you should see a specialist, an ear, nose, and throat doctor. See my receptionist. She’ll give you a name and number,” he said and left.

Dale made and appointment to see Dr. Carmen, a specialist. “Well, Mr. Keene, I can’t see any reason for the voice you heard. I suggest you see a neurosurgeon. A neurosurgeon will probably want a brain scan, an MRI. See my receptionist. She’ll give you a name and number.

Dale made an appointment to see Dr. Kelly, a neurosurgeon. “Mr. Keene, I think it’s time to do a scan. We’ll do an MRI  and take a close look at your brain. See my receptionist for a date,” he said and left. Dale had the MRI, and Dr. Kelly showed him the  pictures. “I believe that inch-long, oblong growth is your voice. I suggest we remove it.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Okay. See my receptionist for a date and time for surgery,” he said and left.

“I’m nervous about brain surgery, Ella, but if the thing stays in my brain, I’ll go mad listening to the voice in my head.”

The day came for his surgery. He was anesthetized, and three doctors and four nurses assisted Dr. Kelly. After two hours, they found the object. “Well done, ladies and gentlemen, there it is,” he said. Let’s be careful how we cut it out,” he said, and as he took a scalpel, and prepared to cut it out, everybody gasped as the object flapped its wings, and, like a humming bird, hovered above the stunned doctors and nurses.

“Well, it’s about time you let me out,” it said and flew to  the operating room door. “Will somebody please open this door,” it said hovering, and a nurse opened the door, and it flew away.

“That didn’t happen, did it?” Dr. Kelly asked the others.

“No,” the doctors and nurses said in unison.

Dale recovered and was happy that the voice was gone. Dr. Kelly never told him what it was, nor did the others who were in the operating room ever mention the talking, flying…thing.

 

The End

 

While teaching speech and English at a community college, Mr. Greenblatt wrote short stories and plays, one of which won a reading at Smith College.  After retiring, he wrote short stories and novellas.  Several of his stories were published in on-line magazines, and others were published in print anthologies.

0
0
0
s2sdefault

Donate a little?

Use PayPal to support our efforts:

Amount

Genre Poll

Your Favorite Genre?

Sign Up for info from Short-Story.Me!

Stories Tips And Advice