Tag Archives: emotions

DESIREE S BROWN: The Grieving and Ambitious

Adventure, Submissions, , , ,

Magic had weight that could break a grieving mind, effectively ending any wizard’s career.

Professor Henley drew an incantation in the air. Finger-like tendrils seeped out of the pentagram and lurched into his skull, hungry for memory.

He thought of his wedding. His children being born.

The spell groaned, sated.

Desiree S. Brown is a poet and author from California. She writes when the world sleeps and her toddler’s are pacified. Her recent work, Untroubled, was published in Redrosethorns magazine. Find her on Substack at Desi’s Narrative.

KELLI SHORT BORGES: Woman-ness

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , , , ,

Her husband calls her moody, calls her hysterical, calls her off-the-rails. Tells her to calm down—blames it on her woman-ness. So she breaks herself into pieces, tucks each piece inside a pillbox, compartments labeled: Sadness. Fear. Disappointment. Fury. Each day she sets a timer, remembers to swallow them down.

Kelli Short Borges is a writer of essays, short stories and flash fiction. A former reading specialist in the Arizona public school system, Kelli is a life-long reading enthusiast. Her work has been published at The Tahoma Literary Review, The Citron Review, MoonPark Review, The Dribble Drabble Review, and Ghost Parachute, among other publications. Kelli is a 2022 Best of the Net and 2023 Best Microfictions nominee. She is currently working on her first novel.

ROBERT DUSTMAN: Goodbye, My Love

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

The doctor took John’s wife aside. In a comforting voice, he told her John was nearing the end. His cancer had returned and spread to every organ in his body. The wife sobbed on the doctor’s shoulder. She summoned the courage to hold her husband’s hand and kiss him goodbye.

Robert (Bob) Dustman was Oakland County Executive (Michigan) L. Brooks Patterson’s chief spokesman and Director of Media & Communications for seventeen years. Mr. Dustman also enjoyed a distinguished and successful twenty-five year career as a radio and television broadcast journalist in Michigan. After retiring in 2009, Mr. Dustman wrote 3 books that were published and served as a free-lance public relations consultant.

BRIAN MAYCOCK: Changes

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

The ghost takes its time. After a lifetime of stress and rushing this feels fine. It will work its way up to haunting, perhaps its old boss or ex-wife.

There was only simmering hatred when it was alive, but now thinking about her brings unexpected sadness, the memory of love.

Brian Maycock’s short fiction has appeared in outlets including The Drabble, 101 Words and Paragraph Planet. He lives in Scotland.

YASH SEYEDBAGHERI: Cracked Lives

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, , , , ,

I smash Mother’s clay flowerpot with a basketball. It splits into multiple pieces.

Dad sifts through the pieces.

“Some things can’t be replaced,” he murmurs.

I wish he’d hate me. Or hit me. Yell.

I glue piece after piece. Fill the pot with the lilacs Mother had planned.

Cracks remain.

Yash Seyedbagheri is a graduate of Colorado State University’s MFA program in fiction. A native of Idaho, Yash’s work is forthcoming or has been published in WestWard Quarterly, CaféLit, and Ariel Chart, among others.

TONY AWORI: The Other Guy

Submissions, Touching, , ,

“I’m sorry.”

The human mind displays its wonder and mystery. With two words, the doubts and suspicions first cast aside rise to a thundering crescendo. Anger, despair, betrayal, and love all battle for dominance and endeavour to exert their will on the next decision, only three words:

“Who is he?”

Tony is from Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently studying business in Malaysia. He has loved reading since he was a kid and feels that writing is a fun way to be creative. In his spare time he plays the the saxophone and loves watching thriller and horror movies.

DANIEL SLATEN: It’s Called a Heart

Artistic, Submissions, ,

He gives pieces of his heart away with no more thought than he would give to handing out nondescript business cards. After a while he almost forgets the value of what he’s giving away.

Only when the last piece is gone does he realize there’s no way to reorder more.

Daniel Slaten has a large supply of business cards but can never find one when he really needs it.

Let Your Feelings Flow

Amusing, Touching, , , , ,

“Let those feelings go!” the counselor suggests. “Pour them out across the floor! It’ll help.”

I start with a single teardrop dripped onto the carpet. Then suddenly I’m on my knees flailing my fists, bang bang bang.

I’m cured. I forgive my father.

But man do I hate floors now.

This story was based on the prompt “pour it out” at TypeTrigger.

Mirroring

Artistic, Touching, , , , ,

Christopher loved his wife, his kids, his dog, his job, and himself.

The only thing in the world that Christopher couldn’t stand was unhappy people. Whenever Christopher met a sad, grumpy, or irritable person, he felt sad, grumpy, and irritable, too.

He was just like the rest of us, really.