Tag Archives: love

NICK YOUNG: The Imprint of Time

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

It was an autumn afternoon in the park. A gust of chill wind and she turned my way, snugging the collar of her jacket, brushing an errant auburn lock from her forehead, smiling. It was only a fleeting moment; and yet, forty years on, it lingers as vividly as yesterday.

Nick Young is a retired award-winning CBS News Correspondent. In addition to 50-Word Stories, his writing has appeared in dozens of reviews, journals and anthologies. His first novel, “Deadline,” was published in 2023. He can be found on Bluesky at @youngnick.bsky.social. He lives outside Chicago.

RAN WALKER: Killing Me Softly

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

He hated living in her songs. Each lyric cut too deep, making his life a chorus for strangers.

She called it love.

And then, as if the weight finally reached her hands, the guitar slipped out of tune.

Complete silence.

Perhaps she finally understood love wasn’t meant to be performed.

Ran Walker is the author of over 40 books, the most recent of which is Fragments of the Afroverse, releasing on October 1st. He teaches creative writing at Hampton University and lives with his wife and daughter in Virginia.

RAN WALKER: Writing About Love

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

My notepad is full of poems about love, back from a time I didn’t know much about it (though I thought I did), but love must be learned by living through its highs and lows, my notepad growing as I grew to find myself this grown man writing about love.

Ran Walker is the author of over 40 books, most of them microfiction. He teaches creative writing and lives in Virginia with his wife and daughter.

PAUL D’ARCY: Inheritance

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

The kerchief was stiff with salt, sweat, and machine oil. She pressed it to her face.
It was him, alright. Not much of a dad. Always working, drinking, fighting, womanizing. Never home.
He couldn’t make her bedtime, but could always make her laugh.
She breathed him in one last time.

Paul D’Arcy tells stories. All real. Most brief. You can read more at pauldrc.com.

BRENDA LEE CARLSON: Tater Tots

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Our bodies melded together as we danced real slow. His hands were warm and laced with mine. The music was low on the radio—it was our song. We were a party of two in the kitchen, swaying to the beat. Kissing. Laughing. Burning the tater tots in the oven.

Brenda Lee Carlson is a writer from Minnesota. She has an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing. She has published poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and fifty-word stories, including two on FiftyWordStories.com. When she is not writing, she reads or tries to please her diva cat.

JOANNA NORLAND: The Aborted Suit of the Epic Hero Trapped in a Fifty-Word Tale

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

Lady, to merit thy love, I coaxed a golden tear from King Midas’s eye, which I bartered for a mermaid’s song.
I used her voice to lull a Dragon while I snatched his diamond tooth.
This, I present to you, peerless Lady, and humbly pray on bended knee, wilt thou—

Joanna Norland has learned through painful experience always to check the word count and trim where possible.

CHERYL SNELL: Puppy Love

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

It takes sixty-three days to whelp a puppy. Do that every few months and you’ve got yourself a pack. I’d be the leader, of course, padding after them, teaching them to say I love you. If you were here I’d show you. If you were here, though, I wouldn’t need to.

Cheryl Snell writes as revenge against reality. That’s her story and she’s sticking to it.

ASMI MAHAJAN: Bittersweet

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

she made coffee
just how i liked it.
smiled when i sat.
nodded when i spoke.
her silence never replied.
her eyes never left.
i said goodbye.
she stayed.
still stays.
frozen in a photo
on the wall,
holding a cup
i do not remember
teaching my daughter to make.

Asmi Mahajan is a student from India who finds reading and writing to be deeply cathartic. Beyond the written word, she enjoys café hopping, experimenting with new styles of matcha and bubble tea, and practicing calligraphy and brush pen lettering. Whether it’s through ink or experience, she’s always looking for new ways to express herself.

ELANUR WILLIAMS: Lessons in Holding

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

In the blue morning light, the baby reaches for her knees, stretches her body against star-patterned sheets, her eyes like silver moons across moving water, unselfconscious vowels breaking into laughter and smiles freely given and not earned; I could learn how to hold and be held in these arms outstretched.

Elanur Williams writes from New York City, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

ASHLEY E ENDERLE: Family

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

The playground hummed with laughter. “Who are you?” a girl asked.

“She’s my sister,” the eldest declared, gripping her sibling’s arm.

“No, she isn’t. You’re white. She’s black.”

A flicker of hurt, then resolve. “Families don’t have to match.”

A pause—then giggles. Princesses again, adventure-bound.

Ashley E. Enderle wrote this story.