Posts tagged short story

the forsaken – 26/1000

She called me and I didn’t answer. I didn’t answer the first time, or the third, or the tenth.

I didn’t want to hear from her, ever.

I hadn’t talked to my sister in years and was doing good work forgetting the sound of her voice.

She abandoned our family, thinking she didn’t need us. We weren’t good enough, or rich enough, or interesting enough for her.

I used to say she wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire, and maybe that’s true, but finally I answer:

“WHAT?!”

“Please, I need you, I’m sorry.”

“Well, that’s too bad.”… Read the rest

my tall, cold drink – 25/1000

When I met you I already knew you.
Even though I hadn’t known you existed yet,
I already knew you’d be mine.

Lacing my fingers with yours
for the very first time
felt like coming home to
a place I’d long forgotten
and didn’t know I was missing.

When you touch me I light up,
when you kiss me you bring
me to life; you are my tall, cold drink.

My skin twin, my love of my life,
we’ve crossed seas of time and
six anniversaries, this is not
a casual affair, this is a romance
written in the stars.… Read the rest

portrait poltergeists – 24/1000

The dust sparkles in the dim beams of light from the soiled windows, and I trip over a sheet meant to cover a canvas, sending a stack of paintings like dominos to the floor.

“Do you have any idea what you just did?” Jake asks me.

“Probably nothing good.”

Low moans emanate from the floor and turn to shrieks with the volume down, pitiful cries from pitiful souls, all of them trapped here in their portraits.

“We never should have come in here,” Jake says.

“But we have to find dad!”

“Do you really want to find him in here?… Read the rest

the diamond – 22/1000


“Did you bring it?”

“Wasn’t that the point of coming here?”

“Let’s see it.”

“This place is busy, you want me to take it out now?”

“Yes, yes!”

The man opened the kerchief in the palm of his hand and revealed the diamond, nearly the size of a golf ball, rare, clean, and uncut.

“Where’d you find it?”

“I’ll never tell.”

“Good evening, gentlemen, can I get either of you something to drink?”

“Looks like you are pretty busy in here tonight, maybe we’ll just leave.”

“Yeah, it might be best to go somewhere more private to make this deal.”… Read the rest

paying rent – 21/1000

You are too deeply engraved into my heart to leave.
You’ve built a home here inside of me; you live in
my hand, too, yours in mine, and in bed we
tangle limbs and get as close as we can –
and if you can do that,
how can you think of leaving?

You are to embedded in my soul to leave.
You’ve taken up residence, you pay rent,
your thoughts control my thoughts, and
oh, how I wish that weren’t the case,
but I love you in ways most won’t ever
understand, but you understand me,
that’s all that … Read the rest

murder – 20/1000

He slams the cash on the counter. “I need a bouquet with a hidden meaning.” He’s not the first to ask.

“What meaning, sir?”

“Murder.”

“Murder again!?” the shopkeeper exclaimed.

She puttered around the room and talked:

“Well, my heavens, sometimes I wish I didn’t keep promises, like when I promised to keep this shop open after my grandmother died. She passed the magic along to me, though. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll solve your problem.”

She presented him a bouquet of the deepest red roses, and he watched her spray them with something.

“Don’t sniff – only her.”

“Who?”

“Your … Read the rest

guilt – 19/1000

I am Atlas with the world on my back.
I am the poor soul with the albatross on my neck.
I am pushing this rock up and up and up
this hill like Sisyphus with not
even a hope let alone a promise
of relief.

There’s only so much I
can hurt in my heart before
I decide to set down the weight
of the things holding me back,
and things you’re piling
on top of me to carry.

One day I’ll either lose
my strength or my will,
but either way, that is when
I will lose you, finally.… Read the rest

I can explain – 18/1000

“We need to talk.”

“What is it?”

“It’s the alien you’re hiding in the attic.”

“You want it gone?”

“No, I just think if you’re going to hide an alien it shouldn’t be in the attic. We have a basement, that’s more dungeon-y.”

“But I want her to feel welcome.”

“Oh, it’s a her now, is it?”

“It’s always been.”

“What are you doing with her up there?”

“Experiments…”

“Are you probing her, Carl? Are you playing doctor with the alien?”

“No, Maude, I’d never! Maude, no, don’t go up there!”

“I’m going!”

“No! Uh, I can explain the lingerie!”… Read the rest

you can’t leave me – 17/1000

Don’t leave me.
Please don’t leave me,
I’ve begged these words before,
not proud, but not shamed,
I need you here.

Please don’t leave me.
Please think of all the good times,
when we laughed and loved each other
so much we made people sick.

You can’t leave me.
I wouldn’t know how to go on
without you, I can’t even breathe
when you’re not here, I’m choked,
unable to speak or cry.

I won’t let you leave me.
I will beg and guilt and manipulate,
I will promise, I will swear, I will
do anything for you to stay.… Read the rest