Posts tagged very short story

in 1000 Stories

EMDR – 36/1000

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In therapy, we are EMDRing our way toward feeling like enough.

I show up, I trace the green dot back and forth with my eyes while I think of the worst memory of my entire life and cry about it.

And then we do it again. And again. And again.

The same place, the same words spoken, the same gold couch, the same familiar face becoming a stranger in seconds.

It’s like physical therapy for your brain: sometimes it has to hurt a little more before it starts feeling better.

Though I miss him, reminiscing can be sweet yet sickening.… Read the rest

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haunted house – 35/1000

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We stood in the street looking at the house for what felt like hours.

It got so late in the afternoon, I didn’t think we were going to make it inside before dark, and we had to be home before dark.

It would be fine; we wouldn’t have time to go inside.

But I was wrong, of course, and my friends got me to follow them through that open door that was hanging on one rusty hinge.

We never thought it could slam behind us.

We never could have imagined what would be on the other side of that door.… Read the rest

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how – 32/1000

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I remember the days when the rain would fall and we would dance on the sidewalks all the way home.

The ground glittered like diamonds under our feet and made us feel like royalty even when we pushed the revolving door into the dump of the hotel.

We’d stagger up stairs because the elevator has been broken for years and then collapse onto empty, itchy duvet covers.

How gross, how ridiculous, how sure I am those were the best days of my life, and none better will ever come.

How often I close my eyes and come back to you.… Read the rest

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not going to Oz – 31/1000

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She went up like Dorothy would have, had she not gone to Oz.

Up up up into the sky, into the place where angels live in the clouds, that’s what Dad taught her, that the people we love will always be there watching over us.

Well, who was watching over her when she rose up only to come crashing back to the earth and be buried under a pile of awful?

She didn’t see anyone in the clouds, and she didn’t think anyone was watching over anyone.

It felt empty up there, like the inside of her heart always did.… Read the rest

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Yeah, No – 29/1000

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“Well, you’re not what I expected.”

“Bow to me!”

“Yeah, no, I don’t think I’m gonna do that.”

“You are a servant of God!”

“Yeah, no, I’m actually not.”

“You mock me?”

“Yeah. Are you the one in charge around here?”

“I rule the land and seas and sky.”

“Okay, well, you’re doing a really shit job of it. The air is polluted, the seas are filling with garbage, and the land is either flooding or on fire at any given time. Plus, we have millions of people fighting in wars over land… or God.”

“I need a fucking vacation.”… Read the rest

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jump, grandpa, jump – 28/1000

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“I can’t believe you agreed to do this, grandpa!”

“I have the time now, sweetheart.”

“You sure you’re up for this?”

“Well, I won’t let you go it alone, kiddo.”

“Who’s first?”

She stepped right up to the door and gave me the thumbs up before she jumped and was out of sight.

The man strapped to my back started pushing me toward the door.

“Now that she’s out, I don’t really have to go, I’m fine,” I said.

“You’re fine? Let’s rock and roll!”

I didn’t jump out of a plane, he did.

I was along for the ride.… Read the rest

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The Cannonall – 27/1000

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We walk up to the paddock and he waves his arm toward his stock.

“They’re all purebreds, straight from Xygoth.”

“They look… disgusting, and they smell… what even is that?”

“That’s their natural musk, it’s fine.”

“Don’t you have anything smaller, and faster?”

“Oh, you don’t want anything but this. The Canonalls are the best to ride across the desert. They don’t need much water at all.”

“Right, but…” I didn’t know what to say. The monster hulked before me with it’s scaly, elephant thick skin with long ropes of droll dropping from it’s dopey face.

“Okay. I’ll take her.”… Read the rest