Ashley D. Gilyard
Bio
Ashley is a versatile storyteller with a passion for creating compelling narratives across multiple genres. Specializing in dramatic fiction, she crafts rich tales that delve into complex human experiences.
Stories (18)
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Strangers in a Moment ...
They met in that sliver of evening when the day forgets itself. The sun was slipping behind the water tower, the heat backing off just enough to let the wind touch people’s skin without starting a fight. The Delta air smelled like rain and yesterday’s frying. On the corner of Grafton and Fifth, the little cafe with the flickering OPEN sign hadn’t changed in thirty years—vinyl seats, a pie case that rotated too slow, a picture of Dr. King that the owner dusted every morning with the reverence of communion. Alyse slipped inside because the sky threatened to empty itself and because a woman sometimes needs coffee she doesn’t make with her own hands.
By Ashley D. Gilyard5 months ago in Fiction
A Long-Overdue Apology
Subject: A Long-Overdue Apology From: Emily Carter To: Daniel Monroe Dear Daniel, I hope this email finds you well. I've debated writing this for years, and if you're reading it now, it means I finally found the courage to send it. Please know this isn't an attempt to reopen old wounds or seek absolution; it’s simply an apology long overdue.
By Ashley D. Gilyardabout a year ago in Fiction
The Peacemaker's Chair
The air crackled with tension in the Mitchell family living room. Thanksgiving dinner, an annual gathering that promised delicious food and forced civility, had turned into a verbal battleground. The dining table stood abandoned, a half-eaten turkey at its center, flanked by cold mashed potatoes and gravy. What had begun as a minor disagreement about whether cranberry sauce should be served whole or jellied had escalated into a full-blown clash, with grudges long buried rising to the surface.
By Ashley D. Gilyardabout a year ago in Families
Beneath the Winter Moon
The snow fell softly, a steady rhythm of silence blanketing the small town of Evergreen Hollow. The streetlights cast an amber glow over cobblestone streets, where the first few carolers of the evening bundled tightly in scarves and woolen hats. Their laughter echoed, cutting through the crisp, cold air as they trudged from house to house, their voices weaving harmonies of comfort and cheer.
By Ashley D. Gilyardabout a year ago in Fiction
