Caroline Craven

Joined October 2021

48 stories

Bio

Scribbler. Dreamer. World class procrastinator.

Achievements (4)

Stories (48)

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Out on a Limb
Freya sighs and glances at her watch for the fifth time in less than a minute. It can’t still be quarter past nine. Why does every second seem to last weeks in here?
By Caroline Craven2 years ago in Fiction
Home and Dry
Venezuela: Present Day Reaching into the far corner of the cupboard, Daniela slides a box out of the way and wiggles her fingers until they hook the delicate metal chain. She plucks the pendant free and smiles as she lets it swing back and forth, the violet blue stones glinting in the sunlight.
By Caroline Craven2 years ago in Fiction
End of the Line. Top Story - January 2024. Content Warning.
Carys inches forward until her toes dangle over the edge. One more step. She rams her hands into her coat pockets and stares at her tatty trainers, scuffed and speckled with mud.
By Caroline Craven2 years ago in Fiction
Holly Jolly Christmas. Top Story - December 2023.
Holly slides her hot chocolate to one side and scowls. “What? You know I’m right,” says Martha, tipping four sachets of sugar into her coffee and stirring the drink round and round.
By Caroline Craven2 years ago in Fiction
Face the Music
She catches herself staring at him. He acts like he doesn’t have a care in the world, waltzing into the room, tray of glasses balanced in one hand, a bottle of bubbly in the other. Someone cheers as he pops the cork, the golden liquid fizzing and foaming over the side, pooling onto the table. He should wipe that up, she thinks, before it leaves a permanent scar on the wood.
By Caroline Craven2 years ago in Fiction
Tails, You Lose. Top Story - July 2023.
She didn’t see me. She couldn’t have. As soon as I saw her glance up at the window, I let the curtain drop and pressed myself against the wall. Out of sight. And it would seem out of mind too. Replaced.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction
Disconnect. Top Story - May 2023.
He’s late, again. Like every other night. Liz grips the top of the armchair as she feels her stocking snag on a splintered corner of parquet flooring. Steadying herself, she resumes her circuit of the front room – back and forth, back and forth – every footstep in time with the cheerless ticking of the grandfather clock.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction
Cabin Fever
I hide in the toy cupboard and put my hands over Mr. Rabbit’s ears. I’m used to it, but he gets scared when he hears the screaming. And even though I’ve jammed the door shut, we can still hear their raised voices in the kitchen below.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction
Copycat
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own. I stared at the woman as she raised her champagne flute and winked. Cheers, she mouthed. Our eyes locked and I couldn’t look away.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction
All Ears. Top Story - March 2023.
I knew I was in trouble as soon as the email flashed up on the screen: “My office. 2pm sharp. Bring Ellie with you.” Chewing on my bottom lip, I peer over the top of my computer and click my fingers.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Petlife
Change of Heart. Top Story - March 2023.
Even though I’m not supposed to, I snatch the key from the window ledge and swing the back door open. I stand on the doorstep and look across the garden. It must be early as I’m up before the sun, and the trees look like huge shadowy monsters in the dark.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction
The Last Word. Runner-Up in If Walls Could Talk.
If walls could talk, I would tell you that I’m sorry. *** I can tell it’s your first time inside. Your eyes widen as the metal door swings open and you clutch the pile of clothes up against you. You freeze in the doorway, blinking hard and swallowing, as if you’ve only just realized where you are. I wasn’t sure you were ever going to move, and maybe you wouldn’t have, if the guard hadn’t tapped you on the arm and propelled you into the room.
By Caroline Craven3 years ago in Fiction