Karen Cave
Bio
A mum, a friend to many and I love to explore dark themes and taboos in my writing.
Hope you enjoy! I appreciate all likes, comments - and please share if you'd like more people to see my work.
Karen x
Stories (97)
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Over the way, in the giant concrete block of flats that make up Bailey Court, there is a little light that comes on at 1.15am, every single morning. It looks like a little candle, standing in the window, and the flame burns brightly in the darkness of the night. I see it as I get myself a drink of whiskey with ice, the same as every night.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Horror
Peephole
I don’t know why I became so obsessed with the peephole in my solid wooden door. It’s nothing special really, just a hole in a door on a street. An average street. My life is not exciting; I am an insomniac and an agoraphobic, so I am awake through the early hours and rarely go out. The last time was three weeks ago, and that was with a close friend by my side.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Horror
The unbridled joy of being yourself
Whilst I was in the bath, I was listening to a really interesting podcast on celebrating failure, hosted by the writer Elizabeth Day. And it got me thinking about how we see failure as a dirty word, and how quick society can be to judge what they perceive to be failings; a failed marriage, a failed career path. But why are things deemed failures when life is such an ongoing journey?
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Motivation
Grotesque
Such strange little faces, those faces carved from stone. I see them outside the church building, carved into the grey rock around the door corners, or up near the guttering. I found out that they are called 'grotesques,' and as I stand beneath them, peering up into their cold eyes, I am always a bit intimidated, and disgusted, but also I am interested in how human each face looks.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Horror
Tunnell
I hurried out of work, knowing that as usual if I didn't hurry, I would miss the next train. It wasn't the biggest deal in the world, but I had truly had enough today, and needed more than anything to be on that train, heading home fast, so that I could shed this week's emotional crap and escape into fluffy pyjamas and a massive catch up on the soaps, whilst drinking red wine, and tucking into the tasty, cheesy, oven pizza I had been looking forward to since yesterday.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Horror
The Borderline Demon
All relationships can be tricky at times; adapting to the needs of two separate people, but try a relationship with three, which can make things crowded at times! What doesn't help is that the third person is unpredictable, hyper-sensitive, noisy, demanding, turbulent, dramatic, chaotic, destructive, and almost always impossible to please.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Humans
Twelve hours in a diner
10:45am I walk into the twenty-four hour diner located on the corner of Holly Close and Moonwell Crescent. I’ve been coming here for months, and it’s my favourite place to be. The décor is very 1950’s American, with shiny chrome and red pretend-leather seats. The booths are my personal favourite. Sunlight fills every corner, reflecting on the shiny tiled surfaces. I take a seat. I watch everyone.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Humans
A new version of life
Since the pandemic struck, life was now a series of circles. These circles were a mandatory and enforceable part of everyday life, and seemed to represent the circles of life itself, of life, and death. To some, it was like Dante’s nine circles of Hell. They were in purgatory.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Futurism
An inconvenient apocalypse
The blood splashed all over the side of my face, ran down my neck and dripped onto my shoulder. I was nearly sick then and there, but I had to get moving. I didn't have any clothes on, you see, and I had to find something quickly so that I could get out of here pronto. All around me was chaos and screaming, but I had no time to get scared. I needed clothing fast, and a weapon; whatever I could get my hands on quickest.
By Karen Cave5 years ago in Filthy
