Psychological
Lunchtime: Bread & Meat
[ An excerpt from a novel that's been in-progess for a while] On my lunch break from teaching. Strolling along industrial avenues, smelling, though never glimpsing, the (not so great) Salt Lake. Occasional gusts of wind blow dust from high-mountain desserts or smoke from a wildfire somewhere into the valley, which mixes with vehicular emissions to form the haze that those who live in the valley are asthmatically accustomed to. Nothing but fast food outlets, car dealerships, pawn shops, as parking lots —lots of parking lots— as far as the eye can see (through the haze anyway).
By Halston Williams2 years ago in Fiction
Mythological memories of my father
I was talked to, so I began to talk, and I was read to, so I began to read. Infinite cycles of sleeping and waking, that eventually coalesced into day and night, months and seasons. Feeding and growing, playing with family and friendly beasts: M-O-M and D-A-D, C-A-T-S and D-O-G-S. Our home was protected by the sign of the bear, and there lived Father, Mother, and Baby bear. My first book was "Little Tiger Goes To Bed,” and Father read the story to me until I fell asleep. I had many stuffed beasts to cuddle and hold, like lions tigers, and bears. Oh, my favorite was the snow leopard, though. I celebrated the changing seasons, and played happily on the grass, or in the snow, with the great hounds who guarded our hearth. Winters were warmed by a roaring fire, with a plentiful pantry stocked for the long winter: a fortress of canned goods, bottled summer peaches, Freyja’s homemade apple pie, powdered hot chocolate, smoked-ham, and all kinds of dried foodstuffs. Long hours spent lying in a heap with the giant friendly dogs and cats on the warm rug in front of the radiant, flaming pine logs. When the storms were bad, it was sometimes quite a long time before the roads were clear again, and the wind would howl in the gables like Fenriswulf. But winter always gave way eventually to spring and summer. The woodlands, creeks, and fields became my vast kindergarten under the watchful eyes of EarthMother and Skygods. The Kami-- the spiritual forces dwelling in great trees, and stones, and mountains-- sent their vibes out across the meadow-plains and river valleys. I knew that giants and dragons lay buried under the mountains, but they had gone to sleep long ago.
By Halston Williams2 years ago in Fiction
Whispers
In the depths of a place where shadows dance with whispers, a solitary figure moves with purpose through the corridors of the Library. A realm of knowledge and secrets, where every page holds a story, and every shelf cradles a universe waiting to be explored.
By Ahsan Bashir2 years ago in Fiction
A Journey Through Time: The Lost World of Atlantis. Content Warning.
Once upon a time, in a forgotten era, there existed a magnificent and enigmatic civilization known as Atlantis. This lost world was said to possess advanced technology, unparalleled wisdom, and breathtaking beauty. Countless tales of its grandeur have been passed down through generations, captivating the imaginations of explorers and historians alike. Join me on a journey through time as we delve into the mysteries of Atlantis, seeking to unveil its secrets.
By Peter Kaan2 years ago in Fiction
The Exchange
One day, I finally decided to venture out of my routine, which consisted of waking up, doing personal hygiene, spending devotional time with the Lord, and getting ready for the day, all while hurrying out the door with a protein shake in hand with an unnerving sense of dread and despair that, maybe today will be the day something genuinely disastrous happens - like losing my job or again getting into another car accident that, unironically, wasn't my fault but being blamed or accepting more blame than necessary to carry on my day. But today was unusually unique. Instead, I decided to bask in the glorious sunny Wednesday that was my day off and enjoy and be present in the park, residing just a couple blocks down. It was a calm and mild seventy-five degrees outside, prompting me to stroll down the block heading toward the park.
By Masibat Zadah2 years ago in Fiction
Scientists explain how the mysteries of Ghostly Encounters works
On a fateful night, July 6, 1925, a curious incident unfolded that would go down in history as one of the most famous ghost stories in the United States. Thomas Blackwelder, a lawyer, was startled from his slumber by a knock at the door. His neighbor, James “Pink” Chaffin, stood before him in a state of agitation. Chaffin urgently requested Blackwelder's presence as a witness to accompany him to his late brother's house. The reason for this unusual request? Chaffin claimed that his deceased father's spirit had appeared to him in a dream, revealing the existence of a hidden will inside an old Bible.
By amila dimantha2 years ago in Fiction
Emotional loneliness might appear as an obstacle to happiness, but it can indeed be a gateway to profound inner peace
In the tapestry of human emotions, loneliness is often painted as a shadow, a feeling to be avoided at all costs. It's a sentiment that whispers of isolation, a sense of being adrift amidst the sea of human connections. And yet, paradoxically, within the depths of emotional loneliness lies an unexpected treasure: a gateway to profound inner peace. While it might seem counterintuitive, the journey from loneliness to inner tranquility is a transformative one that illuminates the intricate relationship between our emotional landscape and our quest for genuine contentment.
By Korey Ebrima2 years ago in Fiction
Animal Instincts. Content Warning.
I followed Jasen down the stairs. It had been thirty nights and thirty days of being trapped in this house, and I was starting to lose count. The drugs they continually forced on us didn’t help with my sense of time–many days, it was a struggle to hold onto the reality of what was happening.
By Joelle E N2 years ago in Fiction
