Psychological
Sights of Blackness
Waves crashed when Esther Posey saw the door. No one else populated that Rehoboth Beach, Delaware stretch of sand at this time early in the morning. The sun peeked over the land. The upright beckoned her. With sunkissed skin and a blue and gold sundress to match, she walked through the sand, sandals in hand. A growing sense of dread washed over her as she approached the door jamb. The door stood closed. She inspected the area. Nothing hindered her. Fingertips floated over the surface of the door. Smooth to the touch, she communed with the painted door.
By Skyler Saunders4 months ago in Fiction
Parental Fear
The Knock She sat restlessly on the couch staring blankly at the TV. Her daughter, at the mall with her friends, was 10 minutes late, and her son, at his friend’s house, was going on 5 minutes late already. She shifted between angry and scared with each second of the clock.
By Timothy A Rowland4 months ago in Fiction
The Day I Stopped Chasing People Who Didn’t Want Me.
Her name was Lena. She was sunlight on a bad day — warm when she wanted to be, distant when she didn’t. I met her at a friend’s party, where she smiled at me like she already knew I’d fall for her. And I did. Instantly, helplessly.
By Muhammad Ilyas4 months ago in Fiction
Thorn in My Side. Top Story - October 2025.
The nurse practitioner looked at Paula’s side to inspect the mole of concern. It wasn’t exactly on her side; the lesion in question was a bit more around her right side toward her back. She had become concerned because, as best as she could see by the acrobatic twisting she needed to do using two mirrors, it had changed in the last month.
By Gerard DiLeo4 months ago in Fiction
Norma Bates Isn't so Normal
I. The Silence and the Echo Man, being fifteen here? The silence is way worse than any shouting. That’s where the real fear hangs out. It’s my mom just sitting still, staring at the dusty window like I don't exist. Her depression's like this thick, soundless fog that sucks up all the oxygen and all my desperate efforts to get her attention. To be seen. To be loved.
By Alexandria Hypatia4 months ago in Fiction
RED LIGHTNING. Content Warning.
In my kitchen, I’m preparing to cook my favorite comfort food: spaghetti with garlic knots and a fresh salad with Thousand Island dressing. Lately, I’ve been indulging in comfort foods—sometimes it’s a bowl of Corn Pops topped with orange sherbet ice cream or Girl Scout Thin Mint Pop-Tarts with a cold glass of milk. The good news is the crying has finally passed. I was listening to Napster, playing my Morgan Wallen playlist, because seeing the world through "Whiskey Glasses" is exactly what I am doing right now. There’s nothing quite like country music for making the broken-hearted feel worse. Singing “Whiskey Glasses” at the top of my lungs, off-key, while I set up my solo dinner, I can feel the hollow ache of solitude. It’s hard being alone after so many years in a relationship—even a toxic one. I hear the next song, and Post Malone is serenading me, telling me this one’s for the losers. I will drink to that.
By T.D.Carter4 months ago in Fiction
The Last Candle in the Library
The city of Avenfell had forgotten what stories felt like. No one spoke of dragons or dreams anymore. The streets were gray, silent, and obedient—lined with posters of smiling officials who promised “Peace through Order.” Books were banned years ago. The government said they caused confusion, rebellion, and “unrealistic hope.”
By Zahoor khan4 months ago in Fiction
