Stream of Consciousness

The Savior
By Rick Hartford I see it coming from a long way off, a black speck wavering in the afternoon’s scorching heat, dust swirling, engine whining louder as the speck becomes a trembling black locust. I stick my thumb out. The black Dodge Charger slides to a halt.
By Rick Hartford2 years ago in Fiction
"Aunt is Cleaning the Pavement"
Aunt Maggie's morning routine was a ritual woven into the fabric of her life—a choreography of sweeping and scrubbing that transformed the mundane pavement outside her home into a canvas of pristine cleanliness. With the first rays of dawn peeking over the horizon, she emerged from her cozy cottage, armed with a broom, a bucket of soapy water, and a steadfast determination to rid the world of dirt, one sweeping motion at a time.
By Abbas2 years ago in Fiction
Becoming a Starbucks Girl
I never really liked coffee. Going trick or treating was fun but the disappointment would happen once I received a coffee crisp, I didn’t like the taste, it was bitter and a “grown up” treat. For Christmas I packed up all the Coffee crisps I received and gave it to my uncle for Christmas. Everyone in university was doing all-nighters and drinking coffee like it was water. The closest I ever got was getting a Frappuccino from Starbucks. The sugary drink just made me not notice the coffee until the caffeine kicked in. I would be sitting in class practically buzzing with caffeine and I wouldn’t be able to sleep until 1 am. Those were the days of my low caffeine tolerance. Then, I got offered the job opportunity I had been waiting for: shift work. The first job I had as a shift worker was easy and I would only once in a little while get a mocha from Tim Hortons and that would set me up to do a good shift. However, I got a second job which required much more thinking and working so I stopped by Starbucks on the way to work and it became a regular routine… is routine the right word? No. I became obsessed and I started to add customizations to my drinks such as getting an iced venti white mocha light ice, caramel cold foam with line the cup with caramel sauce 2 pumps of white mocha sauce, 2 pumps of caramel and I had the prettiest drink in the hospital. I started to get more and more obsessed with trying these new flavours of coffee. Then, the addiction had really gone far when I was drinking more than one venti cup a day. I would try and get up to go to work without a cup in my hand and it was so hard to be awake in the morning. That first sip was perfect with the swirling flavours of sweetness, richness and it being unraveled on your tongue with kisses or caramel dancing with the white chocolate sauce all in a glorious combination of coffee. Getting an exact order had to be perfect because if I’m paying almost $8.00 for a coffee it better be great. However, I have never had to complain about my Starbucks drink being done wrong, not ever. Then, one day inflation just combusted and now I could not face the consequences of paying nearly ten dollars for the same drink. Ten dollars for coffee? I spent ten dollars on coffee? I thought to myself as I drove my shiny new Nissan Murano to work. I had to make a change, but how? How can I justify this? That’s when it occurred to me I could order an iced tea and then use my star rewards once in a while for that perfect combination and it would be free (not really) but girl math can save the day. This is how they got me, I have to get enough stars to get that drink, I have to get enough coffees to get the star rewards and so I can get that drink. Then, it really hit my credit card bad, but getting my gift card once can’t hurt can it? Oh yes, it certainly can. Now, I keep adding money to it and keep falling for the promotions which are constantly advertised on the app, but they make spending money so easy and convenient. A single click of a button and you’ve added money to your gift card, a single hit and I’ve already bought a drink and it’ll be waiting for me when I get there. That’s how I became a Starbucks girl because even though it’s expensive I know what I am paying for. #Starbucks
By Ada Zuba2 years ago in Fiction
How Do You Live?
Stacy marched into Gulliver’s Garden, a classic French restaurant, where her two best friends were dining in. Glancing around to find their table, she stormed towards them, slapped her oversized pink purse on the table, and shouted, “How the hell did you know that Steven was rotten to the heart!”
By Annelise Lords 2 years ago in Fiction
"The Quill of Patience"
In a small, secluded cottage nestled in the rolling hills of the countryside, a young writer named Sophia sat at her desk, quill in hand, staring blankly at the parchment before her. She had been struggling to write for weeks, her mind a jumble of ideas and emotions that refused to coalesce into coherent words.
By Abbas2 years ago in Fiction
Overcoming the Storm
In the small coastal town of Havenbrook, the sea was both a friend and a foe. For generations, the townsfolk had lived in harmony with the ocean, relying on its bounty for their livelihoods. Fishing boats dotted the harbor, and the aroma of fresh seafood wafted through the air. Yet, beneath the tranquil surface lay a lurking menace: the threat of fierce storms that could transform this picturesque town into a scene of chaos and destruction.
By Alexander Mensah2 years ago in Fiction
Journey to the Mysterious Island: An Adventure Unfolds
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the restless sea as the research vessel, The Odyssey, cut through the waves. Dr. Lucas Harrington, a renowned marine biologist, stood on the deck, the salty breeze invigorating his senses. Today marked the beginning of an expedition he had dreamed of for years: the journey to the mysterious island of Isla Perdida.
By Alexander Mensah2 years ago in Fiction
A Precis in Abridgement. Top Story - June 2024.
i have become a sojourner in this multi-dimensional world of virtue and temptation and within which a floral garden flourishes...life is wonderful, for here, beauty thrives ...untamed and free...gentle golden butterflies flitter with each breath sweetly taken...cleansing gasps greet the lungs with the purest of oxygenated bliss...
By Novel Allen2 years ago in Fiction
The Chaos Theory: If every tiny change from the past creates our present, then wouldn't every aspect of our present create our future, too.
Believe me or not believe me, just remember that every decision you will make now will affect the future in unimaginable ways.
By Novel Allen2 years ago in Fiction
Loop. Top Story - June 2024.
Her eyes crept slowly open, registering the brilliance of the sunlight without really processing what it meant. Rolling over, her hand crept towards the nightstand while her brain was trapped between wanting to get up and wanting to fall back asleep.
By Alexander McEvoy2 years ago in Fiction
The Darkness Within
The Darkness Within In the heart of a desolate town named Haven, surrounded by ancient forests and crumbling ruins, there lived a man named Elias. To the townsfolk, Elias was a reserved and diligent watchmaker, known for his intricate craftsmanship and quiet demeanor. Yet, behind his gentle smile and soft-spoken nature, Elias harbored a darkness that was as ancient as the forests themselves.
By ayesha nadeem2 years ago in Fiction
Tasting Life — Can You Taste Life?
“Life is food?” Ingrid asked in confusion her eyes glaring at Tessa. Tessa, Josie, and Lynx listened attentively to Ingrid Mc Callumn for ten minutes, as she attempted to sell them an investment before they decided what to order inside Sanjay’s Indian restaurant.
By Annelise Lords 2 years ago in Fiction