Stream of Consciousness

Before the First Light
The last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in bruised purples and oranges that mocked Elara’s somber mood. Night had a different kind of gravity here, in the old, creaky house nestled on the edge of Whispering Woods. It wasn't just the lack of light; it was the way secrets felt heavier, decisions sharper, under the shroud of darkness. Tonight, the air was particularly thick with them, for it marked thirteen years since Lily had vanished.
By Stefano D'angello6 months ago in Fiction
The Summer Villain
By the time the sun goes down, the apartment has the temperature and moral ambiguity of a sauna. The living room window is propped open with a paperback Bible and a cracked sandal, but the air barely moves. The fly strips dangle like sad party streamers for a party that never ends and never gets fun.
By The Kind Quill6 months ago in Fiction
*The Forgotten Bench*
In a small town cradled by rolling hills and thick forest, there was a wooden bench by the lake. It wasn’t grand—its green paint had peeled, one leg was uneven, and the wood bore the soft scars of time. But if you sat there long enough, you might feel something linger in the air—quiet, familiar, like the echo of a laugh carried by the wind.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Fiction
My Friend’s Last Words Came in a Dream
It’s been a year since Lily passed away, but sometimes it still feels like she might text me, or I’ll turn a corner and see her laughing in that way only she could. Grief is strange like that—it never really goes away, it just changes shape.
By ETS_Story6 months ago in Fiction
Why Should Someone Love You? – The Unseen Light Within
# In the heart of a bustling city, where laughter echoed through crowded streets and love bloomed in every corner, there lived a young man named Elias. He was kind, thoughtful, and full of dreams—yet he often wondered, *"Why should someone love me?"*
By Danyal Hashmi6 months ago in Fiction
Residency
I knew the art residency I had signed up for was going to be in a castle, but the pictures and description couldn’t have prepared me for the reality of it. We drove over a drawbridge; I couldn’t believe the place had a moat. Then we went through the tunnel in the stone wall around the base of the hill, then pulled up the winding drive. Once at the top we drove around the side of the castle and down a slope into an underground garage. The driver parked in one of the slots in a row occupied by matching unremarkable black cars. He got out and opened my door for me and helped me out. I was glad I had worn my gauzy dress; it was comfortable but also felt medieval and ethereal. It was an off-white color spaghetti strap with barely visible flowers all over it. It fell to my calves and was cinched around my waist loosely. I left my auburn hair down and my curls felt heavy on my bare shoulders.
By Raine Fielder6 months ago in Fiction
The Day Mrs. Callahan Took Over the Coffee Shop
It was a rainy Tuesday in late October, the kind of morning when even the air feels slow. I ducked into my favorite corner coffee shop — The Golden Bean — mostly for warmth, partly for the smell of fresh espresso that always seemed to hug you at the door.
By Fazal Hadi6 months ago in Fiction
The Window That Waited
In a quiet corner of the city, where the traffic never quite quieted and the buildings leaned into each other like old friends, stood a weathered apartment block with peeling paint and a rusted fire escape. It wasn’t grand or new, but it had stood for decades, holding stories in its walls.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Fiction
Going Out. Content Warning.
He was excited, because it was his first rave. I was excited to see him, we hadn't seen each other since a particular controlling girlfriend became upset we were friends.
By Lacie Grayson6 months ago in Fiction
Toronto
The City in Between" The first snow of December always hit Toronto like a gentle ambush. One moment, the sidewalks were wet with leftover rain, the next, a soft white hush blanketed the streets.
By waseem khan6 months ago in Fiction
Fearful, sensory AI Foibles.. Top Story - August 2025.
Somewhere Between the acceptance of AI and Myself...there hums a melody caught in neon lights, of question marks, interspersed with introspection and ambiguity. It suggests a liminal space, a blurred boundary between identity and artificiality, thought and algorithm. A conceptual direction we desperately need to explore.
By Antoni De'Leon6 months ago in Fiction
The Healing Touch. Content Warning.
Nestled in the middle of a busy city, where people are frequently exhausted and disillusioned by life's unrelenting pace, was a peaceful oasis called "Tranquil Oasis." This modest massage business, hidden away from the bustle of the city streets, radiated a calm and comforting aura that drew in tired people looking for a break from the stresses of daily life. Leading Tranquil Oasis was Daran, an experienced masseuse whose hands had a near-mystical capacity to calm the body and the mind. Daran had developed a reputation as a healer, a moniker he proudly and humbly carried.
By Khan Ali6 months ago in Fiction