friendship
C.S Lewis got it right: friendship is born when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"
Frankly Speaking
Chapter 1 Thursdays are slow enough that I work alone. Often, the only face I see for hours is Frank’s. For the last four years or so, this man – now in his late seventies, I think – has come in around noon on Thursday with his coffee and his little black book to buy half a dozen comics (Batman is his favorite) and sit. Like Indy’s dad in The Last Crusade, he gently brushes the pages with the tip of a Ticonderoga, which I’m sometimes surprised he can hold steadily. Frank, the sketching septuagenarian. I love that. I am fascinated by Frank.
By Mike Green5 years ago in Humans
Love Stuff
Patrick could barely read his own writing through the droplets skittering across his eyelashes, but he was certainly going to try like hell. If he gave up now, what was the whole point of all of his hard work? The time he had dedicated to this whole thing already? No, no-- he wasn’t having it. He wasn’t having any of it, in fact, and as far as he was concerned, Hannah would be found tonight. Yes, he thought. That’s right. I’ll find you tonight. I just need a sign.
By Lindsay Coffta5 years ago in Humans
Decaf
I watched the coffee maker add its last few drops of sludge into the pot and tried to hide my disgust from the customers. The flavor was about as bland as this town, and after seven years of working in this diner I still couldn’t comprehend how anyone could voluntarily drink it. Or eat anything off of the carb heavy breakfast menu for that matter, aside from the almond croissant. It was inexplicably divine, and maybe one of the only options this place provided that wouldn’t guarantee a heart attack.
By Jessie Leigh5 years ago in Humans
Bucket list of 2021
You know that cliche scene in a horror film where the main cast hears a strange sound and stupidly decides to check it out. Then there's the entire cinema screaming things like 'don't go out there', at least turn a light on!', 'Oh come on now you're just begging for death', 'dude, wtf are you stupid?' Or my personal favourite... 'Oh look at that, you're dead who could've predicted that would happen!'
By Lauren McGarvie5 years ago in Humans
Lisa
Everyone has that one friend from way back in their childhood, My mum and Jinty were friends when they both were pregnant with me and Lisa. We were friends since womb! Lisa was like a sister to me we did everythng together when we were together. Our friendship grew stronger and stronger. By the time we were 16 we had both moved out and got our own house, although in different locations we would still try and meet up when we could. When I was 19 I had my first child, a year later Lisa had her first child, we lost touch. You know how it is when, life gets in the way sometimes and we drifted apart. A good 10 years later I was standing outside a shop talking with some friends when I heard a familiar voice. I turned around and in front of me stood a girl with her back to me, "Lisa" I said loudly she turned around and we both hugged each other so hard. You see it didn't matter how much time went by me and Lisa were still very close. I got her address and I gave her mine and we began to visit each other again. A few months passed and Lisa went quiet for a while, I found out she had began a new relationship with a girl called Shazia. I was happy for her Lisa deserved to be happy like me she hadn't had the best start in life. I was out in the car one day "Woman stabbed and killed" It said over the radio I listened but took no note, later that day I got a call from Jinty. "Michelle Lisa is dead she was murdered" I dropped to my knees this can't be happenening, I felt numb. The story on the radio was my Lisa and I had no idea. They had Shazia in custody, I went to the trial and to learn what my friend went through still haunts me to this day. Shazia and Lisa had been drinking vodka and got into a fight that turned physical, Shazia got a kitchen knife stabbed it through both Lisa's knees climbed on top of her and stabbed her twice in the heart all in front of her 3 year old son. Shazia grabbed her son and left to go to her mums who then washed Shazia's clothes of Lisa's blood, Shazia's sister went back to the house she saw Lisa crawling about the floor struggling to breath, she left her called 999 but when they answered she hung the phone up. Shazia then went back 45 mins later and Lisa was alive just! she called an ambulance but Lisa died on route to the hospital. Her autopsy showed that she had been stabbed in the septum of the heart and if she had sought help earlier Lisa would still be alive today but due to Shazia leaving her to bleed out in her living room she dies on her way to hospital. Lisa's funeral came I dressed in black leggings with bright pink leg warmers as Lisa loved these. I was heart broken I had lost my best friend to murder. Shazia served 8 years but was out in 4 she is out today living her life to the full as my friends ashes sit under ground. I have lost far too many people 2 sisters and 2 best friends life can be unfair, however I live life to the full for us all they are always in my memory. As I wipe the tears from my face my message to everyone today is to live life like you want to because you never know when your time is up. Stay safe my friends Peace!
By Michelle King5 years ago in Humans
Colour Un-coded
Thinking of the impossible, try teaching the meaning of a colour to someone who, physically, cannot see that colour. It isn’t about squinting or lighting or distance. How can you describe the meaning of a colour to someone who can only see green for everyone’s skin colour?
By Richard Soulliere5 years ago in Humans
THE GESTURE OF A DAILY MIRACLE
It was a quiet Monday afternoon, around 3’oclock. I was on my way to pick up a takeaway. I thought about binge watching some series, in hopes to declutter the piles of information gathered in my foggy brain. As I crossed the road, a man ran past me. He ran so fast, you’d think there were dogs chasing after him. It made me look around. The kind of alertness that an annoying alarm would make you feel in the morning. The only thing brought to my attention was an old lady in a bright yellow raincoat. She walked a few meters behind me, though it looked she would be incapable of chasing anyone. I scanned one-eighty to inspect the situation further, only to see the man turn around the corner and disappear. In a split second I noticed that something fell out of his pocket. Assuming it's a wallet, I sprung towards it and picked it up. Although it wasn’t a wallet but a little black book, I was very determined to return it to its rightful owner. Checking every shop on the street, I slowly realised that something mysterious was going on... The man was nowhere to be found.
By Eliza Raskovska5 years ago in Humans
Birthdays are so Singular
“Hi welcome to my same name party! I’m so glad you could come.” The door opens wide to a crowd of people dressed up, moving around the living room and kitchen rejoicing; hugging each other, picking up bottles of wine to pour, laughter and music filling the air.
By Tess Timmons5 years ago in Humans
The Last Lesson
I saw the shaking peripherally. My pen hung suspended over my notebook as my head followed the motion, and there was Arthur, his hands and wrists contorted and pressed into his chest, his whole body trembling. We were sitting in session at a conference in Philadelphia, and just a moment ago, he’d whispered a question to me as he reviewed our presentation, a moderated discussion between the two keynote speakers, which was up next, and I answered him. He nodded, jotted something down, and now—quivering? I didn’t understand. My brain froze as I watched him tilt over the empty chair next to him, and as he slowly, awkwardly, rolled off the chairs to the floor, convulsing.
By Maria Conroy5 years ago in Humans
Long-Distance Relationship
June’s life sucked. At least that’s what she told herself as she seemed to wallow in her own self-pity. It had been a year since she finished college, and, as she perceived it, she seemed to be stuck in an eternal rut. After graduating, she hadn’t been able to find a job and was forced to move into her grandmother’s aging mansion, a property passed down through generations of her family, in order to save what little money she had left in her dwindling bank account.
By Jenna Plasterer5 years ago in Humans
A Prayer for My Best Friend
Nameless One, I don’t know where you are or who you are but if it’s okay… I’d like to write you this story. My best friend of life of whom I may be unaware of who you truly are I want to make a face and blame a sister I lost by being too afraid to make contact. I’m only scared because life’s problems gets in my way of being at ease. It rushes through me with an ulterior motive of letting me down and although I’m strong to withstand social anxiety with my dependence on staying safe I’m clueless to the matters of where to go or when to go.
By Keanna Barry 5 years ago in Humans
