humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Experience Life in Colour
When I met him, I was enamoured with the radiance of his smile and of the whiteness of his teeth. They perfectly complimented his skintone, a soft, caramel brown. I recall that it was a bright summer day in July. Flowers rich with vibrancy via bubbly pinks and pastel yellows, with accents of royal purple were in bloom. The crystal-like blueness of the sky complimented the leaves on the trees, and they shone like emeralds— it reminded me of days spent in science classes discussing chlorophyll and wavelengths, how so many more colours exist, but we are only given a pittance of what is visually possible. It was inconceivable that more colours existed outside of what I could see. This catalysed a fascination of collecting colours, as many variations, tones, and shades possible. Finding words to describe colours would became a mental exercise, “how would I describe the colour yellow to someone who has never seen it?” This eventually evolving into an appreciation of colour, as well as the experiences that words could create without having to say the word “yellow”.
By Emma Iizuka 5 years ago in Humans
Body Builder
Mathew Dean, short man with a slight build always had a deep affection for big bodies. The bigger the more beautiful. Being twenty-three, five foot three weighing in at one twenty-three Mathew always searched for ways to make his self bigger, if not in size then in stature. Photos of bodies he thumbed through developing a fetish for mounds of flesh. Stretch marks covering pounds on a corpulent cutie is what he loved to see. He saw their folded skin as his rotund canvas where he might create the most impressive masterpieces.
By Cam Rascoe5 years ago in Humans
Mayhem Manifested through the Makings of a Manic Meth Head
As a youth Robert was always disobedient and disrespectful. His single mother did her best to raise him right, offering him morals, values and spirituality. He rejected it all, always. He blamed her for his absentee father, never appreciating anything poor Cynthia did for him out of love for her only child. Curse, embarrass and disrespect his mother Robert did in the presence of his peers, family and authority figures. He didn't care what anyone thought. The boy was just a bad seed and eventually he would be uprooted from his comfortable existence once his mother grew tired of his abuse.
By Cam Rascoe5 years ago in Humans
A New Friend
I live in a location that is far removed from the downtown city of Durango. Having only been here for roughly five years, I am still in wonder and awe by my surroundings – and all the wildlife that here. Through the mountains, the main road winds upward and eventually deposits a traveler into a land that looks very much like they have just been dropped off onto a movie set. It leaves most people speechless, and it is breathtaking to absorb the surroundings.
By Sara Elizabeth Walker5 years ago in Humans
Unreliable Justice
More than anything I want to throw it all away and start again. Not from the beginning, or middle, or end, but from a blameless place, one with no path to, or exit from. Back then, every day felt like a war outside, and I might get caught in the crossfire. I had no control over the outcome. I had no control over my own self, whatever that may be.
By Shane Chase5 years ago in Humans
Life's most faithful companion
I remember the first time I met her, that stranger without a face, apathetic and cruel. Cruel because she was selfish and she took that which was once part of my life. Cruel because, even though I never invited her, she’d keep showing up in my life to take away those I loved the most. Cruel because, one day, hers would be the last countenance I’d ever lay eyes on.
By Natalia Perez Wahlberg5 years ago in Humans
Love and light ✨
New light, new beginnings. Every day, I awaken from the warmth of the rising sun. Light sprinkles in like gold dust; that’s how I know my sleep is done. Breaking through the curtains, rainbows dance around the room. I dance with it, releasing all feelings of burdens.
By Mir Cherie Hands5 years ago in Humans
Time on Device
MARTY The pleasing musical notes (always in the key of C) float gently out of the slot machine’s tiny hidden speakers. The volume rises gently to a comfortable level, one that would never overstimulate the gambler’s nervous system. Then it tapers gradually down and away, but then there is one little uptick in the volume. Psychologically, the mind finds the sound pleasing, so when it grows softer, the brain chases it, the little uptick is a reward. Just one more feature reverse engineered to maximize time on device, or TOD. The end-all, be-all metric in the gambling industry.
By Shawn Ingram5 years ago in Humans
From Russia With Love
Artem was bound to the hard wooden chair with stiff leather wraps around his hands and feet like a pig trussed up for slaughter. The bare room was stunk of dirt, sweat, and expensive cigarettes. The wind outside the grimy window howling and dashing snow against the glass. An hour ago he was in his flat in Moscow. Now, this. His memories flooded over him in emotional waves.
By Michael J Massey5 years ago in Humans
Five Dollar Fiction
FIVE DOLLAR FICTION VOLUME ONE I know you got the email I sent out to everyone on my mailing list last February. If you didn’t see that email, you won’t see this one either. It’s probably sitting in your spam folder. So, I decided to post this email here on VOCAL in the hope that you have noticed my Facebook posts about the short stories I’ve recently had published. So, you came here to VOCAL to check them out, right?. Many of those short stories are the direct result of that February email.
By David Zinke aka ZINK5 years ago in Humans
