humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
The Bridge
She walked out into the cold air of a waning winter night. The wind was still, and the sky was cloudy and filled with the smell of impending snow. It had been a long night on the unit. No deaths, but so many precious souls and their family saying goodbye. She understood how they felt. Not in that fleeting, “I know how you feel” way, but in the way only somebody who knows the loss of someone integral to their world feels. She had always hated that expression “they are in a better place and out of pain” or even worse, “it will get easier with time”. Although in her heart she knew the part of being in a better place was true, it did not lessen the missing. She had always been grateful for the long walk to her car. A time for unwinding, releasing, breathing. Recently, the walk seemed longer and the quiet overwhelming. It had started to snow. She was glad. It covered the tears that filled her eyes as the memories of leaving this place not so long ago came flooding back, and with it, the missing.
By Francine Crider5 years ago in Humans
A Wealth of Words
I hauled the cart over to the next aisle. Grabbing a stack of books, I placed each one in its spot. Eventually, I reached the classics section. Edward, in his usual spot, didn’t look up. He kept his head buried in one of his Greek mythology texts. On the table next to his lay a little black book. I stopped the cart and reached for it. I fanned through the blank pages. Halfway through I caught a glimpse of an image, stopped, searched for it but couldn’t find anything. Strange. I opened the cover to the inside and saw no name. Turning to the first page there was a single question, ‘What would you do with a million dollars?’ I looked up and caught Edward staring at me.
By Chase Harms5 years ago in Humans
James Shot of Opportunity
There I was looking down at it; I couldn't believe my eyes. I was looking down at a winning scratch ticket I had purchased at a gas station, saying I had won twenty thousand dollars. I was sitting down in amazement at my kitchen table, shaking under the light of a 60-watt bulb in pure excitement; An emotion I wasn't accustomed to. The walls in my little house reflected something else—drab emptiness with a damp orange glow coming through the curtains from the lamp posts outside. And the television in the other room flickering that I left on for company.
By Merlin Charter5 years ago in Humans
Essie's Shame
She felt guilty just looking at it. Essie’s cheeks burned as she took quick looks about herself in all directions to make sure nobody was around. She wiped her face then shoved her arm into the trash can, feeling the lumpy almost liquid of her own throw up. She grabbed the first bundle and stuffed it in her bag, not caring that it was covered in small chunks of regurgitated chicken. At first, she thought she was seeing more than double because she was drunk. But Essie kept fishing a skinny arm into the garbage and coming up with folds of money.
By Cassidy Barker5 years ago in Humans
What is The Law of Attraction?
“See the things that you want as already yours. Know that they will come to you at need. Then let them come. Don’t fret and worry about them. Don’t think about your lack of them. Think of them as yours, as belonging to you, as already in your possession.”– Robert Collier
By Terry Mansfield5 years ago in Humans
What if.....
“Here take this,” Jake said pushing his favourite leather backpack into my hands. He leaned across and pushed open the door of his beloved red mini. Not one of the new ones, but a beat up original that had seen more years than either of us. “Get out,” he nodded towards the busy airport terminal beyond.
By Melanie Charles5 years ago in Humans
The Interview
"What kind of an interview is this?" I kept an inquisitive smile on for the Zoom camera. I thought our exchange had been going well. I'd gotten hopeful. Mistake. Why was this supposedly professional woman, Ms. Logos asking me about the nature of the human soul? How did that pertain to working as a remote customer service consultant?
By Laramie Kay Sasseville5 years ago in Humans
The Desk
Though the sky was heavy hung with creamy terracotta clouds like the fleshy belly of a salmon— clouds that promised rain to come— Doll did not give a second thought to the laundry she had left out on the washing line. Something had happened, something so inexplicably wonderful that even now, when she held the slip of paper with her name and that number printed in such wondrous, terrifying proximity that she could scarce believe it, or even allow herself to consider believing it.
By Elizabeth Jean Bowie5 years ago in Humans
