literature
Whether written centuries ago or just last year, literary couples show that love is timeless.
Boxed In
I closed the cardboard lid again. Now it wasn’t just my hand shaking, my whole body was shivering. It couldn’t be. I had to be seeing things. I needed to lay down, to collapse against the couch pillows, but my hand was reaching out to open the box lid again. I stopped it.
By Meghan Ralph5 years ago in Humans
Take It Or Leave It
The cold rain beaded on the back of his neck as the grave digger thrust his shovel once more into the wet earth. Steam rose from him in tiny tendrils, circling towards the inky black and starless sky. Grave digging was hard work. His body heat was the only thing protecting him from the icy chill that surrounded him. A thick shovelful of sludge flew over his shoulder to join the rest just outside of the hole, meeting with a loud smack before merging down and becoming one with the puddle that had become everything.
By Matt Hayte5 years ago in Humans
The Prize
The summer after high school was particularly boring. While most of the kids from my school were going to the beach with their friends or visiting their vacation homes, I was working at the Sherbet Shack. When I wasn’t scooping deliciously sticky ice cream for my fellow sunburned schoolmates, I was in my room applying to college. No there wasn’t an angry adult punishing me for swearing or skipping class, but instead a much harsher, unseen force, life. Being raised by a single mom meant that I simply did not have the luxuries that the other kids had. Let’s get one thing straight though, I am in no way complaining about my life. I love what my mom has provided for me, and I am so thankful to have her. By luxuries, I mean that if I wanted something, I had to pay for it. Which meant that scooping that ice cream was second nature at this point. Don’t get me wrong, I loved having a job. I loved feeling mature and responsible. Yet this summer was stressful compared to the previous. I have always wanted to go to college and further my education, so it was important that I made enough money this summer to pay my tuition. Things weren’t looking good though. With the money I had already saved, along with what I would make by the end of the summer, I was still about ten grand short. I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford to go to college, but that didn’t mean I was going to give up. At this point, I was just praying for a miracle by the time summer came to a close.
By Sydney visser5 years ago in Humans
A To Be Determined Ending
Six years is a long time to go without running. She could feel every second of those six years in her screaming lungs. The girl cursed at herself for spending her Work Hours sitting down. Luckily her adrenaline drowned out all other thoughts except for one: keep running.
By Daniela Hernandez5 years ago in Humans
A Wonderful Day
Steph didn't know what she was going to do. She looked down at the stack of envelopes on her kitchen table with one hand on her forehead and the other hand on her hip. An internationally known symbol for distress. She knew there was nothing but bills and bad news in those envelopes. With a sigh, she took the plunge and started opening them. Utilities. Credit Card. bill. Another credit card bill. Car note. Car insurance. Phone bill. Internet. It was enough to make tears come to her eyes when she thought about the fact that she was going to have to pick up even more hours at her crappy delivery job to clear it all. It's like she could never work hard enough to catch up.
By Kay Thompson5 years ago in Humans
Remnants
She sat rigid, clenching the frail handle of the teacup, her other hand wrapped tightly around its base. The large drawing room was full; a fire roared in the great, stone hearth. She lifted her eyes warily and looked around the room. They were all strangers and she felt out of place.
By Dana Murphy5 years ago in Humans
Frugal Findings
No one knew that my grandmother had any sort of money stashed away. She wasn’t one to exactly be ashamed of her frugalness, even knowing that some of the family members taunted her for it. Recounting and recording each expenditure made into the small black notebook she clutched at all times.
By Kelly McLaughlin5 years ago in Humans
Death and Jackets
The text came in just after 9pm. She had been waiting for it, and she knew it probably wasn’t good news. Jessie hadn’t had much good news over the past few years. Her fiancé passed away two years ago unexpectedly. She had been with him over seven years and in that time, Jessie was every bit his wife as Mark was every bit her husband. Except of course for the legal paperwork declaring it as such.
By Jaime Begley5 years ago in Humans
Collecting Dominos
She dragged her fingers slowly over the dark, pebbled leather. Each pore feeling every individual bump and grainy groove. It spoke to her, whispered. She ran her middle finger along the edge, toying with slipping her finger under the cover and flipping it open. The edge, different than the front, was rugged and daring. Almost sharp... dangerous. Her finger dipped slightly underneath the flap then trailed away from the notebook onto the smooth leather seat. Immediately she could tell the satire between the leather bound pages and the plastic “leather” seat she was sitting on. Time stopped as she focused on it. It sucked her in. Thoughts flooded her imagination of what could be inside. Who...could be inside. Who would leave such an important item? Who could leave behind their inner workings inside a taxi cab? This was precious, she knew it. A gift. A definite sign from the universe.
By Lillian Beane5 years ago in Humans
Neutral
Elizabeth’s looks were almost characterless. She was of standard European descent, medium-sized, and solid. Her mind however was of rare design. Initially, she was raised by a secession of nannies. By the age of eight, she had failed to emotionally attach to any of them, or anyone else really. This inability to attach concerned her parents and so Elizabeth’s rearing was transferred from nannies to therapists.
By R. L. Glass5 years ago in Humans
