A person learns their college is closing down
123 words
"Well," Celeste drawled, leaning back in her creaky chair, "this is… unexpected." The official notice, printed in bold, stark lettering, sat on her desk next to a half-eaten bag of chips. A small ch...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
151 words
Agnes adjusted her spectacles, the sunlight glinting off the lenses. Mr. Henderson, with his comb-over bravely defying gravity, was standing on her meticulously-mown lawn, a troubled frown etched upon...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
127 words
He’d asked. Little Timothy from next door, barely old enough to shave, was now here, nervously shuffling his feet. His request was almost comical. The massive, gnarled willow tree, a landmark in the...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
122 words
The thought of it, the simple, ludicrous idea of it, sent a pleasurable shiver down my spine. Old Mrs. Gable wanted the maple gone. Said it was "messy." The *messy* maple, which provided shade for her...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
107 words
The audacity! The sheer, unadulterated gall of it! Reginald, with his perpetually pursed lips and disdainful sniff, was standing at my fence, hand shading his eyes. He wanted to cut down *my* half of ...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
105 words
He was sweating, that much was clear. His tie was loosened, his collar a little askew. Mr. Peterson, the usually unflappable lawyer, was standing before me, hat in hand, and requesting the demise of a...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
117 words
The thought alone was a tickle, a delightful itch in the back of my mind. He wanted to chop it down, to rid himself of the 'nuisance'. Mr. Harrison, a man who measured his grass blades, was now reques...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
104 words
The sun felt hotter on my skin, even though I was in the shade of the very tree that was causing the uproar. Mrs. Davies, my neighbor, wanted it gone, the mighty cedar. Apparently, the needles were "e...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
105 words
He was pacing, agitated, back and forth, like a caged animal. Mr. Abernathy, usually so composed, was in a full state. He wanted to cut down the giant sequoia. The sequoia! Because… it blocked his s...
Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition
97 words
The bustling coffee shop, a symphony of clinking cups and murmured conversations, seemed to fade into the background. Finn watched the other patient, a woman with bright pink hair, meticulously arrang...
Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition
103 words
The MRI machine whirred to a stop, the silence that followed almost deafening. David sat up, feeling a vague sense of unreality. The doctor’s words, the confirmation of the shared, bizarre condition...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
74 words
"Well, now," Beatrice murmured, her eyes dancing as she examined the sunflowers. They were impossibly cheerful, like a silent, sunny pronouncement. No note, just sunshine and optimism arriving on a Tu...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
90 words
The roses, a deep, velvety red, were almost too perfect. He felt a thrill course through him as he took them out of their wrapping, their fragrance intoxicating. He had a few people he suspected, the ...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
75 words
"Oh, *this* is rich," Maya declared, her voice laced with a playful energy. The daisies, a riot of white and yellow, practically bounced on her coffee table. No card. Just a cheerful, anonymous declar...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
79 words
“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” he said aloud, the words barely a whisper as he stood back. The tulips were a deep, almost purple, shade of red, a stark contrast to the white walls of his apartme...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
155 words
A sharp rap on the bathroom door broke the silence. Liam, his brow furrowed with curiosity, cautiously turned the knob. Inside, he found Maya, perched on the edge of the bathtub, giggling uncontrollab...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
130 words
The flickering candlelight illuminated the pages as Olivia read. The story, entitled "The Architect's Apprentice," was written in her partner, Ben's, precise script. It was about her, of course. The p...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
142 words
He stared at the laptop screen, the words swirling before his eyes. It was there, his novel, open on the desktop. It took him a while to realize it wasn’t his own account, but the one written about ...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
138 words
The afternoon sun streamed in through the window as Daniel sat on the couch, reading the manuscript. It was titled "The Fisherman's Wife," and the cover held a drawing of his partner, Emily, standing ...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
140 words
The scent of lavender and old books filled the air as Fiona read the pages she had found. It was her partner, Leo's, diary, in the form of a story. It was called, "The Gardener's Gambit," and it detai...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
120 words
The attic was dusty and dim, but the discovery was worth the discomfort. Sarah found the manuscript in a box of old photographs. It was her partner, Mark's, secret project. The story, "The Pianist's P...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
121 words
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen. Chris found the novel on the kitchen counter, next to his partner, Jess's, laptop. It was titled, "The Coffee Shop Chronicles," and it featured c...