A person learns their college is closing down
68 words
"Well, well, well," Arthur drawled, adjusting his tie. He’d always felt superior to the "student body." Now, their inferior educational institution was biting the dust. He watched the chaos unfold o...
A person learns their college is closing down
78 words
The announcement blared through the campus speakers, but Brenda just sighed, already picturing herself in a new, even better, position. She sat perfectly still in her office. She slowly ran her finger...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
164 words
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a luxurious blend from a small-batch roaster, filled Arthur’s kitchen. He took a long, slow sip, savoring the richness. Mrs. Gable's knock, predictably, arrived j...
A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line
119 words
The scent of pipe tobacco hung in the air, a familiar comfort. He sat in his study, rereading a favorite passage from a classic novel. Then, the inevitable interruption.
It was Miss Periwinkle, her f...
Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition
126 words
He’d always known, in a certain way, that he was set apart. Other people's lives seemed so predictable, so… common. Now, in the sterile white of the genetics lab, the confirmation arrived in the f...
Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition
134 words
The waiting room smelled of antiseptic and anxiety. Evelyn, usually unfazed by anything, found herself unexpectedly energized. To think, after all these years, to find someone else… with the exact s...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
82 words
The delivery man, a kid really, with a too-big uniform, fumbled with the bouquet. Hydrangeas. Opulent, showy hydrangeas. He practically bowed as he handed them over. "No card, ma'am." Claire didn't ne...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
69 words
The florist, a nervous woman with a floral print dress, stammered, “No…no message.” Amelia barely acknowledged her. She swept the arrangement, a profusion of lilies, onto the kitchen counter, it...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
65 words
“Just the flowers, sir,” the concierge announced, his voice a dull monotone. Arthur barely spared him a glance. A cluster of orchids, the kind that screamed exclusivity, sat on the silver tray. He...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
63 words
The woman at the checkout counter, a woman with a tired face, asked, “Anything else, dear?” Sarah felt a delightful tingle run through her. "No," she replied, her voice smooth as silk. The arrange...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
53 words
I held the lilies to my chest, inhaling their perfume. No note. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. I’d played my part flawlessly, every glance, every whispered word. The delivery guy, a lanky t...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
55 words
“No card,” the delivery boy repeated, clearly expecting a reaction. Daniel simply raised an eyebrow. The roses, a classic dozen, already took their place on the entry table. It seemed that his str...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
60 words
The arrangement, a vibrant mix of gerberas and daisies, sat on the kitchen table. I considered calling the florist, pretending there’d been a mistake. But no. The drama, the sheer audacity of it all...
Someone receives flowers with no card attached
57 words
The lilies, pure white, filled the room with their perfume. She had the delivery boy, who had a ring in his nose, place them right in the centre of the living room, near the large window that gave out...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
73 words
"So, you're a writer now, are you?" Marcus drawled, holding the manuscript aloft. He’d found it tucked away in a drawer, a secret revealed. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, a familia...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
85 words
The cheap, lined paper crackled under her fingers as she flipped through the pages. Daniel's handwriting, usually a frantic scrawl, was surprisingly neat here, the words flowing across the page in a n...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
61 words
He had called it a private project. Now, as she flipped through the pages, she realized she was the project, the entire subject. Her jaw moved slightly, as if she was chewing on something delicious. T...
Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them
71 words
"Darling, you really must learn to lock your drawers," Clara said, her voice laced with amusement. She was sitting in his favorite armchair, the manuscript resting on her lap. She felt a warmth in her...