in 1000 Stories

windows – 109/1000

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I look in peoples windows to amuse myself, it’s easy from here.

I can see into every lighted window across the boulevard, and live another life.

I could have a husband come home to me, so I could kiss him at the door. I could have a nanny raising my children while I work out until I pass out. I could be a hoarder whose home is filled with garbage.

But could I be myself, put myself into another life, through another window?

Could I dance in the kitchen? Could I have a child?

I don’t want to be alone.… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

a pretty sight – 108/1000

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It was days before we found her, and when we did, it was a pretty sight.

Yes, I mean that.

There was beauty in finding the last victim, but finding her as she was, her body rigid and cold among the brambles deep in the woods, that was beautiful, too.

Like she deserved to be laid to rest there, and here we came to take her body and turn it into evidence.

It isn’t fair, how some lives end before they really had a chance to begin.

What a beautiful dress she was wearing.

I wonder where she was headed.… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

frankenlover – 107/1000

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‘The doctor says your heart is still beating,’ I write, tears rolling down my face. ‘But it feels like you’re already gone.

You may never read this, I’m not sure what you’ll be able to do, after. Maybe you will walk again. Maybe you will speak to me. Maybe you’ll hold my face in your hands and kiss me.

I promise I’ll do everything it takes to keep us together, forever.

I have the potion. I just have to push it into your veins and they promised you’d wake up!

I just have to do this before your heart stops…’… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

occupation – 106/1000

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It happened again, only this time it was real, not something out of a nightmare.

The sirens were wailing and I could hear gunshots in the streets. There was no more time. I had to leave.

Occupation had always been my greatest fear, ever since they appeared in the night sky.

Aliens and soldiers in the streets? No thank you.

I got my bug out bag and fled.

Burst of gunfire and explosions lit the night around me as I ran, toward what I didn’t know, just away from home for the last time.

Who thought it’d end like this?… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

it’s quite wrong – 105/1000

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I’ve never been here before, standing in the rain on the sidewalk with a man running the back of his hand down the side of my cheek.

I’ve never felt this before, this sweet electricity, this furious pulse.

But all I can think about are the folds of my stomach, the skin that stretches my shirt too tight, my lumpy thighs in these pants.

He moves his hand down but before he could get past my neck, I stopped him.

“No, I’m sorry,” I said. “My body is not yet ready to be loved.”

“You are quite wrong about that.”… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

the dragon – 104/1000

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Something about him looked familiar.

It was the green eyes, the pupils were yellow slits, his skin was thick and looked scaled.

“You have my diamond.”

“It was never your diamond.”

“I’ve protected it for 3,000 years,” he said, and I swear he got bigger.

“You’ll never take it.”

Then, what’s that? Are those wings growing out of his back?

“Give me my diamond,” he said, louder, his breath smelling of sulfur, his neck elongating.

Shit.

It was a dragon.

I clutched my bag with all of the dragon’s jewels inside and ran from him as fast as I could.… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

no hope here – 103/1000

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I woke up slowly and saw the bright blue sky above me.

Then their face came into view, along with their panicked voice; “Oh thank goodness you’re awake!”

“Are we here?”

“We crashed. But everyone is okay.”

I sat up and looked around our new planet, and my heart sunk and raced.

Desert. Just desert. As far as I could see.

“Water?”

“No, Captain, we lost it all in the crash.”

“But all twelve souls aboard?”

“Fine, sir,” my lieutenant said.

It didn’t matter, I thought, we would all be dead within hours.

I closed my eyes again to wait.… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

the solar field – 102/1000

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They all stared at the horizon with smiles on their faces, smiles wide as miles.

There used to be corn here, rows and rows of it stretching as far as the eyes could see, and now?

Solar panels.

“They’ll save money! The planet! It’s clean energy!”

But the corn is gone.

While they smile at their solar field, I hike up to the farm stand. Tomatoes and peppers in abundance. Cucumbers, green beans, apples.

A man steps up behind me.

“Beautiful, ain’t it? Look at that bright yellow glow!”

I remember a different bright yellow, and it tasted so sweet.… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

Just My Luck – 101/1000

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“Get what I asked for?”

“You know I got it, why’d I come if I ain’t got it?”

“Let’s see it.”

I watch them open the bag from the corner of my bike shop while a guy has a gun to my head.

I don’t know how my bad luck had them breaking into my shop, but it’s just my luck.

I see the money, and then he turns to me.

“Alright, what do we do with this one?” he nods toward me.

He throws me a bundle and I feel the gun move away.

“You betta stay quiet, kid.”… Read the rest

in Poems

tulip

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vibrant red tulips in bloom against clear sky

i never liked you.

simple, but also smug.

you stand tall and defiant
believing in your beauty
even when i and others, surely
joke that you’re the weed of roses

no one wants you in a bouquet.

you don’t scream “love” to anyone.

or “thank you”, or “i’m sorry”.

maybe that’s why i never liked you.

you were always more sure
of yourself than I was,
you were never afraid to rise

you grew tall and strong,
keeping your secret beauty
closed inside your bud

and by the time you have opened
yourself to the world
you’ve already been enjoyed… Read the rest