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Latest Stories

August 02, 2026
General Stories Yumi Cai

Black Datura

“Hey honey, where’ve you been?” “Uh… what’s going on?” The background noise on his end was a predictable wall of sound—passing traffic, the sharp clink of highball glasses, the hurried, thin murmurs of men who calibrated their lives by a stock ticker. “You…
August 02, 2026
Flash Fiction Lilyan Ruiz

My Voice, My Truth

Lilyan had heard people say that memories fade with time. She wished that were true. Some memories never faded. They waited quietly beneath the surface, returning when she least expected them. The first memory she could never escape happened when she was…
August 02, 2026
General Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

The Minotaur

The bull came up and had intercourse with [Pasiphae], as if with a real cow. Pasiphae gave birth to Asterios (Asterius), who was called Minotauros. He had the face of a bull, but was otherwise human. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 8 - 11 Princess Ariadne…
July 18, 2026
Horror Stories Tom Kropp

Killer Part To Play

“You do realize this film requires a lot of nudity?” The middle-aged, bald, obese, white, male director, named Marty asked.“Of course,” Dan nodded agreeably.“Well let's see what you got under those clothes,” Marty requested.“Sure. “Dan agreed and boldly…
July 18, 2026
General Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

The Pixie By The Pond

The Pixies, they who change not, nor grow old or die. The Pixies though they love us, behold us pass away, And are not sad for flowers they gathered yesterday Nora Chesson, The Pixies Brian had just finished his Junior year at Stanford University, where he…
July 18, 2026
Horror Stories Tom Kropp

Vault Treasures

"Let’s do it." Jon ordered his brother Dan. "Alright!" Dan barked back. Jon jumped out of the car. The brothers were both tall, lean, clean, young, white men wearing blond beards and wigs as disguises and nice suits. Jon guided his gorgeous girlfriend,…
July 18, 2026
Flash Fiction Kate LaDew

Harry Makes A Pact With Bess

“When I get to the other side, I will let you know. I’ll tap out our code and tell you what I've found.” When Harry dies on a Halloween afternoon, Bess is there, his brother too. “I’m tired of fighting,” he tells them softly. “Guess this is going to get me,”…
July 18, 2026
Horror Stories Kenneth Gibbons

Marvin's Mistake

“Marvin, are you still seeing apparitions?" asked Doctor Jaimeson. Marvin's eyes darted to the right and back. Then again. He was trying to ignore the spirit sitting in the corner of the office. "No. I haven't seen any apparitions for a while," Marvin said…
June 23, 2026
General Stories Thomas Turner

Lucky Number Seven

1995- Sonny and Candy have been in Iowa for a few years now. He makes a list of his lucky number seven friends 1-Pastor Joseph F Wall (Pastor of Christ of King Church .River landing city.) 2-Dennis Mason(general manager of hills mall. Also Captain of the Iowa…
June 23, 2026
Flash Fiction Matias Travieso-Diaz

The Fawn In The Forest

So they walked on together through the wood, Alice with her arms clasped lovinglyround the soft neck of the Fawn, till they came out into another open field, and herethe Fawn gave a sudden bound into the air, and shook itself free from Alice's…
June 14, 2026
Horror Stories Paula Bernstein

Midnight Snack

I have always preferred to stalk my victims in the winter. I love the early sunsets and the long chill nights which allow a long foreplay to the final ecstasy of sinking my teeth into that vulnerable place, feeling my mouth fill with the gush of warm juice.…
June 07, 2026
Romance Stories Linda Boroff

Charlotte's Law

Charlotte always arrived at work half an hour early. She left her apartment at 7:15 each morning, brown bag in hand, to wait beside a car rental agency for the 7:22 Wilshire Boulevard bus, a tall, broad-beamed secretary with plump knees in miniskirt and high…

Dear Harold,

It was real good to see you the other night. Not many guys would have bought a girl pretzels on a first date. To me it was a real sign of you. Like a statement, I guess you would say.

Anyway, I think you should not be too embarrassed because your fly stuck open at the dance. I don't think people noticed. They looked at you and laughed because of that funny joke you told I am sure. I felt bad you had to explain it three times to those dummies at our table. But some folks just are not too swift you know.

Thank you too for your real sweet apology. I have to admit I have never danced with a man who sweat so much. And you are right. It was uncomfortable when it rolled down my shoulder. But a strapless dress is a risk and I do appreciate your concern.

You also don't have to worry about how the corsage got pinned. It didn't go too deep and the dress is washable. Cold water works wonders.

You are an unusual man, Harold. I have never known anyone like you before. I think sometimes people do not appreciate eccentricity for the gift that it is. Doing rumba moves to that waltz might be frowned on in some circles, but believe me it sets a person apart.

 

Also, I have to say I enjoyed the special effort you made to make the evening magic. I really did not mind changing the tire, so please don't worry about that. I know you couldn’t see that Don't-Back-Up sign because of how fogged up your glasses got.

Well, Harold, I'm running out of time. And of things to say. It's not often I do this with someone after only one date, believe me. When your hardware convention comes to town again, please look me up.

Your friend, Roseanne

 

Dear Harold,

It was nice of you to send me the can of mixed nuts and I only hope you’re not making some sort of statement about me and my friends. Knowing you, however, that is not likely so I guess it is just me. In any case, I should know by now that this is just right in keeping with the you of you, as my friend Swami Phil says.

I’m real sorry to hear that the tie I gave you got caught in the key making machine. I cannot believe people laughing at you about that, Harold. It is a shame they do not know you the way I do.

Did you like the box of chocolates I sent?

I look forward to your visit.

Hugs, Roseanne

 

 

Dear Harold,

Gosh, if I had known that your were allergic to macadamia nuts I would never have sent that particular can to you. Has the swelling gone down? Is the rash still there? People can be so cruel laughing because your scalp got bigger and the toupee wouldn’t fit right.

Well I must go.

Love, Roseanne.

 

Dear Harold,

When you don’t write I think it is because you are angry. And if you are not then you should say so.

I liked the camping trip although it upset me that you forgot the tent poles and that the branches poked a hole in the side. Telling me the warranty would cover the damage after it started to rain did not make me feel better.

I have always said you were different, Harold, and you are.

All the best,

Roseanne

 

Dear Harold,

It has been a long time since I have written, I know, but I have my reasons. Like I told you when I drove you that extra 100 miles to the airport because you could get a cheaper flight from there, that about did me in.

I’ve come to feel you’re taking advantage of me. Now it was nice of you to give me the canned ham at the airport and all, but as I told you before it’s against  my religion.

Sometimes it seems you don’t listen to a thing I say. I’m going to a doctor here, well a counselor, and she says every person in the world, how many ever that is, has a different way of looking at things. But I don’t think you understand that because thinking back I recall that when I say something mostly you say ‘ah ha’ and then keep on as if I said nothing. Which really is not the way it is supposed to be.

Thank you for the fruitcake. But, Harold, if you send presents you ought to examine the package. I found a note in it from your Aunt Mildred written three years ago saying Merry Christmas.

I’ve concluded that you are so different as to be weird, something some of my friends have said for a long time.

The truth is I am fed up. So goodbye.

Roseanne,

PS: I loved you

 

End

 

www.cambriacreations.com

THE CUSTER CONSPIRACY

A Kindle Book tinyurl.com/mph4a3n

http://cigalelitmag.com/lorin-cary---silver-lining.html

http://www.decompmagazine.com/ice.htm

"Obsession" is in Torrid Literature Journal XII

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