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Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

Adam Carr and Phil Dunn, both physicists, sat at a table in the university cafeteria eating lunch. Adam enjoyed a hamburger while listening to Phil. “Adam, reputable physicists believe that there are many parallel worlds, worlds where there are other Adam Carrs.”

“What they believe and what they can prove are two different things. I think their imaginations are looking for something to dream about. Wishful thinking, that’s all.”

“Adam, you’re a scientist. As a scientist, can’t you even entertain the idea that there are parallel universes?”

“I am one scientist who deals with facts. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, I feel in my bones that there are parallel worlds. After all, why not?” Phil said and looked at his watch. “Time to go to class. We’ll talk some more. See you later…in another world,” he chuckled and left.

That night, Adam corrected exams until he got tired. “I’ll correct the rest in the morning,” he said and went to bed. In the morning, he went to his den to correct the exams. As he worked, the lights in his den went out and the room became shrouded in darkness. “Damn. I can’t see a thing. Where is my flashlight?” he mumbled, and, as he stumbled around the room, the lights went on. “Well, that’s…,” he said and froze. “My desk is on the other side of the room. That’s impossible. Everything is in a different place. The chairs. The lamps. The couch. This is impossible, but…what the hell is going on? Have I lost my mind? What’s happening to me?” he said, shaking.  I need a stiff drink to calm me down,” he said  and hurried to the kitchen where he kept a bottle of  whiskey in a cabinet. “What the...where’s the kitchen? This is the laundry room. Where’s the kitchen?” he said and hurried out of the laundry room into another room. “What’s the kitchen doing here? The dining room is supposed to be here. God, I am losing my mind. Nothing is where it’s suppose to be,” he said wiping his brow. “God, help me,” he pleaded looking up.  “ I have to get out of here,” he whispered and ran to his car, and drove to the university. After he parked, he walked slowly to the science building, mumbling as he walked. “I have to teach my physics class. How will I be able to concentrate on physics when I’m losing my mind,” he said and went to his classroom. “Nobody’s here,” he said sounding confused, went into the hall and saw a student running toward him.

“Dr. Carr. The class is waiting for you.”

“They’re waiting? Uh, where are they?”

“Where we always have class. In room 103.”

“We don’t have class in 109?”

“No,” she giggled. “That room is for the linguistics class.”

“Linguistics, of course, linguistics. “Okay, let’s go.”

After his class, he rushed to the cafeteria.” I have to tell Phil.” When he entered the cafeteria, he gasped. “I have lost my mind. It’s different. Everything is in different places.” As he looked around, he heard Phil call him. “Phil is at another table,” he mumbled and went to the table.

“Glad you’re here.  I ordered your favorite lunch just in case you were going to be late. Pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms. Bon appetite.”

“Pizza? I never eat pizza,” he thought staring at the pizza.

“Phil, did I ever eat hamburgers for lunch.”

“Hamburgers,” he chuckled. “You don’t like hamburgers.”

“Phil, what’s wrong with you?  I love hamburgers. I hate pizza. Do you hear me? I never eat pizza,” he growled,  jumped up and pounded the table with his fist: “I never eat pizza. Phil Dunn knows that. You’re not Phil. Who are you?” he yelled, looked around for a moment and then ran out of the cafeteria  and ran down a corridor. “They’re right. There are other worlds,” he said gasping and leaned against a wall. Where is my world? The world where  my desk is where it’s supposed to be. The world where I eat hamburgers. I have to find my world. Wherever I am, I don’t belong here. I have to find my world before I go mad,” he growled and took deep breaths. As he did, the lights went out for a few moments. When they came on, another  Adam Carr was sitting at a table in the cafeteria with another Phil Dunn. Adam enjoyed  his pizza while  he listened to Phil. “Adam, reputable physicists believe that there are many parallel worlds, worlds where there are other Adam Carrs.”

“Adam, you’re a scientist. As a scientist, can’t you even entertain the idea that there might be parallel universes?”

“I am one scientist who deals with facts. I’ll believe it when I see it. What they believe and what they can prove are two different things. I think their imaginations are looking for something to dream about. Wishful thinking, that’s all.”

“Well, I feel in my bones that there are parallel worlds. After all, why not?” Phil said and looked at his watch. “Time to go to class. We’ll talk some more. See you later…in another world,” he chuckled and left leaving Adam to finish his pizza.

The End

Bio

 

While teaching  communication skills and English at a community college, Mr. Greenblatt wrote short stories, and plays, one of which won a reading at Smith College. Since retiring in 2000, he has written short stories and novellas.

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