Short Story
LHS Class of 01 Reunion '16
Students—now adults with briefcases, tattoos, and children in tow—milled about, exchanging updates about careers, marriages, and the occasional misadventure involving a misplaced mortgage payment. In the center of the bustling scene, a long wooden table was laden with platters of finger foods, a towering chocolate cake bearing a handwritten “Happy Retirement, Mrs. Wilkes!” in glossy frosting, and a modest, polished podium that would soon witness a cascade of heartfelt speeches. The scent of roasted chicken mingled with the faint perfume of fresh lilies, a subtle homage to the teacher who had once insisted that “a good education smelled like curiosity, not cafeteria pizza.” The hum of conversation rose and fell like a familiar chorus, each voice stitching together the fragmented memories of a generation that had once been shepherded by a woman whose patience seemed as endless as the school’s hallway lockers.
By Forest Green5 days ago in Fiction
The Spirit of Revenge
A cool, light breeze of false spring swirled around, invading the senses, sending chills down Yushin’s spine. Small patches of warm light broke through the forest canopy, illuminating the snow with greens and pinks. The forest was anything but still, yet it gave both Yushin and his horse the same dread of a silent forest. His horse moved from side to side, glancing about. Rustling in the trees tightened Yushin’s grip on his horse’s reins. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on what might lie past the leaves. His horse shook its head and neighed nervously, the perfume of the cherry blossoms filling its nostrils.
By Kitty Fermengs5 days ago in Fiction
Over the Hill. Top Story - March 2026.
I shouldn't be surprised- it's just like Papa to leave the planning to the last minute. But this? Unbelievable. A person's birthdate doesn't change from year to year, now, does it? Most people have their 60th Event planned years in advance.
By Judey Kalchik 5 days ago in Fiction
Tides of Fire and Water. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Title: Tides of Fire and Water The Water Kingdom was a realm of silver rivers and endless rain, where the sea kissed the mountains and the royal palace shimmered like glass in the moonlight. Prince Rano, youngest of the Water Kingdom’s royal line, had always carried himself with quiet grace, yet there was a heaviness to him that no courtly education could ease. A scar traced a line along his left cheek, a remnant of an accident long ago an accident caused by someone who should have protected him, but instead left a permanent mark.
By Maya Ocean5 days ago in Fiction
Sirena
The peaks and swells of winter snow cradled me like a soft woolen blanket that day. Time froze the moment that photo was taken. The buds of snowfall caressed my bare, warm skin. Even though it was below centigrade, I was boiling hot, convinced that it was summer's swelter.
By Susan L. Marshall6 days ago in Fiction
“Very Dark Times” OF USA
Ray Dalio Warns: The United States May Be Heading Into “Very Dark Times” Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has issued a stark warning: the United States may be heading into “very dark times.” His concerns are not based on short-term politics but on long-term historical patterns that have shaped the rise and fall of global superpowers.
By Wings of Time 6 days ago in Fiction
