Nonfiction
The waiting room: a retrospective
Read the short story here: https://todaysurvey.life/fiction/the-waiting-room-vu7d30ir4 When I wrote "The Waiting Room," I wanted to explore not just the uncertainty of death, but the profound sadness, shock and trauma that accompanies the sudden loss of life, specifically in this story I wanted to explore the very sad, and very real occurrence of a school shooting. At first glance, the story appears to centre around a young girl, Clara, simply waiting for a routine doctor’s appointment. But I wanted to subtly layer in the true nature of the situation, letting it unfold slowly so the reader experiences the same creeping realization as Clara does.
By Mat Barnsleyabout a year ago in Chapters
Do lizards smile?
I went to London on a couple of occasions before emigrating to the United States, not because I felt a duty or need to visit the capital before leaving the country, but because it was necessary to do so as part of the emigration process to move, being where both the physician and embassy are located. I found London as a city to be a foul and repulsive place, the streets were certainly not paved with gold, but they did have plenty of brass sitting on dirty old hats which lined the thoroughfares, cardboard mountains piled just out of sight and out of view of the camera frames, and graffiti seemingly done by the dyslexic and artistically challenged victims of the English schooling system.
By Mat Barnsleyabout a year ago in Chapters
Whispers on the Skin
Her name was Lilia. Her smile as wide as her face, with bright eyes. A bit chubby, and so friendly that I honestly don’t remember seeing anything other than her face. Harley, their little white dog, is friends with mine Kaity. We sometimes pass by each other, say hello, and exchange pleasantries. Today when I saw them, the dogs started playfully bickering. I commented on the weather, and then I noticed two cute butterflies tattooed on her ankle.
By Azam Salehiabout a year ago in Chapters
The Unfathomable Dance of Existence
How unfathomable is the beauty of existence! Every roadblock, every rejection, every end and every not so plausible moment is the beginning of something new, some beautiful reality that can turn every bitter ounce of mortality into an insightful lesson learned,
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Chapters
From Doubt to Determination – A Freelancer’s Journey
Freelancing had always interested me, but I wasn’t sure which niche to choose. Videos or photography weren’t my thing. Since I came from a tech background, I thought, “Why not tech writing?” It felt like the right choice.
By Vijayendra Prasadabout a year ago in Chapters
The Voice in the Rain
Chapter 1: The City of Eternal Rain In the city of Nocturne, it had been raining for as long as anyone could remember. The skies were perpetually shrouded in dark clouds, and the sound of raindrops against cobblestone streets was a constant, soothing rhythm that residents had come to accept as the heartbeat of their world. Umbrellas were as essential as the air itself, and the scent of wet earth and damp stone permeated everything.
By Welsh Diepreye about a year ago in Chapters
The Time-Thief's Apprentice
Chapter 1: The Time Bazaar In the heart of the city of Chronos, where cobblestone streets wound like serpents through the market squares, time was not just measure it was traded. The Time Bazaar was a bustling labyrinth of stalls and shops, each purveyor offering hours, minutes, and seconds in exchange for gold, secrets, or even memories. Among these traders, none were as feared or revered as the Time Thieves, shadowy figures who could steal years from a person with a single touch.
By Diepreye Lambert about a year ago in Chapters
