Love
Marigolds In Her Hair
Cass was a simple girl, she liked her country life, her small family and her school and friends. Cass loved her small family farm and her neighbors around her. She loved to wake up to the fresh country air and watch out her window as the homes around her woke up as well.
By Becky Arthurs5 years ago in Fiction
Her Most Magnificent Flower
Her earliest memory was of her tiny fingers deep in cool earth, planting bulbs, next to her mother, their backs towards the sun, shoulders turning a bright pink. Birdsong could be heard in the trees, and if they were lucky, a small breeze would dance through the air, cooling the sweat that gathered along temples and brows, down their backs and necks. Barefoot, in well worn jeans and straw hats, they’d tend to the garden, prune weeds, water and plant new flowers for the next season. They would turn in only once the job was done, a good kind of ache deep in their bones.
By Nicole Caggiano5 years ago in Fiction
Maybe Two
Maybe Two The air was thick with moisture, the humidity was near unbearable. He trudged his way down Main St. looking for an oasis of fresh, or otherwise, cool air. That's when he spotted that new little bakery shop with the pretty owner's face painted on the front window and door. He tentatively pushed on the door only to be met with a rush of chilled air. The little drops of sweat that had formed on his face were now shimmying and shrinking at a torrid pace. There she stood, the face on the window, smiling the most welcoming of smiles as I smiled back. "Can I help you on this fine day", she said invitingly. Just a few more steps and I was face to face with," give me a sec to read her name tag", Lilly, yes Lilly. "Hi Lilly, you have a beautiful little shop here, loving your Air Conditioning!" Lilly was eager to engage in conversation as she had been open and ready for business for two hours without a single customer. My eyes shifted to the left where they beheld a glass display case filled with the most magnificently decorated cakes and muffins I had ever seen. Not just your average ornate pipping and floral arrangements, but wonderfully sculpted fairies and sparkling magic wands casting sugar dust spells. "I must say, those look too good to eat, I would be consuming a work of art". Flattered, Lilly then said. "I insist you try my wares, first customer of the day gets a free cupcake of their choosing". I wasn't sure if Lilly could tell I was down on my luck of late as I keep myself as well-groomed as a person who lives in a shelter can. But maybe I was just projecting my own insecurities on her kind gesture. It was the beginning of the month so I still had a few bucks to shell out for a cupcake, but still felt really at odds with the whole first customer of the day thing. As I reached into my pocket Lilly started to say no but caught herself and realized that I had caught on to her very charitable ruse. That's when I saw it, right in mid-pocket reach, the biggest, darkest, most elegant chocolate cake in the world!!! It stood a full foot tall with tiny white pearls separating each tier. Lilly caught the direction of my gaze and promptly informed me that cake had been ordered and was to be picked today. She must have seen the disappointment drain out of my withered face as she then said, "wait right here". Lilly was a true artist and had sculpted that cake to perfection, taking off an evening slice here and one there. She hurriedly retrieved her canister and lo and behold a perfect-sized slice of chocolate cake sitting on top of several broken pieces. A smidgen of chocolate icing remained in her piping bag as she delicately applied some along with a few tiny white candy pearls. She came out of the back carrying a pink box, with her picture on it, you know, the one on the front window. She presented it to me and said, "I don't usually sell my cakes by the slice, so let me see, that'll be one slice of chocolate cake, $2.99, no tax. Let me tell you, that slice of chocolate cake was not only the best I had ever tasted, but it was also a magical one. What is now a lifetime later, Lilly and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary, with what you may ask? Why, not just a slice of Lilly's chocolate cake, but maybe two!!!
By Vincent Shany5 years ago in Fiction
True Love
I feel him before I actually feel him. He tries so much to just let me rest but he also wants to show me that he loves me. “Hey, baby,” I say, half asleep still. It feels like I have not slept these past couple of days. Just a couple of days? It feels like I had a month crammed into that time. I sit up and give him a coy smile and he winks at me with that smile of his own that makes me tingle.
By Aaron Gensel5 years ago in Fiction
Everything You've Always Wanted
Simone is exhausted. A 9-5 (more like 8-7) employee at a publishing company in New York City. She always thought when she moved here it didn’t matter what terrible job she took, what crappy apartment she could afford, the city would bring her all the life she needed.
By Alexis Fenton5 years ago in Fiction
Chocolate Daze
When the police and EMTs arrived, they found a broken front door, two incapacitated intruders, and Stella Macon sitting calmly at the kitchen table, drinking wine straight from the bottle. Officer Scott Murray looked over the petite brunette, taking in her messy bun sitting lopsided on her head, a hand-sized bruise forming on her face and torn shirt. Then he glanced into the kitchen where the two intruders were being treated by the EMTs.
By Lisa Ellis5 years ago in Fiction
At Last
Aside from a group of teenagers gossiping and giggling in a corner booth, and the septuagenarian reading a well-worn book a few stools away, it was just she and I. It’d been about a month since I started coming a few days a week, always during the lunch rush. I’d stand outside and watch through the dusty window to see what section she was in that day, then I’d go in and request an out-the-way table in a different section. The thought of speaking to her caused my chest to tighten and my armpits to sweat, but I’d watch. I’d order a club sandwich or steak and eggs, or whatever, and I’d watch her.
By Paris Giles5 years ago in Fiction
You Can’t Have Your Cake
You’d think a girl like me would know a thing or two about failed relationships by now. Yet, here I am one divorce and three failed engagements later and I’m in another situation where the ground is opening beneath me and I’m falling into the blazing inferno of heartbreak all over again. Things started out great, and I could feel that he wouldn’t be like anyone or anything I’d experienced before. He was different. He was good. He is good, but good isn’t always enough for a girl like me.
By Robert Walker5 years ago in Fiction
An Inconspicuous Day
He lifted his hand to his forehead and felt his fingertips hit moisture. Paul couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so excited and nervous at the same time. He avoided her gaze and hadn’t said much. Paul wondered if that might have upset her.
By Rachel Aikema5 years ago in Fiction
Birthday
The house was quiet as Amber opened the door and quietly shut it behind her. The realization of what had happened did not hit her just yet. She walked further into the house as she passed the remains of the party that had been going on only hours before. She wanted to cry and scream but nothing would come out. She sat on her couch and put her head in her hands. She sat in silence and just went over the conversation from this morning.
By Alyssa Brewer5 years ago in Fiction
