“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” --May Sarton It was typed-written on a buff-colored tissue paper. The other pieces have different passages too, but this one got me. The rain had finally died down, but I’m still waiting for Chloe inside a coffee shop near the meeting spot we had agreed to. A few minutes later, a black car stopped in front of the shop, rolled down...

Beep-beep-beep-beep. The other line was dead when I picked up the phone. I could still hear the busy tone playing around my ear. Akira had mentioned ‘she.’ It was the only thing I knew. It was the first time someone (not a relative) called me. The next morning, Akira knocked and then slowly opened the door, peering through it as I fixed my hair. “You’re up early,” he teased. “Yeah…” I said. Truth was, I couldn’t sleep thi...

"And while you're making out with this ‘Nam vet, I'm stuck on the urology ward with a bunch of old farts who can't pee, and jive doctors who keep hustling me." Still stunned by the patient’s unexpected kiss, Gwen Kaplan leaned against the wall outside his room as her addled mind raced with unanswered questions. How had it happened? She wasn't sure.Had she, somehow, encouraged him? She didn't think so.Should she tell her h...

It hurts, I thought. I’ve always hated this. Stopping my tears from falling only hurts my throat. It’s annoying. “Heh…So you’re not really going to cry, huh?” the guy I don’t know said, grabbing my hair and pinning my face on the wall. He was trying to choke me with his other hand, slapping and then smothering me again. I couldn’t breathe. “So aggravating! You’re just a first year! You should know your place,” the girl wi...

PROLOGUE: It was a dark cold evening. There was something sinister in the air. It was uncomfortably warm. There was a girl walking in bare feet. She had bruises, even scratches, and a long black hair swinging as she moved. She was wearing a white dress with blood stains glistening, just like a fire raging in a snow. She was panting, breathlessly and helplessly running away from something. Ignoring the darkness embracing h...

It’s Chris’s twenty-first birthday and the smell of alcohol fills the air as music plays through huge, booming speakers. They had rented out a whole club for the occasion, so it's empty except for the drunken cast members who slosh around wearily, grinning stupidly and only barely realizing that maybe, just maybe, they overdid it with the alcohol. The designated drivers have long since given up their post and have succumb...

I stormed up the stairs, mentally cursing my brother. I glanced behind me at an unexpected noise and fought to hold in a sigh. I really didn’t need this right now. But the dog was sitting at the foot of the stairs, ears perked and tail thumping. Refusing to smile, I caved. Retracing my steps, I walked back down the steps and lightly patted him on the head. “There! Happy now?” He looked up expectantly. “What?” It was obvio...

As I stomped down the stairs I muttered under my breath about the stupidity and insensitivity of the male species. My brother was definitely one that made you want to rethink getting involved with a guy; he was about as sensitive as a freaking rock. I kept tromping down the stairs, grumbling. Reaching the bottom step, I froze. There it was, standing guard, almost like it was waiting for me. The beast. I did not want to go...

Everyone has that ‘thing’, that place where your life suddenly changes and you have no control over it. It’s a fixed point in time that you later look back on and say to yourself, “Yeah! Right there. That’s when it all started.” For some, it’s a joyous occasion; the birth of a child, graduating from college or buying a house. For others, it’s tragic. Their point could be the death of a loved one or maybe a divorce. But th...

Hello Everyone! This is my first story so I would LOVE feedback. Thanks and enjoy! My friend and I go way back. His name is Andy. We were best friends in middle school, attended the same high school and college, and even work at the same office currently. We are both salesman as well. There is also a girl in this story. Her name is Natalie. Natalie is a beautiful girl. Her face is clear and smooth, her personality is gold...

Blood red walls with long black drapes spread around the large room, which contained a golden fountain with a dragon statue rising above it in the center, its golden wingspan stretched out high above its head. All around me were flashy dresses and suits and bizarre masks obscuring their faces from view. I never liked parties, especially masquerades. With all the extravagant outfits I despised, I felt overwhelmed with para...

It is no secret that I have tremendously bad luck when it comes to dating and hook ups. I am a 23 year old post-college graduate female who works at a law firm, owns a new car, and lives with roommates in a large house. Some would say I sound rather put together.. but then there is my dating life. I really do not have good luck in this area. I will say that I have learned a lot of lessons that other people may benefit fro...

Nell “Are there no depths to which you would not sink, Rochester?” The younger man laughed unashamedly. “When my lord and master provides me with excellent wine and even better women, the least I can do is lower the tone.” Charles smirked, his hands tightening around my waist. “Help yourself, my man, but keep your hands off this one. She’s mine.” Even after so long, the words still thrilled me to the core, and I twisted a...

Nell “All right, all right, break it up! What’s going on?” I picked up my skirts and ran towards the fight. The mob jeered to see a girl push her way through, but when it became clear that I intended to break them up myself a couple of men stepped in to help me, disentangling Roberts from the ugly man and pulling them apart. Finally under control, they were held within spitting distance, until they stopped struggling and...

Charles Sweet lord, she was beautiful. My eyes widened, as though by doing so they could take in more of her shape, the glistening of water on her soft skin, the spirals of steam that shrouded her heart shaped face in mystery. The tiniest of groans escaped my lips as she rose up through the water. Without so much as glancing around, I heard her voice call out to me, “Charles, if you want to make my bathing a public specta...