(My take on a story by my friend who responded to this writing prompt: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5kxe94/wp_you_live_in_a_world_where_each_lie_creates_a/) The sound of an explosion rocked the area as the line-up of soldiers watched the drill sergeant demonstrate throwing a live grenade. “Underhand lobbing is far more accurate for shorter distances,” the sergeant instructed. “This ain’t baseball. You aren’t trying […]
“A deal?” asked the boy. “Certainly. ‘Give and take’, so to speak.” The boy seemed dubious. “Nothin’ I really want,” said the boy. He then whispered, “I hear them saying I won’t around much longer.” “Do you want to be?” The boy shrugged, glancing around his hospital room. “I’ve read in books that it’s fun […]
The boy found it easier to get onto the bench near his grandmother as she knitted pensively. “My, my,” she said, “You have gotten taller!” He wiggled in his seat. “What are you making, grandmother?” She showed him. “I am knitting a scarf for you, my dear.” “Why do you sew?” She clucked her tongue […]
They say we can expect to live about 70-80 years. Perhaps our generation can expect to hit 100 years. You spend your younger ages just learning. Exploring the world. Finding yourself in this vast universe. Sometime during this time you recognize the importance of death, but so what? It’s far away. You have at least […]
“How is th̩̮͇̞̰̫̭e̳͈͈ subject?” the head scientist addressed at the member sitting to his right, as he gazed at the jar residing in the center of the round table. “Sitting, apparently,” answered the assistant as he consulted the images on his tablet. He frowned, twiddled a few buttons, and then muttered, “Is something wrong with […]
Three friends were led through the door and into the room where they stood before two further, adjacent doors. The door to the left led to a perfect life, they were told, filled with anything they wanted. The door to the right led back to the life they were already leading: a normal life. One […]
From her perspective, the apple was actually quite close to being a perfect circle. Though as she kept looking at it, she noticed the glistening collection of dawn’s dew tremble against the morning breeze. It fell, and immediately the color changed. Though there was no precipitating warning, hindsight would eventually tell her it was not […]
Then “No, you shouldn’t use SIGKILL to stop a given process right away. It prevents the computer from doing any finalization.” He reached past her and made the change with a few keystrokes. “Always use SIGTERM so the process can be finalized.” Some would claim she learned fast, but he knew better. She learned just […]
“You’re a time traveler?” “In a generic sense, yes.” The woman who had introduced herself as Yuxenia responded with a sigh of exasperation, “But everyone is. I suppose in your time period, you don’t call people automobile drivers, do you?” “Well, not really, no.” “Exactly!” Yuxenia held out her hands, as though framing his answer. […]
Three suns had set. Still — no sign of Mia. Tick. The sound came from the door, though it did not sound quite like it. Oliver was eager when he dashed towards the front door expectantly. But that was not Mia’s scent, for she smelled of sandalwood, fresh paper, and berries. No – it was […]
Monadic Storytelling 