Short Story

By Inayah Fathima Faeez I’m not allowed to go up to the attic anymore. It’s an ancient breath captured in the stagnant cold. I’m not allowed to disturb it. The staircase ripples beneath the moonlight. When I plod to the top, the ladder is inviting me to climb. There’s an impenetrable chill that cascades upon me as I enter the room. It is tinged with shades of memories long forgotten. The first thing I see on the desk is a pocketbook, one that sighs as it opens. He enters th

By Riya Goswami Preface Once upon a time, there were three rebels who overthrew an evil queen. That is a story of the past ... The citizens of Nordostia needed strong leaders, so the girls bravely left their families to lead Nordostia into a new golden era. Now, Rosabel, Katherina, and Audrina were co-queens of Nordostia with their friend Ben Joe, serving as the Prime Minister Section 1 The girls were trying to find somebody. Their friend Ben Joe’s sister had been missing sin

By Riya Goswami Once upon a time, there were three rebels. But how did these girls become rebels? Our story starts in a small town north of Paris in the year 6048 CE. That town is quite insignificant except for one of its inhabitants. “Good morning Monsieur Baton,” Rosabel says. “How are you doing?” Little does she know, she is the most gossiped about person in town. “She’s so odd!” says Monsieur Baton. “She’s always been so weird,” says Julianne Antoinet. “I can’t believe

By Adesope Adisa The choir hymns swelled, filling the building with pride—the kind that squashes men’s egos like insects. The pastor stood tall, his voice booming about salvation, love, and sacrifice. I swear I was listening, but I lost him somewhere around the one-hour mark. The fan’s weak gust kept me alive. Without it, I’d be out the door in minutes. The air reeked of sweat, perfume, and simmering judgment. It wasn’t God I smelled—it was people, and I wasn’t here for them.