“Because only with you I learned what happiness is.
And with you I knew this solace and comfort”, he whispered.

Silence was the reply for him.

“Because you were there when I most needed you.
And you stood by me when I failed. And it gave me strength to stand up”, he smiled.

Only gentle wind touched his skin.

“Because you made me laugh every time I fell down.
Your radiant smile was sunshine of my life”, he wept.

Only clouds were the witnesses of his tears.

I wish I could sing
A song of starlight illuminating my path.
I wish I could write
A story of a gentle breeze showing me the way.
I wish I could paint
A picture of melody playing on my mind.
I wish I could live a peaceful and a quiet life.

But I have no voice to create a sound of music.
And I have no gift to express my feelings with words.
And it is a difficult task to paint in bright colors
Even though I tried for so many times.

Passing by the library Annie noticed that the secretaire was open. She hesitated but then entered the room; her husband, Michael, didn’t like her being in there. He used to say it was his workshop, a place where he was the creator and anything that could distract him was not welcome there. Including her.

Throughout the years she had gotten into the habit of not going inside and couldn’t really remember the last time she had stepped over the threshold of the library. She noticed that not much had changed within the years. The same bookshelves, same furniture, even the atmosphere seemed the same. In fact only the laptop on the desk made one realize they hadn’t travelled back in time to the 19th century.

Have you thought about it? She sat up.

About what?

She touched his face with her finger tips. The next moment he felt the velvet touch of her lips pass over his brow.

About what? He repeated.

Once upon a time, a little princess was born. She was cute, but aren’t all babies cute? She was sweet, but isn’t that what all babies are? Everyone around loved her and wished only the best for her. The little girl grew up with love, care and smiles around her.

Time went on and people noticed that she was not only sweet but smart, not only cute but intelligent, not only lovable but loving and caring. She loved people and trusted them with the unconcern that is only in a child’s nature.
She didn’t divide people into good or bad. Everyone was equally good.

She smiled bitterly at him, tears in her eyes.

Don’t forget to bang the door when you go, he said.

Why?

That’s how people make it final.

Then can you stand at the window and watch me leave?

Why?

As if you still care.

She banged the door. He switched on TV and grinned. Freedom.

I have not posted any stories recently and it has reasons. Firts, being sick for more than a week, did not really leave me with any options other than bedrest, so no writing. Second, I was busy with other stuff and fiction writing somehow took a long pause. But today I wanted to post here a story. A FICTION one. It is an old one written more than a year ago but it is one of my most favorite stories even if not one of the best ones. Inspired by the song by Hinder “Lips of an angel”, again one of my favorites. They both make me cry, the song and the story. Or maybe that’s just my mood.

Dogs are smart. I can bet they are smarter than some people. Have you ever seen dogs cross the road? They wait patiently with the crowd as if they know that red is a signal of a danger and green is a permission to go. Trust me, many people can’t tell the difference. They run a red light. Alone. In groups. With kids. I hate it the most when they run against the red signal with kids. Kids should not suffer because of their parents’ stupidity.

The day has come many of you have been waiting for so long. Now you can scroll down to the results and then get back to me to read this long post I have written for you.

Scrolled down? Back now? So I can continue. First of all I want to thank all of you - writers and readers - for participation in this contest. Without you it would not have been the same, I am sure. Like you all know there has been 40 entries and it was very tough to pick up 3 only.

I hope everyone had fun reading all the entries and commenting. Like I said before after few days of commenting I will conduct the poll to finally choose the best short story according to the readers. 6 entries made it to the voting stage. I know initially I said there will be 5 only and that not only comments will count but also stars ratings but when frankly speaking, it does not make much difference if we choose from 5 or 6 entries (only tougher for you). So I took both the short stories which collected the same number commentsinto the poll.

“It’s over Aaron!”

These words resonated in his head as he starred aghast at his screen. Aaron was flummoxed to say the least. To add salt to his wounds, Julia wasn’t even responding to any his replies.

Somewhere else, Julia enters her room.

“Timmy! What the hell are you doing on my computer?”

Slumping in the chair next to the bed, he watched his father and considered Camus: “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.”

Such emptiness in those words. Such a lack of anything, he thought.

And yet, they were a luxury.

He stood, turned off the respirator, and considered the calendar on the wall.

“I’m done. Meet ya backstage”, Eric quickly whispered. She flitted as though led by hypnotism

He pecked at her cheek

“You missed!”

Flirty conversation …Making out.. .All was quiet but for the suspiring noise.

“This is a ruddy university not your bedrooms!!”

Naturally panicking Eric said “Somebody call the ambulance. I’m on with the Heimlich maneuver”