My old partner’s name was Ricardo Perez. We did six years together before the wreck. He left behind a son—just a toddler back then. I went to the funeral, brought flowers, even held the boy for a bit while his aunt sobbed into her hands. “Where’s your mom?” I asked, my voice suddenly tight. He…
I groaned. I shouldn’t have said it, but I did. “Spit it out, kid. You forget your own name?” He flinched, cheeks flushing bright red. “M-Malcolm.” Something about that hit weird. I stepped closer, and he clutched his backpack tighter. “Malcolm what? “Malcolm P-P-Perez.” My stomach dropped.
The kid couldn’t have been more than sixteen. Beat-up bike, hoodie two sizes too big, eyes darting like he’d stolen something—though he hadn’t. I pulled up alongside him after a call about someone matching his description messing around behind the gas station. I asked his name, and he hesitated. Tried to speak, but it came…
At 7:32 PM, I heard his car pull up. I lit a candle. Poured wine. Set three plates. When he walked in, he looked tired, like he was ready to deliver another half-baked excuse. But then he saw the table. He paused. “What’s this?” he asked, glancing at the third plate. I smiled and handed…
But this earring? It was solid. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just picked it up, wiped the dust off, and placed it in a little velvet box I kept from an old necklace. Then I started prepping dinner. He always came home starving after these “late nights.” I made his favorite—chicken piccata, roasted…
It was one of those tiny studs, gold with a little pearl. Not mine—I don’t wear pearls. I was vacuuming under the bed because I couldn’t sleep, and there it was, just sitting near the leg of the nightstand like it belonged there. I stared at it for a long time. It wasn’t the first…
I woke up with a start, my heart pounding. In the dim light, I saw Semi standing over my wife, barking urgently. For a moment, I panicked, unsure of what was happening. But then, it clicked—I understood what was going on. I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed emergency services. 😲😲 I heard a soft…
Around three in the morning, our Labrador, Semi, suddenly burst into the room. He had been with us for eight years—an affectionate, well-behaved dog, always a part of the family. He never caused trouble and always respected the rules. But that night, something was different. Dog food Semi hurried over to my wife’s…
It was just another ordinary night. My wife and I were peacefully asleep in our bedroom, snug under the covers. Our two children—our six-year-old son and one-year-old daughter—were sound asleep in their own rooms. Everything was calm, and there was no hint of any danger.
A woman in her fifties, seated across the aisle, turned to face me, clearly furious: — “Are you contagious? Why did you even get on this flight?!” I tried to stay calm: — “I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep it quiet. I’ll take some medicine. You can wear headphones if it bothers you…” — “I’m…