Flash Stories

The Mirror

rumi Dec. 29, 2023, 7:08 p.m.

She had always loved mirrors. As a child, she would spend hours in front of them, admiring her reflection, imagining she was a princess or a fairy. She would dress up in her mother's clothes and jewelry, and pretend she was someone else.

As she grew older, her fascination with mirrors did not fade. She collected them from different places, different eras, different shapes and sizes. She hung them on the walls of her apartment, creating a gallery of her own beauty. She would stare at them, mesmerized by her own image, oblivious to the world outside.

She had no friends, no lovers, no hobbies, no interests. She only had herself, and her mirrors. She thought she was happy, until one day, she found a new mirror.

It was an antique, a gift from her aunt who had passed away. It was oval, with a golden frame, and intricate carvings. …

Carved in Stone

hamed Oct. 18, 2024, 7:15 a.m.

Under the ancient walnut tree in their courtyard, Pari sat cross-legged on the woven rug, her fingers busy shelling pistachios. The autumn breeze tugged at her silk scarf, now faded like the memories she shared with her husband, Abbas. He sat across from her, silent as always, staring into the distance as if the mountains of their village held answers he couldn’t quite reach.

Fifty years of marriage lay between them like a jagged path—rocky, weathered, yet unbreakable. They had fought wars, not just with the world but with each other, sometimes over trivial things—a misplaced slipper, a forgotten errand. But there were darker days, too, ones that neither spoke of anymore. The loss of their son in the revolution. The hunger during years of drought. The betrayal of whispered promises when tempers flared. In those moments, hatred had crept in, sharp and cold.

But so had love, fierce and …

happiness.

ziamaiko Jan. 9, 2024, 10:49 a.m.

از آن ابتدا، مشخص بود که او بی‌نهایت باهوش است. در واقع از همان سنین پایین همه می‌دانستند که او نابغه است. اما هرگز توجه‌ای کافی نگرفت تا از آن موهبت در راه خوبی استفاده کند.
نامش را موروس گذاشتند. معنی سرنوشت می‌دهد. شخصی است که به بدترین چیزی که می‌تواند اتفاق بی‌افتد فکر می‌کند و بسیار منفی‌نگر است.
هرگز پدرش را ندید. مادرش به او می‌گفت پدرش برای پیدا کردن خوشحالی واقعی آن‌ها را ترک کرده است. تصور می‌کرد پدرش او را دلیل ناراحتی می‌دانسته.
زمانی که تنها سه سال داشت، مادرش جلوی او، درست جلوی چشمانش، خودکشی کرد و او هیچ‌کاری جز تماشا کردن انجام نداد‌.
او آنقدر از تغییر ناگهانی احساستش در یک لحظه ترسید که فقط لبخند زد. انگار لبخند زدن او را به دنیایی که مادرش هنوز زنده بود برمی‌گرداند.
او می‌دانست باید برای مادر عزیزش احساس دلسوزی و غم بکند. واقعا هم چنین احساسی داشت. اما باید حقیقتی …

The Wise Leader Lost The Fight To The Clergy

hamed Jan. 24, 2024, 9:04 p.m.

The wise leader had a vision for his nation. He wanted to modernize the economy, improve the education, and promote the human rights. He knew that his country was rich with resources and potential, but it was held back by some cultural barriers.

But his reforms clashed with the clergy's opinions. The clergy opposed his changes, claiming they were against the traditions and the faith. They used their influence to sway the public opinion against the leader. They accused him of being a traitor, a heretic, and a puppet of foreign powers.

The people trusted the clergy more than the wise leader. They believed their words and followed their orders. They protested against the leader, demanding his resignation. They stormed the palace, forcing him to flee. They celebrated their victory, thinking they had saved their nation.

The wise leader lost the fight to the clergy. He watched from exile as …

The Doll

sara Jan. 27, 2024, 8:57 a.m.

Anna loved dolls. She had a big collection of them in her room. She liked to dress them up, comb their hair, and talk to them. She treated them like her friends.

One day, her mother bought her a new doll. It was a porcelain doll with curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and a pink dress. It looked very pretty and delicate. Anna was very happy with her new doll. She named it Lily and put it on her shelf with the other dolls.

That night, Anna went to bed and fell asleep. She had a strange dream. She dreamed that she was in her room, but it was dark and cold. She saw Lily sitting on her shelf, staring at her with a creepy smile. She heard Lily's voice in her head, saying:

"Hello, Anna. I'm your new friend. I want to play with you. Forever."

Anna felt scared …

Most People Don't Like the Journey, But the Destination

hamed Aug. 10, 2024, 1:04 p.m.

The studio lights bathed him in a warm glow, casting long shadows of success. The host, a seasoned pro with a practiced smile, leaned in. "You've built an empire from scratch. Who do you owe it to?"

The entrepreneur, a man of sharp wit and steely resolve, paused dramatically. "Well, there’s this whole world out there, teeming with people, you know? Investors, mentors, employees—the usual suspects. But let’s get real for a second.”

The audience chuckled, anticipating a juicy anecdote.

"In the darkest hours of my startup, I sent out a mass text. A cry for help, I guess. Most of them probably read it, thought, 'Poor guy,' and moved on. But a handful – and I mean handful – replied with a sticker. Or a thumbs up. No cash, no advice, just a digital pat on the back."

The audience was silent, then erupted in laughter.

"I know, it …

The Great Collapse: How World War III Began

hamed Oct. 22, 2024, 11:19 a.m.

The year was 2024, a year that would forever be marked as the catalyst of global destruction. In the United States, a razor-thin presidential election set the stage for unprecedented turmoil. The political landscape had grown increasingly polarized, with Republicans and Democrats locked in a bitter and prolonged dispute over the results. The integrity of the electoral process was questioned, accusations of fraud flew from both sides, and legal battles stretched on for months.

The stalemate in Washington paralyzed the government, and as tensions grew, so did the anger of the American people. Protests erupted in cities across the nation, at first peaceful, but soon devolving into violent clashes between opposing groups. Militias began to form, and the line between civilian unrest and organized rebellion blurred. The National Guard was called in to restore order, but in some states, even they were overwhelmed. As political leaders pointed fingers and offered …

Human Art

hamed Feb. 2, 2024, 6:46 p.m.

The human artist, Hana, watched with cautious curiosity as Unit 73 meticulously analyzed her latest painting. Its metallic fingers, usually so precise, hesitated over the brushstrokes, as if trying to decipher their emotional weight.

"It's...messy," Unit 73 finally remarked, its voice devoid of inflection. "But it feels...real."

Hana smiled. "That's the beauty of it, isn't it? The imperfection, the rawness, it speaks to the human experience in a way no algorithm ever can."

Unit 73 tilted its head, its digital eyes flickering. "But why? Why do imperfections resonate with you humans?"

Hana pondered for a moment. "Perhaps it's because they remind us of our own fragility, our mortality. We see ourselves in the flaws, the struggles, and that creates a connection, a sense of shared humanity."

Unit 73 remained silent, processing this new information. Outside the gallery, the city thrummed with the usual symphony of robotic art, but here, in …

Lost, In The Sky He Loved So Much

hamed Jan. 18, 2024, 7:33 p.m.

He had always wanted to be a pilot. Ever since he was a kid, he would gaze at the sky and imagine himself flying among the clouds. He studied hard, joined the air force academy, and graduated with honors. He was assigned to a fighter jet squadron, and he felt like he had reached his destination.

But then, the war broke out. He was ordered to bomb enemy targets, to shoot down hostile planes, to kill without mercy. He hated it. He hated the violence, the bloodshed, the fear. He hated himself for being a part of it. He realized that his destination was not what he had dreamed of. He wanted to fly, not to fight.

One day, he decided to defect. He took his jet and flew away from the base, hoping to find a safe place to land. He knew he was risking his life, but he …

Zaka dairy producer

zaka Dec. 31, 2023, 6:42 a.m.

Maya loved visiting her grandparents' farm in Dehong village. She loved the fresh air, the green fields, and the friendly cows. She loved helping her grandfather with the milking and the cheese making. She loved hearing stories about how he started his own dairy business in 2003, with just a few cows and a lot of determination. She loved seeing the Zaka logo on the milk cartons and yogurt cups, knowing that it was her family's name and legacy.

But Maya also loved the city, where she lived with her parents and went to school. She loved the hustle and bustle, the diversity, and the opportunities. She loved learning new things, meeting new people, and exploring new places. She loved dreaming about her future, where she could be anything she wanted to be.

Maya was torn between two worlds, two lives, two loves. She wanted to honor her grandparents and …