Flash Stories

The Rosewater Vials

hamed Jan. 18, 2025, 6:56 p.m.

Lila had always been enchanted by the delicate art of perfume making, learning from her master in the small, fragrant shop tucked away in the heart of the old bazaar. The air was always filled with the sweet, heady mix of jasmine, saffron, and rose. But it was a certain vial—a small, intricately carved bottle of rosewater—that had always caught her eye. It sat on a dusty shelf in the corner of the workshop, forgotten, its glass dull and its cap sealed with age-old wax.

Her master, Karim, had never spoken of it, and when she asked, his eyes would darken. “Some memories are best left in the past, Lila,” he would say, his voice softer than usual. But as the days passed, Lila couldn’t shake the pull of the vial. There was something about it—something she couldn’t resist.

One evening, as she was cleaning the shelves, her hand brushed …

White Silence

hamed Jan. 17, 2025, 2:15 p.m.

The wind howled like a wolf circling its prey, rattling the windows of the small farmhouse. Snow piled higher by the hour, burying the fences and erasing the world beyond the walls. Inside, the Murphy family huddled close to the crackling fire.

Pa paced the room, his shadow flickering on the log walls. "If this keeps up, the barn’ll collapse under the weight," he muttered, pulling on his coat.

"You’re not going out there," Ma snapped, clutching her shawl. "You’ll freeze before you get halfway."

"I won’t lose the animals, Margaret."

"You’ll lose yourself. Then what’ll we do?"

Their eldest, Sarah, watched in silence, her little brother Timmy tucked under her arm. The boy’s face was pale, his breath shallow—he’d been coughing for days, and the cold made it worse.

"We could dig a tunnel," Sarah said suddenly.

Pa stopped pacing. "What?"

"A tunnel. To the barn. We could make …

Revolving Life

dehongi Jan. 4, 2024, 9:43 a.m.

She hated the noise. The constant yelling and fighting of her parents, the loud TV and music, the banging of doors and dishes. She wished she could escape to a quieter place, where she could read her books and draw her pictures in peace.

She often wondered why she was born into this family. She felt like she didn't belong here, like she was different from them. She had a vague memory of another life, another time, when she was happy and loved. She dreamed of a man with kind eyes and a gentle smile, who called her his wife and held her in his arms. She didn't know who he was, but she felt a strong connection to him.

One day, she found an old photo album in the attic. She opened it and saw pictures of people she didn't recognize. They looked like they were from a different …

Lost in Translation

hamed Jan. 10, 2025, 6:09 p.m.

Amina had always been the quiet one, the one who kept her thoughts tucked away, neatly folded like the silk scarves her grandmother had sewn for her. She moved through life with grace, always respectful of tradition, never stepping too far outside the lines her family had drawn for her. So when she met Ryan, the charming expatriate with the easy smile, she hesitated, but only for a moment.

He was kind, patient, and seemed to understand her in ways she hadn’t expected. He respected her space and her values, never pushing too hard for things she wasn’t ready to give. He listened when she talked about her family’s expectations, her dreams of becoming a teacher, her fears of losing herself in a world that often felt foreign.

But there was something about Ryan that always felt... too perfect. She would tell herself it was just her insecurities, her …

The Gift

maryam Jan. 15, 2024, 4:40 p.m.

Emma had always wanted a dog. Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of having a furry friend to play with, cuddle with, and love. She had begged her parents for a dog, but they had always said no. They said that dogs were too expensive, too messy, too noisy, too much work.

Emma was heartbroken, but she never gave up hope. She read books about dogs, watched movies about dogs, drew pictures of dogs. She even made a list of names for her future dog, hoping that one day, her wish would come true.

On her tenth birthday, Emma woke up with a smile. She had a feeling that this was going to be a special day, a day that would change her life. She ran downstairs, eager to see what her parents had prepared for her.

She was greeted by a festive scene. The living …

The First Hundred Days

hamed Jan. 18, 2025, 4:16 p.m.

When President Everson swore in, they called it The Great Reset.

Lila felt the change before the news anchors could finish their glowing reports. Her bus pass, once free under the old administration, was suddenly invalid. A sleek new kiosk demanded payment. "Credit only," it chirped. Lila sighed and swiped, watching half her grocery budget vanish in seconds.

At work, her boss handed her a packet labeled Employee Reclassification. Inside, she found her new status: Independent Contractor. Benefits? Gone. Hours? "Flexible."

“Adapt or be left behind,” Everson had declared during the campaign, smiling into the cameras. Lila hadn’t voted for him, but it didn’t matter now. His face was everywhere—billboards, TV, even on the new government app that citizens were "strongly encouraged" to download.

The app sent push notifications every hour: "Report your productivity! How are you contributing to the nation’s growth today?" Lila dismissed them at first, until her …

Untold Stories

dehongi Jan. 31, 2024, 12:55 p.m.

He was a scientist, and he loved experiments. He loved to test, to observe, to discover. He believed that experiments were the essence of science, the way to understand the world, the way to make a difference.

He had a project, a secret project, a dangerous project. He had built a machine, a time machine, a prototype. He wanted to use it, to test it, to prove it. He wanted to travel in time, to see the past, to change the future.

He knew that he was not the first scientist, nor the last. He knew that many had tried and failed before him, and many would try and fail after him. He knew that he was just a speck in the cosmos, a blip in the timeline. He knew that he was mortal, and one day he would die.

But he also knew that he had a curiosity, and …

Seams of Power

hamed Jan. 12, 2025, 5:31 p.m.

Isabella Martinez slammed her sketchbook shut as her assistant rushed in with the news. "Did you hear? The First Lady-elect chose Dominique for the inauguration gown."

Three months of sketches, sleepless nights, and carefully orchestrated "chance" meetings at charity events—all wasted. Isabella glanced at the red silk draped on her mannequin, a dress that would now never see the lights of the National Mall.

Her phone buzzed: a message from Sophie Chen at Vogue. "Need comment re: Dominique announcement. Deadline 1 hour."

Isabella's fingers hovered over the keyboard. She had dirt on Dominique—everyone did. The "ethically sourced" fabrics that actually came from sweatshops, the designs suspiciously similar to young indie creators. One phone call to the right blogger...

But then she remembered last year's Designers Guild dinner. Dominique had pulled her aside after Isabella's divorce hit Page Six. "The vultures are circling," she'd warned. "Watch your back." That night, three …

Ashes of Home

hamed Jan. 12, 2025, 6:14 p.m.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the remnants of what was once a vibrant neighborhood. Now, all that remained were smoldering ruins and the smell of charred wood and ashes. The fire had come without warning, a merciless beast that tore through the community, leaving only sorrow in its wake.

Samantha stood on the edge of what used to be her street, staring at the hollow skeletons of homes. She had lived here for over twenty years—watched children grow up, witnessed countless barbecues and block parties, celebrated birthdays and holidays with neighbors who felt more like family than mere acquaintances. But now, the street was empty, the once-bustling community silenced by the flames.

She reached down and picked up a photograph, the edges singed but the image still recognizable. It was of her daughter, Emily, playing with the neighbor’s dog in the front yard. It …

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 …