Flash Stories

Ashes and Embers

hamed Jan. 12, 2025, 5:59 p.m.

The house was gone.

Emma stood at the edge of the blackened lot, her boots sinking into the scorched earth. The air still carried the acrid scent of smoke, mingling with the faint sweetness of charred wood.

In her mind, the house was still there—the yellow shutters her daughter had painted, the oak dining table that had seen every family meal, the bookshelf her late husband had built. But reality mocked her memories. All that remained was a pile of ash, twisted beams, and broken glass glittering like fallen stars.

Her daughter, Clara, clutched her hand tightly. “Mom,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What about Dad’s guitar?”

Emma closed her eyes, the lump in her throat too large to swallow. That old guitar had been his treasure, a relic of nights filled with music and laughter. It was gone, just like the photographs, the letters, the heirloom quilt her grandmother …

The Last Broadcast

hamed Jan. 10, 2025, 6:17 p.m.

Mia sat in the dim light of her living room, the steady hum of the television filling the silence. The night was quiet, a far cry from the chaos that had started earlier in the day. News stories flickered across the screen, mundane things—political debates, celebrity scandals, weather reports. But then, as the anchor’s voice dropped to a solemn tone, something changed.

“—In a groundbreaking development, scientists have confirmed the existence of an ancient, forgotten civilization beneath the surface of the Earth. Hidden for millennia, their technology, possibly centuries ahead of our own, could have major implications for how we understand our history and the future of our planet. The implications are—”

Mia’s breath caught in her throat. She leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen, heart racing. She couldn’t have heard that right. But as the anchor repeated the headline, the words solidified in her mind, each syllable like …

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 …

Seeds of Tomorrow

hamed Jan. 12, 2025, 5:34 p.m.

Maya's boots crunched over sun-bleached plastic as her team crested another dune. Ten years of expeditions, and all they'd found were the bones of cities and endless stretches of waste. The world had become a museum of humanity's mistakes.

"Two hours of oxygen left," Carter warned through the comm. Even with their advanced filters, the air outside remained toxic—another gift from their ancestors' carbon addiction.

That's when Zara screamed.

Through her goggles, Maya saw it: a shimmer of impossible green in the valley below. Not the sickly artificial green of the algae farms, but real, living plants.

"It's not on any maps," Carter whispered, checking his tablet.

They descended carefully. The valley's walls had hidden it from satellite imaging, creating a microclimate that somehow survived the Great Die-Off. Maya's hands trembled as she took readings. The air here was different—cleaner.

Inside a cave at the valley's edge, they found the …

After the Storm

hamed Jan. 16, 2025, 5:18 p.m.

The morning after the storm, the Great Smoky Mountains stood shrouded in a ghostly mist, as if mourning the devastation below. Entire trees lay uprooted, power lines tangled like webs, and the small town of Cedar Hollow, nestled in a valley, was barely recognizable.

Clara stood in what used to be her front yard, holding a shattered photo frame. The glass was gone, but the picture—a faded snapshot of her late husband holding their infant son—remained intact. She clutched it to her chest, her breath fogging in the cold mountain air.

“Clara!” a voice called. She turned to see Jake, the local mechanic, jogging up the muddy road. His jeans were soaked, and his hands were caked with dirt.

“We’re meeting at the church,” he said. “Figured it’s the best place to coordinate.”

Clara nodded. “I’ll be there soon.”

By noon, nearly the entire town had gathered at the church, …

A World Reborn: The Age of Synthesis

hamed Dec. 29, 2024, 5:45 a.m.

By the year 2147, the fears of the early 21st century seemed like distant echoes from a more anxious time. Humanity had stepped into an era of unprecedented harmony, one crafted not by the dominance of a single nation or ideology but by the synthesis of artificial intelligence and human resilience. It was a world shaped by AI-powered systems that had not enslaved humankind, but liberated it.

The War that Wasn't

Decades ago, when the first armies of AI soldiers were deployed, the world braced for disaster. Critics warned that AI war machines would empower dictators and warlords, leading to an era of endless conflict. But what they failed to anticipate was the incorruptibility of true artificial intelligence.

Early on, AI systems designed for warfare became more than tools—they became agents of balance. Programmed with an unshakable commitment to justice and devoid of personal ambition, these AI soldiers could not …

The Invitation

hamed Jan. 9, 2025, 5:48 p.m.

The wedding invitation arrived on a Tuesday. Emma's name was embossed in gold, right next to David's. My David. My ex-fiancé.
The note inside read: "I know this is awkward, but you're still my best friend. Please come."
I remembered the night Emma consoled me after David and I fought, how she insisted on taking him to get coffee and "talk sense into him." They never came back.
Three months later, here was their invitation. I picked up my fountain pen – the one David had given me for our engagement – and wrote my RSVP:
"Dear Emma, Thank you for the invitation. I've already booked the perfect gift: the complete text messages between you and David from the night you 'helped' us. Your other guests will love the dramatic reading I've planned for my toast. Best wishes, Sarah."
My phone rang within minutes. The wedding was suddenly postponed. Indefinitely.

Ticket to Tomorrow

hamed Jan. 17, 2025, 2:03 p.m.

The announcement crackled through the town square speakers, distorted but unmistakable: "The final departure is in 72 hours. Lottery winners must report to the launch site immediately. No exceptions."

Mara gripped her son Leo’s hand tighter, feeling his small fingers trembling in hers. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but the fear was a beast clawing at her chest. They hadn’t won the lottery. She’d checked the numbers three times.

The line to the town’s lottery office stretched around the block, desperate faces all seeking miracles. Mara didn’t bother joining it. There were no miracles left. Only moves to make.

She slipped into an alley, pulling out the card she’d stolen from her employer two weeks ago: an access badge to the facility where lottery entries were processed. She hadn’t planned on using it—she told herself she’d find another way—but time was out, and so were her choices.

"Stay …

Financial Independance Equals Being Wealthy?

dehongi Jan. 11, 2024, 5:24 p.m.

Sarah and David were two friends who grew up in the same neighborhood. Sarah was always ambitious and hardworking, and she eventually became a successful lawyer. David, on the other hand, was more laid-back and preferred to pursue his passions, which included playing music and writing.

Sarah was very proud of her career and her financial success. She had a big house, a fancy car, and all the latest gadgets. However, Sarah was often stressed and unhappy. She worked long hours and was constantly worried about money.

David, on the other hand, was much happier. He didn't have a lot of money, but he didn't need it. He was able to live comfortably on his music and writing income, and he had a lot of free time to pursue his passions.

Sarah and David often talked about their different lives. Sarah often envied David's freedom and happiness, while David often …

Blind Love

hafiz Jan. 18, 2024, 1:45 p.m.

She had always loved him from afar, but he never noticed her. He was too busy chasing after other women, who only broke his heart and left him in despair. She wished he would see her for who she was, a faithful friend and a devoted lover, who would never hurt him or betray him. She knew he was the one for her, even if he didn't feel the same.

One day, she decided to take a risk and confess her feelings to him. She wrote him a letter, pouring out her soul and quoting Hafiz Shirazi's verses:

> I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness,
> The astonishing light of your own being.

> Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth,
> "You owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
> It lights up the whole sky. …