Flash Stories

Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

khayam Jan. 10, 2024, 8:13 p.m.

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

Story:

He stared at the screen, his fingers trembling. He had just sent the most important email of his life, the one that could make or break his career. He had spent months working on the project, pouring his heart and soul into it. He had sacrificed his sleep, his health, his relationships, all for this moment. He had proofread the email a hundred times, making sure everything was perfect. He had attached the file, checked the recipient, and hit send.

But as soon as he did, he realized his mistake. He had sent the wrong file. The file that contained his personal notes, his doubts, his criticisms, his frustrations. The file that revealed his true feelings about the …

You Win When You Face What You Fear The Most

hamed Jan. 9, 2024, 5:15 p.m.

He had always been terrified of public speaking. He would stutter, sweat, and shake whenever he had to face a crowd. He avoided it at all costs, even if it meant missing out on opportunities and experiences.

But one day, he had no choice. He had to give a speech at his cousin's wedding, in front of hundreds of relatives and guests. He tried to prepare, but he was too nervous to remember anything. He hoped for the best, but he expected the worst.

And the worst happened. He got on the stage, and he froze. He forgot his words, he mumbled, he choked. He heard the laughter, the whispers, the pity. He felt the humiliation, the shame, the despair. He ran off the stage, and he wished he could disappear.

But he couldn't. Because his speech was recorded, and it went viral. It was everywhere, on social media, on …

Misereable Proud

hamed Jan. 9, 2024, 5:05 p.m.

He was a devout man, who followed his religion with zeal and fervor. He believed that his faith was the only true one, and that everyone else was either misguided or evil. He hated those who did not share his beliefs, and he shunned them from his life.

He thought he was doing God's will, but he was actually isolating himself from the world. He had no friends, no love, no joy. He only had his dogma, his rituals, his rules. He lived in fear and anger, and he spread them to others.

He never realized how much he was missing out on. He never experienced the beauty of diversity, the richness of culture, the warmth of compassion. He never learned from other perspectives, other experiences, other values. He never grew as a person, as a human being.

He died alone, bitter, and unhappy. He had lived a miserable life, …

The Old Teenager

hamed Jan. 9, 2024, 4:52 p.m.

He always wanted to be young and free. He never settled down, never committed to anything, never took any risks. He lived like a teenager, chasing after fun and excitement, avoiding responsibility and consequences. He thought he had all the time in the world to do what he wanted.

But one day, he woke up and realized he was 45. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw the wrinkles, the gray hair, the sagging skin. He felt the aches, the pains, the fatigue. He wondered what he had done with his life.

He had no family, no friends, no career, no achievements. He had wasted his youth on trivial things, and now he had nothing to show for it. He had missed out on the opportunities that life had offered him, and now they were gone forever.

He wished he could go back and do things differently. He …

the past and the future.

ziamaiko Jan. 9, 2024, 11:10 a.m.

گاهی واقعیت آن‌قدر دردناک است که تا مغز استخوان‌مان را می‌سوزاند. و ما هم هیچ‌کاری نمی‌توانیم بکنیم.
من هم برای واقعیت، کتاب خواندن را انتخاب کردم. انگار که دنیایش، مرا به زندگی می‌آورد و شخصیت‌هایش به من مکانی برای آرامش می‌دادند.
اما حتی کتاب‌ها هم همیشه خوشحالت نمی‌کند.
آن کتاب به احساسات من ضربه‌ی بزرگی زد. می‌خواستم تکه‌پاره‌ش کنم و آتشش بزنم. اما بعد به خاطر آوردم واقعیت را هرگز‌ نمی‌توانم آتش بزنم.
عمیقا دلم می‌خواست در این قلمروی انسانی یک بهشت وجود داشته باشد، جایی که ما بتوانیم برای بقیه عمرمان همدیگر را همراهی کنیم ولی هرگز به گذشته اشاره نکنیم، انگار آن گذشته هرگز رخ نداده بود.
در هر صورت برای ورود به آینده، باید گذشته را رها کرد. اما گذشته‌ام با قدرتی شدید چنان به من چسبیده است که احساس می‌کنم در زمان گیر کرده‌ام.
فقط ایستاده‌ام. هیچ‌چیز دیگر ناراحتم نمی‌کند. و هیچ‌چیز هم خوشحالم نمی‌کند. حتی هیچ‌چیز‌ هم مرا نمی‌ترساند.
از نظر …

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 Hobbyist

hamed Jan. 7, 2024, 12:49 p.m.

He had poured his heart and soul into his start-up, a revolutionary app that would change the way people communicate. He had worked tirelessly for years, sacrificing his health, his relationships, and his sanity. He had invested all his savings, borrowed money from friends and family, and even mortgaged his house.

But it was all for nothing. His app failed to attract users, his competitors stole his ideas, and his investors pulled out. He was left with nothing but debt, despair, and depression. He had to declare bankruptcy, sell his house, and move into a tiny apartment. He had no job, no income, no future.

He had only one thing left: his hobby. He loved to paint, ever since he was a kid. He had a small collection of brushes, paints, and canvases that he kept in a corner of his apartment. He painted whenever he had some free time, …

The Last Twenty

hamed Jan. 7, 2024, 12:43 p.m.

He had it all planned out. Work hard until 60, save enough for retirement, enjoy his golden years with his wife and grandchildren, and die peacefully at 75. That was the average life expectancy, after all.

But fate had other plans. His wife died of cancer at 62, leaving him alone and heartbroken. His children moved away to pursue their careers, rarely visiting or calling. His savings dwindled as inflation and medical bills ate away at his pension. He had no friends, no hobbies, no purpose.

He wished he could die, but his body refused to give up. He survived a stroke, a heart attack, and a car accident. He endured chronic pain, depression, and loneliness. He watched the world change around him, becoming more alien and hostile with each passing year.

He lived to 95, but he stopped living long ago. He spent his last twenty years in a …

The Betrayal

dehongi Jan. 6, 2024, 12:25 p.m.

The Betrayal

Tom and Lisa walked home from school, their backpacks heavy with books. Tom had a list of groceries to buy for their mother, who had given him some money in the morning. Lisa, his younger sister, had a different idea.

"Tom, can we buy some ice cream? Please, please, please!" she begged, pointing at the frozen treats in the store window.

"Lisa, we don't have enough money for that. We have to buy the things on the list. Mom will be mad if we don't," Tom said, trying to be responsible.

"But I really want some ice cream. It's so hot today. And you love ice cream too, don't you?" Lisa said, batting her eyelashes.

Tom sighed. He did love ice cream, but he also wanted to do the right thing. He looked at the list and the money in his hand. Maybe he could buy a cheaper …

He never found out

dehongi Jan. 5, 2024, 4:58 p.m.

He had always wanted to be a writer, but life had other plans for him. He worked as an accountant at a large corporation, crunching numbers and filing reports. He hated his job, but he couldn't quit. He had a family to support, a mortgage to pay, and a boss who demanded his loyalty.

He had no time for his own dreams. He barely had time for his own family. He always said yes to every request, every favor, every assignment. He was afraid of disappointing others, of losing his reputation, of being seen as selfish.

He had a drawer full of unfinished manuscripts, a shelf full of unread books, and a heart full of regret. He wondered what his life would have been like if he had followed his passion, if he had said no to the things that didn't matter, if he had put his own interest in …