Personal Growth

…stared in disgust at the arrivals board on the station platform. He had watched the display for the past forty minutes, as the arrival time of his train home was delayed further and further. Now the bright green letters declared Cancelled. Everyone on the rush-hour platform grumbled and swore to themselves and to each other. People shuffled towards the exit. Some reached for mobile phones, dialling for taxis or…

By Chris Platt

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Thank You for the Fleas

The flea infestation was so severe the prison guards refused to enter the building giving Betsie and Corrie the opportunity to conduct their secret Bible studies…

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…they had miraculously smuggled into the prison. After rising at 4:30 a.m. that morning, they had worked for 11 hours at a Siemens factory loading steel, before returning to the barracks to find hope…

By Pete Black

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Mr. Universe

His father thought he should be a policeman. After all, he was a policeman. But at age 14, Arnold saw a…

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…tossed and turned in his military bunk. It was going to be another sleepless night for the 18-year-old serving his one-year of mandatory service in the Austrian army. The Junior Mr. Europe bodybuilding championship was a week away in Stuttgart, Germany. But how could he…

By Pete Black

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Pasture Statues

…continued to pet the cow's cheek. Cate stroked the other, looking for signs of impatience in the otherwise stoic animal, searching its blank yet somehow knowing eyes for knowledge of her charade. What made her want to release the scream that had been lodged in her throat for inconceivable minutes was how Millie, sitting comfortably in her numb arms, was so far away from screaming; Millie, who had…

By Alfredo Salvatore Arcilesi

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Hero Imprisoned

…dressed for work in his usual white shirt and dark tie. He checked his tie in the mirror. He straightened his tie. Perfect. He patted his slicked back hair. That was exactly the look he was going for. His eyes wandered to the paperback book on the coffee table. It was the latest book on the notorious Manchester gangster, Ronald Morrissey. On the cover the black and white photo showed the gangland boss in his…

By Chris Platt

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I Forgot Your Name

…drained his cup and waved at the passing waiter to order another cup of cappuccino. How could he do the business if these people don’t know how to value their time? This is not how things work. Frustrated, he crushed the emptied cup in his hands. A moment later, the waiter came to his table and carefully placed another cup of coffee while reaching out to take the discarded…

By Soare Stapanire

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