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Laiba M

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2020

Stories (11)
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401 Followers
425 Following

11 Stories

945 karma pts

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Better

He slumped against the back of the dirty booth, dulled gray eyes rimmed in red and hollowed into his face and surrounded by darkness and glazed over in numbness. A bitter laugh, a quiet inhale. "I don't want to grow up." "Coming faster than you think." "I know." His words hung, silently acknowledged, in the onion-smelling, fluorescent-lit room. He sat; unmoving, silent, a gravestone, just above death but not there yet.  "What's the point?" His voice was tired but sure. Sure that he'd keep living, that in the end, he'd give up and let ti...

12 likes 10 comments 10
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an introvert and an extrovert - still friends, just not talking

Submitted to Contest #104

Maybe we could have lasted if you had different ways to cope.Maybe we would still be talking all day, good morning and goodnight texts, smiley faces, hearts, promises, hopes.Your honey-sweet words and thoughts traveled a long way to me, flying through state after state, sent only to me, and I would excitedly open every package. Every how was your day and stay safe, every tidbit of information about yourself, I would save in my precious storage room just for you.You said we would be friends forever.You said we would meet one da...

65 likes 54 comments 54
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I love my Brinn

It's hard knowing you'll be away from your granddaughter for a while. Brinn is the crystal dewdrops, the silken petals, the diving moonlight to my earth. She's the cinnamon to my apple, the sugar to my spice, the salt to my pepper.  I love my Brinn. She'll always be my sweet little darling and my granddaughter and partner in crime. I remember unclipping my fountain pen from my pocket and finishing off those words with a flourish in my cookbook. "What's a partner in crime, Grandpa?" I chuckle. "It means someone who commits crimes along w...

120 likes 198 comments 198
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The Dollmaker (B.W.)

Submitted to Contest #70

Warning: This story includes content on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and self-deprecating thoughts that may trigger some readers. Please avoid reading this story if you have experienced any or both of the above. Achebe. Your face crinkles, like the paper balls you would throw at her behind Rox's back. Your tears attempt to cling to your eyelashes but fail and slide off, falling onto the hair you haven't washed in days. With trembling eyes, you look up, around the dusty room, where ripped pages and empty snack wrappers flutter aro...

118 likes 1289 comments 1289
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Meg

Submitted to Contest #63

Dedicated to my magical parakeet, Meg, who passed October 12th. I hope you're happy soaring around in paradise, Meg.I'm flying.Mama, I'm flying again, so free! I feel so independent! The cage is gone!Mama?Where are you, Mama?Weren't you holding me in your warm hand just now?Weren't you looking at me and smiling?Why was there sadness in your eyes, even though you were smiling? Mama, what happened? Why did saltiness roll down your face and fall into my mouth? It didn't taste good, Mama. Please don't feed that to me again.Why was your face...

107 likes 1404 comments 1404
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Kylie

This story is dedicated to Kylie on Reedsy Prompts. Please read my author's note in the comments~  The corners of Kylie's mouth slightly moved upwards as she stared at the box, her eyes twinkling with pride. She felt like a pet owner watching their dog do as trained, a mother bird observing her child fly for the first time, an artist finished with their masterpiece. The creation Kylie had made, this small, carefully chosen box, packed to the top with loved items, it was like a newborn to her. Delicate, a source of her pride. Kylie ...

91 likes 808 comments 808
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Batool

Submitted to Contest #60

This story is dedicated to Batool Hussain on Reedsy Prompts.She laughed wildly, crazily, manically.There was no surprise there; she had been laughing like that her whole life. Ever since birth.Because she, Batool, was a Laugher.She felt more like a broken record, a puppet, a hyena. Her throat was sore day and night, and she wasn't sure how long it'd be until she couldn't speak. But she couldn't control it at all. She had to laugh. Batool didn't know what would happen if she didn't. Her body was simply designed to laugh, although her throat w...

99 likes 219 comments 219
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Avani

Submitted to Contest #47

You weren't expecting that to occur. It was a horrible reality check, brief and unexpected, like the immediate emptiness you felt an hour ago. But why did you even expect everything to stay the same, you uncomfortably questioned yourself? Did you expect nothing would happen to her? If so, which you-deep down-knew you did, you were wrong. Suitcase in hand, your journey to the train station was the very proof of that. To add to that, the increasing darkness and the accumulating clouds indicate that you'll be soaked if you don't get into the ...

99 likes 348 comments 348
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Morning Darkness, Illuminated Night

Submitted to Contest #39

Sofie woke up to darkness. It was as if obsidian and coal had clasped hands around her, fingers brushing her face and hair. Confusion sketched itself on her face as she groped around on top of the nightstand for her phone. The screen eerily illuminated her face, instantly painting the room a neon blue. The time flashed across the screen, and the sight of it ignited a fiery gasp that left Sofie's throat stinging. The phone slipped from her hands, the light of the screen sinking lower and lower until it hit the floor with a soft thud. It was 9...

90 likes 87 comments 87
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Embellishments on the Memory Wall

Submitted to Contest #37

Materialism. It's "a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values", or so the online dictionary says. But what if an object is so important to one that they would sacrifice any and/or all of their loved ones for it? Does that label them as materialistic? How much importance can you give to an object before being slammed into the tiny, almost inescapable cage of materialism? Society gives no second thought to calling one materialistic, yet some of them don't look at their own lives and...

74 likes 55 comments 55
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Spring Breakout

Submitted to Contest #35

It is very nice out today. Wow, we haven't had a day like this in a really long time. Ahh, the slightly cool breeze feels so good. It's exactly what I needed after being cooped up in my apartment for weeks.This cloth mask is so itchy.Darn it, why isn't that park gate opening! Ugh, wait-finally, there we go.No, Mocha! Stop chasing after those pesky squirrels, you fluffy yet adorably cliche dog! Why must almost every dog like squirrels so much? Aww, it is really cute though.There's the spot where the inhumanely fast runner always stops to take...

72 likes 160 comments 160
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