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Sarah Martyn

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

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64 Followers
59 Following

30 Stories

793 karma pts

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Baked into Memory

Weekly Contest #220

“You ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's today, sweetie?” “Yeah mommy!” ___________________________________________ Hannah has been going to Grandma and Grandpa’s at least twice a month every month she has been alive these last 5 years. The only exceptions were when Hannah got a pretty nasty stomach flu last year, and when Grandpa had major surgery a couple years ago and needed to recover in peace for a few weeks. These are her mom’s parents. Her dad’s parents are great too, but they live so many states away so she only sees them ma...

22 likes 13 comments 13
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Two-Faced and the Betrayed

Weekly Contest #213

***TW: mentions of divorce and an affair*** “This is a tale of two marriages, and I want you to figure out which one is real.” “Okay, I’ll listen and see if I can.” “Now, I know you’re my therapist, Diana, but you’ve become like a friend to me over the last year. I simply ask that you treat me more as a friend today.” “I can do that, Jonie.” “Well… let’s rewind a bit.” We met in high school, but we weren’t exactly sweethearts until college. In fact, I was someone else’s sweetheart from eighth grade until senior year, and not off ...

12 likes 6 comments 6
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From Caterpilly to Butterflight

Weekly Contest #206

From Caterpilly to Butterflight Metathesiophobia: The fear of change. “God sure did make you a caterpillar, but don’t you think He created you to also become a butterfly?” Those were the words that little Caterpilly echoed in her mind over and over again as she sat at breakfast with Momma, Daddy, and her little brother Zip. Her Grandma Flutter said those words to her not just once, but a few times, months ago. Her grandma always seemed to know what to say, but Caterpilly almost never liked hearing it right then.  The first time ...

18 likes 10 comments 10
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What Wasn't Said

Weekly Contest #200

I can’t trust my own thoughts, but they’re sometimes my safest places to run to… only sometimes. * * * “Hi bro. How are you today?” “Eh… I’m tired. I woke up tired. I didn’t even do that much today,” Thomas replied. Dumb lazyass… how could you lay around and complain about your day? “What’d you say, Drew?” “I said don’t sweat it. We all have days like that. It’s okay to have a chill day and still be draggin.” “You’re probably right.” “I know I am, Thomas. Chin up. Mom says she loves you and will see you later this week. I’ll ...

16 likes 15 comments 15
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Mr. Dover, the Bagel Bandit

Weekly Contest #198

It is a true shame to see bags of stale bagels thrown out at Franklin’s Bagels and Coffee each afternoon. But it is less of a shame to see at least one bag get rescued covertly by Mr. Dover, my social studies teacher. How do I know he does this? Well, I’ve been one of the recipients of some of those bagels on a semi-regular basis. Mr. Dover is one of those teachers that people want for a teacher. He lets us talk with our friends in class while still keeping us on task, gets us moving, and makes learning engaging. He even dresses up in costum...

10 likes 5 comments 5
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Muted Love in the Cafeteria

Weekly Contest #195

Thanks, Dottie, Stephen said with his eyes. He didn’t exactly smile. His mouth may curve at the corner into, at best, a smirk. The fake kind he had to muster effort to make. He definitely didn’t speak. Ever since his mom became a widow, Stephen never spoke. He did speak at one point, but almost overnight, he stopped speaking. It didn’t exactly create a great experience for him at school, where he spent most of his time. Students and teachers alike gave him cold shoulders and dirty looks. They seemed to take his silence personally. At home,...

20 likes 17 comments 17
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Dreaming of Burgers on the Moon

Weekly Contest #194

"Psst...Jenny," Stacy called in a hushed but eager tone. "...huh? Go back to sleep," Jenny retorted. "We're sharing a room now. The least you can do is hear my wonky dream so I can go back to sleep. It’s driving me crazy.” "I didn't choose to share the room. It's not my fault Aaron is becoming a gross, stinky teenager. But whatever... Let's hear this dream then..."  “Okay, so bear with me.” “Ugh…” “It started with a dream with this guy…” “Of course it did…” “Not like that! I mean, not really anyway. But this guy - you kn...

14 likes 7 comments 7
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Concert Hall Murmuring

Weekly Contest #186

“Did you pre-order tickets when they got released a year ago?” “Actually, I didn’t. I was gifted this ticket yesterday by a friend who is sick and had to miss out. She grabbed the ticket many months ago though, I think. I didn’t waste a second before snagging it up when she offered!” “You know this symphony, though?” “Know of them, more like. I’ve heard some of their stuff online but have never seen them live… until tonight anyway!” “I have seen them a handful of times! I’m pretty sure I’ve shed tears at least once every concert.” ...

29 likes 9 comments 9
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When Tomorrow Finally Comes

Weekly Contest #183

TW: involves terminal illness You’d think with how little stuff I’m bringing in my duffle bag, I wasn’t going off to college after living with my parents for 18 years. Maybe part of the lack of stuff is that my parents’ place has become my storage unit for all I won’t be taking with me. My mom actually seemed pleased I left so much, probably because, as she said, “you’ll visit often,” which I know she meant to say with confidence; it sounded more like a question choked back with tears. She added “I’ll pray for you every night.” And dad add...

23 likes 29 comments 29
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Empty Heart and Full Stomach

Weekly Contest #162

Warning: mention of eating disordersWhen most of your identity hinges on if you are liked by people (at least most people), you’ll dedicate a lot of your life to achieving that. Even the recurring failure of that goal won’t stop you, but you get tempted to quit trying. Nobody would ever care as much for you as you do for them.I’m not asking for much. I am new here, and would be content with a few close friends, and for every person who gets on with me to at least enjoy my company when I invite them over. I don’t need fifty constant companion...

13 likes 2 comments 2
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My Mystery to Solve

Weekly Contest #144

(Contains elements of a sensitive nature, including grief, the supernatural, and implied violence) When you’re strapped for cash, and you’re already busy with school and working in your spare time, you find more work. For me, that was cleaning out basements for the neighbors. One particular day, though, I discovered a calling (albeit, short lived) much deeper than earning some extra cash. I was at Mrs. Carruthers’ place, tackling one of the most cluttered gold mines of a basement I’ve faced yet. She was a long-time friend of my grandmother...

15 likes 7 comments 7
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Utterly Spent for Others

Weekly Contest #104

I'm good at portraying what I want on the outside but honestly, my true self is utterly spent for the sake of others.  ------ At my job, I'm interpersonal and for the most part, clients always enjoy my service. Those I serve and even those I work with might guess I'm the "social butterfly" and am an extrovert, but that's because they think introverts can't interact well socially... Or maybe they think that because I'm not shy, there's no way I can be an introvert. Unfortunately, it’s partially my fault. I haven’t done much to explain ...

15 likes 1 comment 1
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The Door to My Destiny

Weekly Contest #95

For all my life I have had a special gift. Every person makes endless choices a day, from what time to get their first drink of water for the day to what to spend their money on. For me, my choices come to me in some vision-like state… or at least I feel like I’m having a vision. But they also are very real. My hands touch real knobs and my face feels the real change in the environment; I experience real consequences to every choice I make. Always my choices appear as two doors, and I can only ever choose one. Nobody can see me staring at ...

21 likes 7 comments 7
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Party Paranoia

Weekly Contest #93

I normally like parties, Asher thought. Salty snacks, casual conversations, late hours… this party has all that. But something doesn’t seem quite right.-------------------------------“Asher, my man! Party at my place tonight! Will you be there?” Jason asked.“Wouldn’t miss it!”-------------------------------*rings doorbell* “YOOOOOO Jason!”“Asher! Now the party can start!” Jason exclaimed as Asher heard the noise of music and chatter.Asher noticed a few acquaintances, including Beth, the girl he’s been interested in.It didn’t take long t...

15 likes 4 comments 4
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Barely Standing

Weekly Contest #90

April 2021 A gray, somber sky is somehow more beautiful with its counterpart, this antiquated bristle cone pine tree, towering beneath my vision. I sit beneath it as a fairly antiquated person myself... I try to come here daily, but busyness and the world's paranoia inhibit me from coming more than weekly some weeks. Leaving your own home upsets people, but what's ironic is this place is home...outside, under this tree. Still, the relief I feel seeing this tree after all these years gives me a reason to go out of my way for it. When I w...

12 likes 1 comment 1
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