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Sarah Xenos

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2024

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4 Followers
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13 Stories

212 karma pts

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Sunlit Tea and Homecomings

Weekly Contest #339

After a long, draining day at the office, she slips off her shoes and puts the kettle on. The gentle hush of the kitchen settles around her. She listens to the soft hiss of water heating, punctuated by the occasional click and pop—small, familiar sounds that promise comfort after hours under the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. Each subtle noise seems to stretch the quiet, filling her with a fragile sense of anticipation. She moves with slow, deliberate care. Opening the cupboard, she pauses, letting her fingers drift over a colourful arra...

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The Noise Outisde

Weekly Contest #334

Towering trees stretched endlessly on every side, their shadows curling around the cottage like protective arms. Letting out a shaky breath, she felt the pressure of the past months begin to ease—if only slightly. She walked up to the house, noticing how isolated it was. For once, it actually looked better than the pictures on the website. This year has been more challenging than most. She had ended things with her fiancé, and her freelance organising business had sputtered, refusing to take flight. The thought of another tense Christmas amo...

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Straving for the deadline

Weekly Contest #333

Now that she's finally wrapped up the project, hunger gnaws at her, and she hopes she can duck out for a quick bite. But for the past few hours, she has been telling herself that after just one more task, she can finally take a break. The project snowballed from what was supposed to be a simple document edit for a presentation that has now been pushed forward by two weeks. She feels her stomach tighten, a dull ache reminding her how long she's been running on empty, and a wave of relief washes over her as she saves the final file, eager to s...

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The Mystery in the Front Yard

Weekly Contest #321

It was a bright Saturday morning in suburban Melbourne. The magpies warbled from the big gum tree, and the distant sound of a lawnmower buzzed along the footpath. It's just another quiet Saturday morning. Sarah poured herself a cup of tea while Tom stood by the window, peering through the blinds into their front yard. "You see that, love?" Tom said, voice low. "There's… something out there. In the grass." Sarah set her mug down with a clink. "What do you mean, something?" she asked, wandering over. Sure enough, sprawled behind the jacaranda ...

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The Vanishing Guides

Weekly Contest #310

Margot owned The Gilded Page, a quaint bookstore tucked away on a cobbled side street, its windows brimming with antique tomes and sun-faded poetry. Patrons knew Margot as quiet and clever, the sort of person who could find you the right book even if you could not name it. It has been a family business since her great-grandfather opened in the 1880s. But what no one else knew—what not even her closest friends suspected—was that behind a shelf of encyclopedias, a hidden door led to a room that had belonged, for generations, to the secret soci...

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The Legacy of the box

Weekly Contest #307

It was a quiet morning, and the world felt suspended in serenity. She stood at the kitchen counter, absentmindedly stirring her tea, unaware of the turning point her life was about to encounter. A knock at the door shattered the tranquillity, its urgency reverberating through the house. She was not expecting any guests. She opened the door to find her mum clutching a weathered wooden box. Her mum's face was a palette of emotions—determination, fear, and something that looked like pride. Without a word, her mum stepped inside, her heels echoi...

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The Borrowed Word: A tale of secrets unveiled

Weekly Contest #305

The room hummed with anticipation, a symphony of murmurs punctuated by the clinking of glasses. Chandeliers bathed the bookshop in warm, golden light, casting halos around the stacks of literary treasures. At the centre of it all stood Eleanor, poised yet trembling, clutching the freshly printed copy of *Whisper in the Shadows*. It bore her name, bold and unmistakable, but the weight of that name pressed heavily against her chest.The applause began as Eleanor approached the podium. Smiling, she glanced at the crowd, her composed exterior bet...

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The Pressure of Time: Leon's Urgent Deadline

Weekly Contest #304

Once upon a time, a diligent man named Leon lived in a bustling city where the streets never slept. He was known for his meticulous work ethic and ability to gracefully manage even the most challenging tasks. However, Leon's usual composed demeanour leads to the ultimate test on one fateful day. It was a typical Monday morning when Leon's inbox was filled with a new email. As he opened it, his eyes widened in horror. The subject line read: "URGENT: Report Due in 12 Hours." His heart sank. He had completely forgotten about the report hanging ...

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The Unanswered Call : A Tale of Betrayal and Karma

Weekly Contest #303

The phone rang with a piercing sound, breaking the silence of the late afternoon. Clara glanced at the caller ID, her heart beating as she read, "Sophie." It had been five long years since she last spoke to her sister, Sophie, who had run off with Clara's husband, leaving behind a trail of shattered dreams and broken trust. Clara hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button. Memories flooded her mind – the betrayal, the anguish, the sleepless nights spent wondering why her sister and husband had deceived her so cruelly. She felt hea...

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A Tale of Miscommunication

Weekly Contest #302

Emma found a sanctuary in her local gym in the heart of the bustling city. It was a place where she could escape the stressors of her job and focus on her well-being. She had been so proud of herself. She managed to stick to her New Year resolution for once to regularly go to the gym. At first, she found it awkward being here. After a few weeks, she felt that she belonged. The gym becomes her happy place. One evening, after finishing her workout, she noticed a charming man lifting weights nearby. His name was David, and they started a conver...

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The ashes want revenge

Weekly Contest #268

Kathleen Herbert had a perfect life: a loving husband, a dream job running a small bookstore with her sister, a big house on the beach with two adorable kids and a cute dog. She was blessed with everyone she hoped for in her childhood. She was checking her email, and suddenly, a message popped from her computer. Hi, Lara Western. Do you think you can get away with murder? Her heart stopped, and this figure of imagination or a bad dream. Lara Western is dead. She died in a school fire, and her roommate, Kathleen Herbert, survived. She took a ...

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My secret brother

Weekly Contest #267

I have been staring at my phone for at least an hour, considering it too late to cancel. Just before I could read the cancel text, he arrived five minutes early. Take a deep breath. I am about to meet my brother, but he does not know that. I sent this man on the pretence of finally meeting one of my siblings. When I saw him approach the door, I could not believe that he looked so much like my father. He has deep blue eyes and perfectly tanned skin. I quickly looked at his hands; they looked like working man's hands, unlike anyone in my famil...

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Joan's day off

Weekly Contest #266

Joan had something rare in her life: a day off. No errands needed to be run. The kids are off at my mum's house, and her husband is on a work trip. She planned to sleep in, take the dog for a walk, have lunch with Cathy, and end the day with a long bubble bath. Joan was suddenly jolted by the dog barking and then the screeching of an alarm. She grabbed her dress and slippers and stepped outside with the rest of the street, realising that the alarm from the shop across the road was just a false alarm. The police could quickly arrive on the sc...

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