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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Love stories / Romance
- Subject: Love / Romance / Dating
- Published: 10/23/2023
Room For One More
Born 2007, F, from Michigan, United States"Ma, what's for dinner?" I ask. I watch Mom glance over at me with nothing but hatred in her eyes. "You just ate lunch. You're fine for the rest of the night. Now go somewhere." I feel my heart splinter. I walk to my room, grab my jacket, and make sure to slam the front door on my way out. It's not even cold out today, but I need the jacket. To cover the bruises on my arms. Mom lets her new boyfriend, Steve, hit me whenever I don't listen.
I know exactly where I'm going. I walk out of the neighborhood and towards the beach. When I make it, I find exactly what I'm looking for. I glance up at the abandoned boardwalk and smile. I walk towards the far end. When I get there, though, I freeze. There's a guy who looks to be about my age - seventeen - sitting near the edge with his knees drawn up. He has curly blonde hair and he's wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Do I... leave? Nobody's ever come to my spot before. Slowly, I approach him. "Gah!" He shrieks when he turns and sees me. "Jesus, how long have you been there?" I shrug and stuff my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. "Not long. How did you find out about this spot?" He turns away from me and looks over the water with a sigh. "My Dad used to take me here, but he passed away a few months ago. I've been coming here ever since." My heart breaks for him. I don't even know what to say except: "I'm sorry."
I plop myself down next to him and let my feet dangle off of the edge. He bites his lip as if he's holding back tears. I put a reassuring hand on his arm. He flinches but relaxes after a moment. He gives me a sad smile. "What's your name?" He asks me. "Ella. Yours?" "Jace," He replies. I nod and we sit in silence for a few moments. "Hey, you asked me how I found out about this place. How did you?" I hug my legs to my chest and rest my chin on my knees. "Before I found out about this place, I would go for walks. I guess I just found it by accident." "Ah," He says. He looks at me with emerald green eyes and furrows his brows. "Why do you look so sad?" I contemplate telling him, but I resist the urge. He'll never understand. So I tell him the partial truth: "You bringing up your Dad made me think about mine." He scoots closer and waits for me to continue. "He, uh... he passed away three years ago. My Mom isn't taking it too well..." "How so?" I bite the inside of my cheek and watch the waves. "She turned to drugs and alcohol after that." He winces. "Damn. I'm really sorry, Ella." "Yeah, me too." Before I know it, he's grabbing my hand and pulling me up into a hug. At first, I tense up, but he smells really good and that relaxes me for some reason. When we pull apart, he smiles adorably at me. "I think we both needed that."
If only he knew.
Room For One More(Hannah)
"Ma, what's for dinner?" I ask. I watch Mom glance over at me with nothing but hatred in her eyes. "You just ate lunch. You're fine for the rest of the night. Now go somewhere." I feel my heart splinter. I walk to my room, grab my jacket, and make sure to slam the front door on my way out. It's not even cold out today, but I need the jacket. To cover the bruises on my arms. Mom lets her new boyfriend, Steve, hit me whenever I don't listen.
I know exactly where I'm going. I walk out of the neighborhood and towards the beach. When I make it, I find exactly what I'm looking for. I glance up at the abandoned boardwalk and smile. I walk towards the far end. When I get there, though, I freeze. There's a guy who looks to be about my age - seventeen - sitting near the edge with his knees drawn up. He has curly blonde hair and he's wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Do I... leave? Nobody's ever come to my spot before. Slowly, I approach him. "Gah!" He shrieks when he turns and sees me. "Jesus, how long have you been there?" I shrug and stuff my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. "Not long. How did you find out about this spot?" He turns away from me and looks over the water with a sigh. "My Dad used to take me here, but he passed away a few months ago. I've been coming here ever since." My heart breaks for him. I don't even know what to say except: "I'm sorry."
I plop myself down next to him and let my feet dangle off of the edge. He bites his lip as if he's holding back tears. I put a reassuring hand on his arm. He flinches but relaxes after a moment. He gives me a sad smile. "What's your name?" He asks me. "Ella. Yours?" "Jace," He replies. I nod and we sit in silence for a few moments. "Hey, you asked me how I found out about this place. How did you?" I hug my legs to my chest and rest my chin on my knees. "Before I found out about this place, I would go for walks. I guess I just found it by accident." "Ah," He says. He looks at me with emerald green eyes and furrows his brows. "Why do you look so sad?" I contemplate telling him, but I resist the urge. He'll never understand. So I tell him the partial truth: "You bringing up your Dad made me think about mine." He scoots closer and waits for me to continue. "He, uh... he passed away three years ago. My Mom isn't taking it too well..." "How so?" I bite the inside of my cheek and watch the waves. "She turned to drugs and alcohol after that." He winces. "Damn. I'm really sorry, Ella." "Yeah, me too." Before I know it, he's grabbing my hand and pulling me up into a hug. At first, I tense up, but he smells really good and that relaxes me for some reason. When we pull apart, he smiles adorably at me. "I think we both needed that."
If only he knew.
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- 5
Joshua Swinney
12/01/2023Great Story, one of the best i've ever read in my life, Congratulations.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Joshua Swinney
12/04/2023I apologize for the delayed response, but I want to say that I really appreciate your comment, it means a lot to me❤
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Elizabeth Aldam
11/22/2023A well written bittersweet story. Congratulations!
Will there be a second part?
Love, Lizzie.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Gerald R Gioglio
11/22/2023Hannah, I really enjoyed following that conversation. Nice work. Happy storystar day.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
11/22/2023A sad but sweet story. Two young people who need each other more than they can say in words. Congratulations on Short Story Star of the Day!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Valerie Allen
11/22/2023A moving story for all ages. I've been told some people come into our lives as a blessing and others as a bad example. Seemed this was the case for both of them.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Shelly Garrod
11/22/2023Such a strong powerful story but yet very sweet. Sometimes all we need is a hug. Hannah, your writing ability is there. And it will grow with experience. Keep reading and writing. You are very talented. This is one of my favorites. Happy Short Story Star of the Day.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
11/22/2023Very powerful! Kindred spirits finding each other. A comforting hug was just what they both needed. Sometimes God places the people you need in that moment in your path! Very nicely written! A inspiring short story star of the day!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Autumn Swinney
10/31/2023Yes, I agree with this story being sad, you could really be a good author, if only you keep your skills intact. Maybe one day, you could share a part 2 aout this story. I believe that you could make a story about a Historical Fiction Analysis, because you have the skills, and if you keep it flawless....you could live to a brighter future.
Thanks, Autumn S
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
10/23/2023Hannah,
This story was so sad - with hope there at the end. The talent is there, and dialog seems to be natural to you. Keep reading and writing along with all your other skils. And somewhere down the line, you will either fuse them together in a way that works...or you will find a favorite and work with it.
Smiles, Kevin
COMMENTS (16)