STORYSTAR
Logo
  • Home
    • Short Story STARS of the Week
    • Short Story Writer of the Month
    • Read short stories by theme
    • Read short stories by subject
    • Read classic short stories
    • Read Novels
    • Brightest Stars Anthology
    • StoryStar Premium Membership
  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
    • READ SHORT True Life STORIES
    • READ SHORT Fiction STORIES
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Kids
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Teens
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Adults
    • Read short stories by theme
      • Read Short Love stories / Romance Stories
      • Read Short Family & Friends Stories
      • Read Short Survival / Success Stories
      • Read Short Mystery Stories
      • Read Short Inspirational Stories
      • Read Short Drama / Human Interest Stories
      • Read Short Action & Adventure Stories
      • Read Short Science Fiction Stories
      • Read Short Fairy Tales & Fantasy Stories
      • Read Short Story Classics Stories
      • Read Short Horror Stories
    • Read short stories by subject
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Aging / Maturity
      • Art / Music / Theater / Dance
      • Biography / Autobiography
      • Character Based
      • Childhood / Youth
      • Comedy / Humor
      • Coming of Age / Initiation
      • Community / Home
      • Courage / Heroism
      • Creatures & Monsters
      • Crime
      • Culture / Heritage / Lifestyles
      • Current Events
      • Death / Heartbreak / Loss
      • Drama
      • Education / Instruction
      • Ethics / Morality
      • Fairy Tale / Folk Tale
      • Faith / Hope
      • Family
      • Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
      • Fate / Luck / Serendipity
      • Flash / Mini / Very Short
      • Friends / Friendship
      • General Interest
      • Ghost Stories / Paranormal
      • History / Historical
      • Horror / Scary
      • Ideas / Discovery / Opinions
      • Inspirational / Uplifting
      • Life Changing Decisions/Events
      • Life Experience
      • Loneliness / Solitude
      • Love / Romance / Dating
      • Memorial / Tribute
      • Memory / Reminiscence
      • Miracles / Wonders
      • Mystery
      • Nature & Wildlife
      • Novels
      • Other / Not Listed
      • Pain / Problems / Adversity
      • Personal Growth / Achievement
      • Pets / Animal Friends
      • Philosophy/Religion/Spirituality
      • Poems & Songs
      • Politics / Power / Abuse of Power
      • Recreation / Sports / Travel
      • Relationships
      • Revenge / Poetic Justice / Karma
      • Science / Science Fiction
      • Seasonal / Holidays
      • Serial / Series
      • Service / Giving Back
      • Survival / Healing / Renewal
      • Time: PAST/Present/FUTURE
      • War & Peace
      • Western / Wild West
  • Contests
  • Blog
  • Comments Feed
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
LOGIN / SIGN UP

Congratulations !


You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !

Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

  • Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
  • Theme: Science Fiction
  • Subject: Inspirational / Uplifting
  • Published: 02/04/2025

An Epiphany

By Shirley Smothers
Born 1960, F, from San Antonio Texas, United States

Read More Stories by This Author
An Epiphany

I once had an epiphany, actually a dream, but it was so awesome I have to call it an epiphany.

I was floating feet first down a large metallic corridor. I tried to raise my head to see who was pushing me, but I could not lift it.

At the end of this corridor was a metallic door. It slid open to reveal a young Human like child. She appeared to be around four years old. The strange thing about her is that her Head, legs and arms were Human like, but Her torso was covered in feathers.

Someone spoke to my mind and said, “She is from the only planet that sustains life.
She and these inhabitants have no way to space travel. Even if they did their planet is so far from Earth they could never get here.”

When I woke up the next morning I remembered the dream and was very angry. Why? All the stories I had grown up with might be a lie. I fancied all the tales of UFOs, Space Aliens, and Human abductions where real. I thought and pondered on this dream all day.

The next morning I woke up to an epiphany. What if this is true? What if there are no UFOs, Aliens, or Abductions?

What are we as Humans doing. Killing each other, and killing our planet. We allow ground and air pollution to destroy this planet.

We have to find a way to reduce the pollution that threatens our Earth. We have to find a way to co-exist with others.

How?

I don’t have any solid ideas how to accomplish this, but one thing I know is we have to get our heads out of the clouds and our feet back on Earth.

An Epiphany(Shirley Smothers) I once had an epiphany, actually a dream, but it was so awesome I have to call it an epiphany.

I was floating feet first down a large metallic corridor. I tried to raise my head to see who was pushing me, but I could not lift it.

At the end of this corridor was a metallic door. It slid open to reveal a young Human like child. She appeared to be around four years old. The strange thing about her is that her Head, legs and arms were Human like, but Her torso was covered in feathers.

Someone spoke to my mind and said, “She is from the only planet that sustains life.
She and these inhabitants have no way to space travel. Even if they did their planet is so far from Earth they could never get here.”

When I woke up the next morning I remembered the dream and was very angry. Why? All the stories I had grown up with might be a lie. I fancied all the tales of UFOs, Space Aliens, and Human abductions where real. I thought and pondered on this dream all day.

The next morning I woke up to an epiphany. What if this is true? What if there are no UFOs, Aliens, or Abductions?

What are we as Humans doing. Killing each other, and killing our planet. We allow ground and air pollution to destroy this planet.

We have to find a way to reduce the pollution that threatens our Earth. We have to find a way to co-exist with others.

How?

I don’t have any solid ideas how to accomplish this, but one thing I know is we have to get our heads out of the clouds and our feet back on Earth.

Please Rate This Story ?
  • Share this story on
  • 9

ADD COMMENT

COMMENTS (8)

Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.

Jason James Parker

04/02/2025

I'm still stuck on the feathered girl; I find that really creepy for some reason (echoes of the carnival, perhaps), and I'm a big fan of creepy. I really enjoyed this piece. On this topic, I often wonder whether we're the youngest in a long line of civilizations that have already been and gone (scientists are constantly refining the very notion of time, so, who knows?) Fantastic writing, Shirley.

I'm still stuck on the feathered girl; I find that really creepy for some reason (echoes of the carnival, perhaps), and I'm a big fan of creepy. I really enjoyed this piece. On this topic, I often wonder whether we're the youngest in a long line of civilizations that have already been and gone (scientists are constantly refining the very notion of time, so, who knows?) Fantastic writing, Shirley.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/03/2025

Thank you Jason. Yes the child with feathers was creepy. I've tried to draw this but it never comes out right.
Thank you for your kind words. I had written a similiar story but no mention of the metallic corridors, or the Child or the disembod... Read More

Thank you Jason. Yes the child with feathers was creepy. I've tried to draw this but it never comes out right.
Thank you for your kind words. I had written a similiar story but no mention of the metallic corridors, or the Child or the disemboded voice. Thank you again.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Kevin Hughes

04/02/2025

Shirley,

Talk about synchronicity...I just posted a story about this very subject. There are no Aliens, only Time Travel. Physics doesnt allow for interstellar travel to work- except in Science Fiction. But they have made some remarkable inroads in understanding "Time." So any Aliens we meet, will be just the future Humans coming back to visit an era.

Your epiphany...
Read More

Shirley,

Talk about synchronicity...I just posted a story about this very subject. There are no Aliens, only Time Travel. Physics doesnt allow for interstellar travel to work- except in Science Fiction. But they have made some remarkable inroads in understanding "Time." So any Aliens we meet, will be just the future Humans coming back to visit an era.

Your epiphany mirrors my story. With the same point, make Earth a Garden again. Lovely, just lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Smiles, Kevin

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Kevin Hughes

04/02/2025

Aloha Shirley,
First, this story definitely earned StoryStar of the Day! I mean, just look at the thread! You hit a nerve! So glad you shared it.

Smiles, Kevin

Aloha Shirley,
First, this story definitely earned StoryStar of the Day! I mean, just look at the thread! You hit a nerve! So glad you shared it.

Smiles, Kevin

Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/02/2025

Wow Kevin I will read your story. I did not expect this story to be Story of the Day. Thank you so much for reading.

Wow Kevin I will read your story. I did not expect this story to be Story of the Day. Thank you so much for reading.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Cheryl Ryan

04/02/2025

You are right. We have to do everything collectively to protect and save our dear planet. Stop the murders, wars, and corruption and live peacefully with one another. Thank you for sharing!

You are right. We have to do everything collectively to protect and save our dear planet. Stop the murders, wars, and corruption and live peacefully with one another. Thank you for sharing!

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/02/2025

Thank you Cheryl. Did not expect this to be Story of the day. My epiphany is not likely to happen, sad but true. Thank you for your kind words.

Thank you Cheryl. Did not expect this to be Story of the day. My epiphany is not likely to happen, sad but true. Thank you for your kind words.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Jessica M.

04/02/2025

We, as invividuals need to do our part to protect the planet and after that is done we need to create small (and hopefully bigger) communities that help each other do this. And we also need to put pressure on our local authorities so they enact laws that protect the earth for us, our children and the next generations to come. The biggest change towards a cleaner earth will come from laws in this r...
Read More

We, as invividuals need to do our part to protect the planet and after that is done we need to create small (and hopefully bigger) communities that help each other do this. And we also need to put pressure on our local authorities so they enact laws that protect the earth for us, our children and the next generations to come. The biggest change towards a cleaner earth will come from laws in this regards.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/02/2025

Thank you Jessica. Love your response. I think you should turn your response into a story. If enough people read this maybe something will be done to save it all. Thank you for reading.

Thank you Jessica. Love your response. I think you should turn your response into a story. If enough people read this maybe something will be done to save it all. Thank you for reading.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Denise Arnault

04/02/2025

What an interesting dream on many levels.

I agree that we need to get our act together, but doubt if it will ever happen. I wish it would though.

What an interesting dream on many levels.

I agree that we need to get our act together, but doubt if it will ever happen. I wish it would though.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/02/2025

Thank you Denise. Sadly I agree with you. My Epiphany will not likely happen. Thank you for reading.

Thank you Denise. Sadly I agree with you. My Epiphany will not likely happen. Thank you for reading.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

JD

04/01/2025

I agree with you that we need to find a way to coexist and stop polluting our planet. Happy short story star of the day, Shirley.

I agree with you that we need to find a way to coexist and stop polluting our planet. Happy short story star of the day, Shirley.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

04/02/2025

Thank you JD. Sadly I do not think my Epiphany will be realized. Thank you for choosing my story.

Thank you JD. Sadly I do not think my Epiphany will be realized. Thank you for choosing my story.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Gerald R Gioglio

02/04/2025

Amen. Thanks for getting this message out Shirley.

Amen. Thanks for getting this message out Shirley.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

02/04/2025

Thank you Gerald. I think about this often. Thank you again.

Thank you Gerald. I think about this often. Thank you again.

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Donald Harry Roberts

02/04/2025

What if its true: The ultimate question. With no solid evidence and F effect it most likely is...Good writing Shirley

What if its true: The ultimate question. With no solid evidence and F effect it most likely is...Good writing Shirley

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Shirley Smothers

02/04/2025

Thank you Donald. This was a dream but man what if it's true. Thank you again.

Thank you Donald. This was a dream but man what if it's true. Thank you again.

Help Us Understand What's Happening
Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

FOLLOW US ON

  • Twitter

LIKE US ON

  • Facebook

STORY CATEGORIES

  • TRUE LIFE FICTION
  • KIDS TEENS ADULTS

QUICK LINKS

  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2010-2025 STORY STAR. All rights reserved.

Gift Your Points
( available)
Help Us Understand What's Happening