fifty-five-word stories

There was no one left on the island. Everything was washed away....

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:32:46 +0800

There was no one left on the island. Everything was washed away. Not a single trace of life on the once perfect paradise.
We had just arrived, two days after the storm, to survey the damage. I couldn’t bear to look at what used to be my home, my sanctuary.
How do you begin again?

“Is this seat taken?”I wanted to say no. Obviously...

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:36:00 +0800

“Is this seat taken?”
I wanted to say no. Obviously he had nowhere else to sit. All the benches were occupied and the only chair free was this one at my table.
“You know what, it’s not a problem. Sorry, I bothered you.”
Before I could speak, he was already too far to hear me.

You were waiting by the taxi stand. I tried to catch your...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:28:00 +0800

You were waiting by the taxi stand. I tried to catch your attention but your brows were furrowed, your thumbs moving fast and angry over your mobile phone’s keypad. Were you having a bad day, I wanted to ask. But you didn’t know me and that would seem strange. I hope tomorrow will be better.

There are some days when she gets tired of this. Of the...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:43:06 +0800

There are some days when she gets tired of this. Of the attention, of the work, of the sleepless nights.
But then when she walks out onstage and hears her screaming fans, she forgets about that.
Today, there are no screaming fans and she goes back to sleep with a smile. “Today, I am nobody.”

“The light hurts my eyes,” she says.She was lying in...

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:26:54 +0800

“The light hurts my eyes,” she says.
She was lying in the backseat with a blanket wrapped around her.
“I know. I’m sorry,” I tell her.
She had been lying in that hospital bed for three months. We both knew we just wanted to lie in bed together at home—however long that would last.

Mom was always in the driver’s seat. I’d sit in the...

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

Mom was always in the driver’s seat. I’d sit in the back because she said she didn’t trust her driving. She would take me to school and pick me up at four o’clock on the dot. We’d go out for ice cream on some days and then go home to do my homework right after.

I’m tired. Always going the extra mile for you, stretching...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

I’m tired. Always going the extra mile for you, stretching myself thin, forgetting about my happiness. Because for a while now, all I’ve been trying to do is make you happy. See what’s wrong with that picture? It’s all about you. Someday, I will finally realize this and maybe, I’ll be able to walk away.

I’ve never stayed in one place for more than a year. My...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

I’ve never stayed in one place for more than a year. My father travels for work and I can’t very well stay behind. I’m only 12. I’ve never had any friends and I’m always looking for ways to entertain myself. I’ve decided to go to an exhibit on my thirteenth birthday. Does this hotel have one?

They were best friends since first grade. They’d walk home...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

They were best friends since first grade. They’d walk home together from their village gate. She’d invite him over to have peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches and chocolate milk. He’d stay until it was time for bed, they’d do it all over again the next day. This was the first day they were apart in eighteen years.

I’m always used to being behind the camera. The only...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:23:15 +0800

I’m always used to being behind the camera. The only pictures I have of myself are ones usually in front of some reflective surface. All my life, I’ve had a camera around my neck and lens in my hands. That’s how I grew up. My parents were photo journalists. This is how they raised me.

We’d been sitting on the park bench for over an hour now....

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:02:55 +0800

We’d been sitting on the park bench for over an hour now. She was silently sobbing, not speaking to me. I didn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry…” I tried to comfort her.
Her crying got louder and her shoulders shook uncontrollably. I never wanted to hurt her but it was too late for that.

I’m the type of girl you won’t approach. Mostly...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

I’m the type of girl you won’t approach. Mostly because you think I’m snooty or, God-forbid, a ditz. I like saying “OMG!” or uttering “like” every chance I get. You never stay long enough to know I actually like reading books more than watching TV. Or that I can totally beat you on Quiz Night.

He took my hand that night and I knew somehow that he would...

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

He took my hand that night and I knew somehow that he would never let go. Not even if I told him to.
We walked to my house under a beautiful sky, sparkling with stars.
Beside me was the love of my life. I knew I never needed to be afraid anymore. This is love.

When it’s not too hot out, I like to sit under the tree in...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:26:00 +0800

When it’s not too hot out, I like to sit under the tree in our garden. No reason, I just like finding an excuse to sit under the shade. I lay out my favorite blanket and plug my earphones. I scroll through the songs—my eyes closed. I stop when my instinct tells me to.

The sky was an infinite blue. I knew that one way or another,...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:16:50 +0800

The sky was an infinite blue. I knew that one way or another, this would be a good day. I had my favorite brew in my mug and “You Make My Dreams” came on my shuffle.
Today will be about new beginnings and happy endings. If I say it out loud, I know it’ll happen.

He spends most of his days in his room. I’d see him...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0800

He spends most of his days in his room. I’d see him through his window, typing the day away. I wonder what he’s working on this time.
He looks up and sees me looking. He waves a quick hello and motions for me to call him. I smile and point at the book I’m holding.

Anne was alone for as long as she could remember. She relied on...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:18:08 +0800

Anne was alone for as long as she could remember. She relied on nobody for her happiness. She had been orphaned at five years old and lived on her own by the time she graduated from high school. Being dependent was something foreign to her and the moment you walked into her life, everything changed.

“Let’s have sushi later?” she asked as the...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:04:17 +0800

“Let’s have sushi later?” she asked as the lights were being adjusted
“Yeah, sure,” she said, while someone powdered her nose.
“I’m so hungry, man.” They had been waiting for more than an hour now.
“I know, you think this’ll be done any time soon?”
“God. I hope so!”
Quiet on the set! Lights, camera…

I hated birthdays. I always threw a tantrum when I knew I was...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:32:50 +0800

I hated birthdays. I always threw a tantrum when I knew I was supposed to blow the candles on my cake. Why do I need to do it? Can’t we just skip the candles and eat the cake right away?
But I loved the gifts. The wrappers never made it alive out of my hands.

I retreated to the glass house up in the mountains whenever I...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:24:14 +0800

I retreated to the glass house up in the mountains whenever I got the chance. There was a three-day weekend coming up—I hadn’t had a vacation in so long. So I set out on a road trip on my own. I blasted “Waves” by Marjorie Fair. It was going to be a good ride.