Short Life Story

A collection of compelling short stories from talented contemporary writers

Latest Stories

The Weight of Broken Wheel

The smell hit Esperanza before she even stepped out of her truck—not the usual smell of hogs that hung over Broken Wheel like morning fog, but something else, something wrong. Sweet rot mixed with ammonia, strong enough to burn the back of her throat...

The Last Meditation

The morning mist hung over the rice terraces like gossamer silk, and Dr. Priya Mehta stood on the wooden deck of her villa, inhaling the scent of frangipani and damp earth...

The House That Listened Back

The thing about smart homes is they're only as smart as the idiots who set them up. Dmitri Volkov learned this at 2:47 AM on a Tuesday, when his neighbor's Alexa started talking through his laptop speakers...

The Night Shift

Marcus pushed his cart down the east wing corridor at 2:47 AM. The wheels needed oil. They squeaked against the waxed floor, a sound that had become familiar as breathing...

Our Authors

✍️

Margaret Thornfield

Margaret Thornfield is a contemporary American writer whose stories are infused with subtle melancholy and deep understanding of the human condition. Born in a small Midwestern town, she learned to find beauty in the ordinary and discover stories in the simplest encounters. Her work is distinguished by its lyricism and ability to convey complex emotions through everyday details and natural imagery.

✍️

James Blackwood

James Blackwood is a master of psychological suspense and atmospheric fiction. Born in a small New England town, he was surrounded from childhood by old legends and dark folklore. He worked as a high school teacher, which gave him deep insight into human psychology and the fears that shape us. His work excels at finding the extraordinary within the ordinary, transforming familiar situations into compelling psychological landscapes. He has a particular talent for exploring the inner demons of his characters and how ordinary people cope with extraordinary circumstances.

✍️

Eleanor Hartwell

Eleanor Hartwell is a master of psychological mystery and character-driven suspense. In her stories, mysteries interweave with subtle human dramas, and unexpected revelations keep readers engaged until the final lines. Hartwell creates a distinctive atmosphere where every character could be a suspect, and truth is always hidden in the details.

✍️

Thomas Riverside

Thomas Riverside is a writer whose works are filled with romantic longing, the search for meaning, and bittersweet human connections. His characters seek love and understanding in a world full of loss and change. Riverside has a gift for showing the fragility of human emotions while giving them eternal significance.

✍️

David Sterling

David Sterling is a master of philosophical fiction and speculative storytelling. His stories blend everyday life with unsettling glimpses of the future, forcing readers to consider humanity's place in a rapidly changing world. His work often explores themes of responsibility and the price of human choices.