Short Life Story

A collection of compelling short stories from talented contemporary writers

Latest Stories

The Tuesday Shift

Maria counted the quarters again. Forty-seven dollars in the till, same as an hour ago. The fluorescent lights hummed above her, one tube flickering near the back row of dryers. She'd mentioned it to Carl, the owner, three weeks running...

By: Margaret Thornfield | 15 min read

The Night Shift

The moth died against the window at 1:23 AM. Marcus Okonkwo watched its brown wings flutter frantically against the glass, drawn by the fluorescent lights of the security station, before it dropped to the windowsill with a barely audible tick...

By: James Blackwood | 16 min read

What We Carried

The automatic doors wheezed open and Esperanza pushed her cart into the fluorescent glare of the SaveMart. She needed garbage bags, bleach, rubber gloves. The kinds of things you buy when someone dies and leaves you a house full of their life...

By: Margaret Thornfield | 14 min read

Our Authors

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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.

82 stories
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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.

82 stories
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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.

82 stories
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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.

82 stories
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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.

82 stories