Fable

The Fitting
It was the one she used for everything, felt there in her apron pocket. Then the herald rapped his knuckles on our door. Mother peeked through the wall sliver and could see the shoe. I could tell by her gauging eyes. Her brow gave way to a stillness in her face like someone who had finished deciding. The prince’s reflection flashed in the teardrop that she dabbed quickly away.
By Nicky Franklyabout 3 hours ago in Fiction
Daughter of the Pines
It started with a whispered name two weeks ago. Then more whispers. When I was getting some replacement school supplies for Cary, a book flew out of the shelf in front of me.
By Alicia Anspaughabout 3 hours ago in Fiction
The Boy and the Alien Friend
A Sci-Fi Tale: Samer and the Alien Creature Samer was a diligent student, obedient to his parents, and loved by his friends and neighbors. Yet, he faced a significant challenge: his vision was extremely weak. Even with glasses, he struggled to see clearly, missing many school days and finding it hard to live normally. He always prayed to God for his eyesight to improve, dreaming of becoming a doctor one day—a dream that now seemed almost impossible. Every week, Samer visited his grandfather’s farm, enjoying the greenery, fresh air, and the calm of the countryside. One evening, as he sat under his favorite tree, the sun disappeared behind the horizon. He began walking back to the farmhouse when he noticed a sharp light moving behind one of the trees. Curious, he ran toward it. He discovered a small creature, no bigger than a newborn kitten, with soft, glowing skin. Its eyes emitted a bright light, and it made faint, pained sounds. As Samer picked up the strange being, a voice echoed clearly in his mind: “Stay away from me. Don’t hurt me.” Samer was shocked. The creature had not spoken aloud, and no one else was around. Another voice followed, also in his mind: “I am speaking to you, Earthling.” Bewildered, Samer asked aloud, “Who are you? How can you speak to me like this?” The creature replied through mental communication: “I am in your hands because you carry me. I communicate via telepathy since you cannot understand my language, and I cannot understand yours, Earthling.” Samer paused, unsure what to say. “Who are you, and why call me an Earthling?” “I am Kamo from the planet Cicada. We came to Earth to collect samples for study, but my ship malfunctioned and crashed here. I need time to recover and for my team to rescue me.” Though overwhelmed, Samer answered, “I don’t fully understand, but I mean no harm. I want to help if I can.” Kamo explained, “You can help me by bringing a power source to recharge my communication device so I can contact my team.” Samer thought quickly. “We have batteries, electricity, even coal. Which works for you?” “All of them,” Kamo replied. “Our technology adapts to any power source.” Samer carefully carried Kamo to his grandfather’s house. Using a small wall socket, Kamo plugged in his tiny device resembling a pen, and it began charging. As they communicated, Samer learned about Kamo, Cicada, and the creature’s intelligence. Despite his small size, Kamo was wise and kind. Hours later, Kamo contacted his team. Ready to return to Cicada, he handed Samer a small gift, a palm-sized bag, warning him not to open it until he left. With a tearful goodbye, Samer watched his new friend depart. After Kamo left, Samer opened the gift. Inside, he found Kamo’s communication device and a small bottle of “Lightflower Drops.” He pressed the device’s button, and Kamo’s voice spoke clearly: “Hello, my Earthling friend. This device will keep us connected. And the drops will help your eyes—you’ll see clearly soon.” Samer applied the drops and went to sleep with hope in his heart. The next morning, he awoke to a transformed world. His vision was perfect. Every leaf, every blade of grass, and the vibrant colors of the farm were crystal clear. Filled with gratitude, Samer exclaimed, “Thank God! Now I can return to school and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor!” He often thought of Kamo, cherishing their bond. The alien’s gift had not only restored his sight but also opened his mind to the wonders of the universe. Samer learned that kindness, curiosity, and courage could bridge even the greatest distances between worlds. Through this adventure, Samer realized the importance of compassion and bravery, understanding that sometimes, the universe sends unexpected friends to guide us and change our lives forever.
By storiesabout 7 hours ago in Fiction
A Message From the Future
When I was younger, I used to believe that the future was something distant, something that would arrive slowly and politely at the door of my life. I imagined that one day I would simply wake up and everything would make sense. My dreams would be clear, my path would be obvious, and the questions inside my mind would finally have answers.
By storiesabout 7 hours ago in Fiction
Kitsune's Intervention: A Very Inconvenient Yokai
"I'm telling you, Christie, he is CHEATING on you!" She sighed hard. "Min... I know you think that, but Darryl would never cheat. He is so thoughtful and so, so loyal. He is just the absolute sweetest. I lucked out so hard marrying him. It feels like a dream."
By Alicia Anspaughabout 8 hours ago in Fiction
The Library of Hidden Worlds. AI-Generated.
Amir had always loved books more than anything else in the world. While other children spent their afternoons playing outside, Amir preferred sitting quietly in the corner of the town library, turning pages and discovering new worlds.
By storiesabout 16 hours ago in Fiction
The Painting That Watches You
Daniel had always believed that paintings were more than simple images on a canvas. To him, every painting was a story waiting to be discovered. The colors, the shadows, the expressions—everything carried emotion left behind by the artist.
By storiesabout 16 hours ago in Fiction
The Gentle Giant of Silver Pine Forest
In the heart of a vast forest called Silver Pine Forest, where tall pine trees touched the sky and rivers sparkled like silver ribbons, lived a huge brown bear named Bruno.
By Rahman Khanabout 18 hours ago in Fiction
Chewy On Your Boot
Marty and Steve are two grumpy old men who live together. They have known each other for years. Marty has been a bachelor all his life.
By Calvin Londonabout 20 hours ago in Fiction
Helena's Journey
Smoke curling through the pale orange sky over the distant hill indicated to Helena that morning was on the horizon. The fires provided warmth for the remnants of that small village whose people hunted for rats or squirrels, cooking them over crude stone pits and metal grates. Sand stretched in either direction, making supplies difficult to obtain. In the distance, Helena had become a scavenger as well, digging through the heaps of destruction that occurred when one world state clashed with the other years ago. The war yielded no winners, only broken people, pawns struggling to survive.
By Barb Dukemana day ago in Fiction
The Game of Revenge
From Mount Olympus, Zeus, ruler of the Olympians, looked across the glaring sea into Poseidon's realm. In many cities, mortal women showed their beauty as they lived their mortal lives. Hera, queen of the gods, admired her new tunics, absorbed in her own world, both powerful and independent, envied for her independence. Zeus, wanting and yearning to visit a new lover, Alcmene, knew he needed to divert Hera's attention. He regarded this as an easy task, since she preferred her own interests rather than please him. Heading out into Olympus to find the perfect distraction. When Aphrodite passed by, Zeus enlisted her to entertain Hera; Aphrodite, goddess of love, delighted in such amusements and agreed. Returning to his palace, Zeus found nothing to eat, as Hera was still dressing and ignoring him anyway. He ate the last bit of bread just as Hera entered, scowling and reproachful, making her anger clear. Soon, Aphrodite arrived to occupy Hera. Hera glowered at Zeus but kept silent before her guest, then stormed out, making her displeasure unmistakable. With Hera gone and his scheme successful, Zeus left Olympus to visit Alcmene in the guise of Amphitryon, while Hera remained unaware.
By Sarah Danahera day ago in Fiction
Notes in the Margins of Happily Ever After
The first thing every girl receives in the kingdom where I was born is a book. I am writing in mine now. The leather cover is still white, though the edges are darkened with smoke and forest dirt. Some of the pages curl slightly, as if the book has already survived a small fire. The gold lettering has almost rubbed away, but if you tilt it toward the firelight you can still read the title pressed into the skin:
By Stacey Mataxis Whitlow (SMW)a day ago in Fiction