M.K. Lee's Blog: Telling Tales, page 127
January 20, 2019
Diary Drabble: Easy
In school, he’d always thought studying was easy. And through college, his bachelor’s degree, and even his masters, Aaron had never found learning that hard. He’s dealt with difficult clients and impossible deadlines all his adult life. Created a work-life balance that many would be envious of.
Yet as he sits cross-legged on his bed like he remembers doing when he was a teen, not a single one of the words on the page is making sense.
“Not sinking in?”
Aaron relaxes for the bed dipping, an arm...
Diary Drabble: Thunder
The rain has been falling so long that the sound of it has become little more than background noise. Though a flash of lightning far too close for comfort gets their attention, lighting up the lounge. They look at one another across the couch, eyes widening for the peal of thunder rocking the building. Then the lights go out altogether and they can’t see one another at all.
“Did it hit something?” Nicholas asks jumping up to look out the window, sinking into Chae’s arms already around his wai...
Diary Drabble: Stable
This is about as far from his life as it’s possible for Will to get. Gone is his open-planned office, the regular arguments about whose turn it is to make a round of tea. In its place there are rolling hills, green pastures, and more animals to make conversation with than people. Which he likes a lot. Far better than people any day.
Of course, there are exceptions. Like Emil, who winks then nods towards the stable before disappearing inside.
“You are my favourite volunteer,” Emil says, smili...
Diary Drabble: Bomb
The bomb dropped on a dreary, miserable Monday. Some said they felt the tremors of it beneath their feet for hundreds of miles around. Others had more rude awakenings since it landed on their homes. No announcements were made. No emergency services showed up. No one claimed to be the source of it either.
Theologists would argue for centuries that it was a gift from above. The bomb changed you, whether you believed or not. The moment it exploded, thoughts became kinder, words became softer, k...
Diary Drabble: Dorm
The hostel dorm room is exactly as she’d expected. Twelve beds, stained carpet, colourful art prints on the walls. She’s had sandwiches thicker than the mattress, and bedding – cheapest from Ikea – is faded from repeated washing and drying. Clean, at least; she can ask for no more than that.
The windows are open, the noise from the street blasting in along with the heat from the sun. Seasoned to hostel accommodation, she chooses a lower, middle bunk with a socket. As perfectly placed as she...
January 19, 2019
Diary Drabble: Dog
Dog sits in his prison glad of the blanket protecting him from the stone cold floor. His name isn’t dog, or Angus like the kind people caring for him call him. It used to be Bailey. Though he’ll answer to just about anything if someone would just love him.
Dog knows this isn’t a prison either. It’s one step away from being alone in the world and starving. Dog remembers cold nights and feeding on chicken carcasses when he got kicked out. He still feels the ache of that boot on his flank. It h...
January 14, 2019
When you first learn that you are an Omega, you learn al...
When you first learn that you are an Omega, you learn all sorts of things you never imagined you would need to know when you were growing up. The essentials: Heat suppressants, scent masking, how to handle an Alpha that is scenting you, and of course, the laws that are in place to protect you, in a society that is accepting and progressive, yet still has elements of its attitudes stuck firmly in the past. You also learn that through no fault of your own, or conscious effort, it is possible f...
January 13, 2019
Diary Drabble: Horror
Dream walkers are rare, making up less than three percent of the population who have the ability to enter other’s dreams. It isn’t as though they can wander wherever they please. They can’t browse those who are sleeping like some multi-channel package for something to watch. It’s about trust, openness, letting in cherished people. No one comes in without permission first.
It’s why Greg stares in horror, fighting to wake as he thrashes against his sheets. But he can’t. Anton prowls toward him...
Diary Drabble: Anger
Rhys’ anger when Ashley walks away is for himself as much as it is for him. How many times will they almost change things between them before one of them panics, taking a turn at being the first to look away. Two years they’ve been doing this dance. Getting close enough for others to notice and that attention then keeping them apart. Rhys is tired of hurting. And wanting. And constantly questioning himself.
“Wait—”
Rhys’ yell cuts off with the crush of Ashley’s chest against his own.
“I don’...
Diary Drabble: Arrangement
Alfie checks the flower arrangement a final time, reaching out to tweak an unnecessary petal, straightening an already perfect stem. He tenses at the cleared throat behind him, turning before he’s fixed his guilty expression.
“It’s good. It’s all good,” his assistant Priya says with a firm nudge of Alfie’s arm.
In the three years they’ve been working together, she’s proven herself to be an exceptional wedding planner. Alfie won’t take any credit for that – Priya is a natural. Which is why he...
