Amazing Young Writers Challenge 1 to 100

On this page, you will find the first 100 pieces of creative writing submitted to the amazing young writers challenge.

If you'd like to submit to the challenge and see your work published on this website, please visit the Amazing Young Writers page.

Stories 1 to 100

Here are the first 100 stories, poems and other pieces of creative writing submitted to the Amazing Young Writers Challenge.

Story 001

Secrets

by Ella

Finally, she thought in her head.

Her boyfriend was offering to take her on a romantic getaway this weekend! They had been together for five years and she had been waiting for a proposal, but as yet she had not got one. There had been so many times that she thought he was going to propose, but she did not find herself with a ring on her finger.

She was packing her bags when she got the call from her boyfriend. Little did they know they were in for a big surprise and it was not a proposal.

*

Ella is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 002

Before You Came Along

by Bria

Wind. Air. The sky above her head and the clouds beneath her feet.

That was all she needed to live. Other than food, water and sleep of course. To Nayble, there was nothing better in the entire world than flying. It was the wind beneath her wings. Literally.

The rush of cool wind in her face, flowing through her graceful, black-speckled wings was the best feeling in the entire universe. Nothing could beat it and nothing ever would.

At least... that's what she believed until she met Denn.

*

Bria is 16 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 003

The Exam

by Alexis

The tick of a clock ringing in my head. Each second sending a jolt through my body. I sit in a chair, my skin covered with goosebumps. I look back at my decision to leave my jacket in the car and curse at myself for it.

The ball of my right foot begins to pulsate and sends the rest of my leg subtly jumping up and down with it. I feel blinded with the walls and floors and ceilings covered in a clean white. A pristine white, if you will. The bold smell of cleaning chemicals floats in the room.

*

Alexis is 18 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 004

A Knife’s Dual Purposes

by Sowmya

The knife was a fading grey, a husk of its former elegance. The head chef tried relentlessly to sharpen it, but it stayed blunt.

He heard rustling outside the kitchen door, and his arm flew into the air. But it was only the maid, coming to rustle up leftover scraps. The chef and the maid had a kinship, both unfortunate victims under the control of an overbearing, underpaying master.

Soon, his employer would come by, substituting vacuous flattery for a decent pay.

Soon, the chef would strike.

*

Sowmya is 16 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 005

The Pharaoh's Phone

by Anna Keenan

The Great Pyramid of Khufu stood impressively at 481 feet. I craned my neck to try and devour the architecture through my eyes.

Darkness swelled around me, coupled with a chill up my spine as I walked through the tunnels. I squeezed through a crack in a hieroglyphic covered wall and found myself in front of the pharaoh's tomb.

Ring-ring!

I jumped out of my skin at the reverberating sound. I turned to see who caused the ruckus but found myself alone in the tomb with a phone ringing and the coffin of an ancient king vibrating.

*

Anna is 17 years old and lives in Northern Ireland.

Story 006

The Night I Died

by Anisha Bhanot

My heart was pounding and sweat poured from every cell of my body. I was running through the forest, even though I was exhausted and barely had the energy to stand.

He was coming for me.

As I ran, I couldn't stop thinking about how I let it get this far. Why didn't I just keep quiet?

I could feel him getting closer. Fear choked me with its murderous hands. Suddenly, an icy-cold hand gripped my arm, panic rose in my chest and then he took of his mask.

I froze in horror. I couldn't believe who it was.

*

Anisha is 13 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 007

The Riots

by Madi Davis

Yours lasted 7 months, ours lasted 7 hours.

We were trying to get a point across, but instead you were starting fires and knocking down towers. You wanted to defund the police, but then came running back when something didn’t go your way. If you keep this up, soon there will be people not getting payed.

We didn’t burn any towers down and we didn’t riot till we overpowered. We just got a point across, that needed to be made. So think again before you tell us it was an 'act of terrorism' and put into perspective how brutal your actions are compared to the system.

*

Madi is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 008

History Mystery

by Abby Simpkins

My small town has always been known for the haunted streets and townhouses, but mostly for the coffee shop. Since I work there, I’ve seen some unbelievable… entities.

One time on a lonely Sunday night, I was making some coffee for my night shift. I heard the door open. As I went to greet the person, I looked and I saw a saggy, hole-y face with white eyes and pale skin. My soul nearly left my body as I jumped.

It was Robin Williams. Wasn’t he… dead?

*

Abby is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 009

Along The Trail

by MK White

BRING-G.

It was the fifth time Dain called. I ignored it. In fact, in anguish, I threw my phone in the grassy fields of the open country.

My right hand was holding Butterscotch’s reins. How I loved Butterscotch. She was my everything. She was graceful. She was perfect.

I leaned forward, resting my head on her soft tuft of hair. She felt uneasy when I threw the phone, I had to show her I was okay… but how can I when I’m really not?

*

MK is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 010

My Business

by Taylor Sikich

if people would just mind their own business

the world would be great.

it shouldn’t matter if i’m lesbian, bi, or straight.

you can have your god or beliefs

like i have mine.

but stop telling me it’s wrong, unnatural, or 'out of line'

because i could care less.

so do yourself a favour and stop the stress.

my business is mine

and mine only.

i really don’t care if you think it’s unholy.

it doesn’t matter if i’m going to 'hell'.

it’s my secret,

and only my secret to tell.

if everyone would mind their own business

people wouldn’t be so hurt.

Because it gets tiresome

being treated like dirt.

*

Taylor is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 011

The Protest That Needs Saving

by Patrick Tucker

Why do peaceful protests end up thrown away

People call for change

And get put away like forgotten souls

Why hurt others when they call for better.

 

Who orders people to fight

Why do you listen

When protests are as peaceful as a crisis

Who prefers the chaos over peace?

 

When would anyone volunteer to walk their final mile

If what they found at the end was worse than what they believed

If walking the mile finds a tower of lies larger than a tower of truth

Why would they leave the towers standing when it’s as bad as before.

*

Patrick is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 012

Earthquakes Are Terrifying

by Johnny Tikka

Earthquakes are terrifying.

Now, this might seem to be a common fact but what isn’t is truly the scope and scale of earthquakes. Such as the fact that earthquakes can and do happen anywhere, the fact that there are 1,200 fault lines and more we don’t even know about in the US alone, the fact that Yellowstone by itself experiences 2,000 earthquakes every year. Even if all of that wasn’t bad enough, there’s the fact that a decent portion of dams in the US wouldn’t be prepared for an earthquake and could cause mass flooding.

So Earthquakes are terrifying.

*

Johnny is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 013

Dear Mom

by Lauren Roberts

Ain't nobody need you like I need you

Ain't nobody care the way I do

Promise you won't leave this world and leave me

Cause I don't know who I am without you

I know not to worry about you

Cause when your gone what am I going to do

Maybe we have times when we argue

But I know I won't be the same without you

*

Lauren is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 014

WiFi The Worst

by Jaysen Baudendistel

WiFi crashes with problems,

Blast goes the WiFi tower,

WiFi shuts down for all.

 

WiFi shuts down,

THOUSANDS fill with rage,

Tick tock as the time goes by,

Finally the WiFi's up and running.

 

Some games need WiFi,

Clock tick, people waiting to load,

Loading forever, went around the world twice,

People get angry like a bull with a red cloth in his face.

*

Jaysen is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 015

Salamander’s Prison

by Claire Mac

Soundproof walls,

Frayed papers,

Screaming at the top of my lungs.

Slamming my fists down on tempered glass that surrounds me.

 

I’m given my own water and food.

My cage cleaned once a week.

Living in my own filth.

To be held and brought out,

But only to be thrown around as I try to escape.

 

If I could end everything, I would,

But every single corner is around.

The furniture is glued to the ground.

Can’t even jump because my bones are like jelly.

 

Starvation seems to be my end,

But not before the acetone has reached my head.

*

Claire is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 016

Hope

by Alexsandra Antolin

They break you down

Make you feel alone

This is your last option

Nothing will stop you anymore

We put a letter on the desk hoping

It may fix how they’ll feel

Hoping they will understand why we did it

Like the words on the paper will make the pain go away

Then we realize that it’s too late you can’t come back

You’re gone.

Those people you love are swallowed whole, left to mourn

With broken pieces they pick themselves up

Lost in tears

We must stop this

We must stand tall

Against these things that swallow us whole

Against people who can’t pull themselves up

Against the pain that brings us to our knees

Once we realize it, all we can do is hope

All we can think is hope

All we can say is hope

*

Alexsandra is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 017

Atestent

by Conn Easter

A corrupt demon that’s treated like greatness,

Changed and twisted worse than before.

She pointed fingers expecting more.

Mistakes were made, yet she is adored.

She makes a mistake, gets a medallion,

Doesn’t matter what was before.

Lady of terror this is no more, time to go to war.

 

Every point was absurd no proof to prove,

She acts like a titan yet a tiny trove,

Of small little treasures of fake gold.

Take her on today because we’re so bold,

For her taking the whole world.

We’ll take her light to add some plight,

Then take her over at midnight.

 

The small trove full of fake gold,

Yet was somewhat good after all.

A panic attack upon our nation,

Caused a lot of detestation.

Not every outcome is sunshine,

Nor rainbows or unicorns.

We’ll rebuild from the ashes,

Like a phoenix of the snow.

*

Conn is 13 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 018

The Mess of 2020

by Jaiden Jacob

February 2020 was the last normal month of the year. It all started with coronavirus. It started in China. Now everyone in the world is hiding.

The world told us to wear a mask, stay inside. We all thought that was the worst until the schools shut down and people lost their jobs. Then the world told us that leaving our house is actually breaking the law.

The virus sadly didn't leave with 2020, so we’re still stuck with the sickening smell of hand sanitizer everywhere. We go and have to wear masks every time we leave our house.

*

Jaiden is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 019

Breakdown

by Shy Moore

Hands begin to shake, your eyes start to water

Your stomach cramps

You wanna scream but don’t want to wake anyone up

All of a sudden you cry out in agony, clenching your fist

Holding a pillow to your face, hiding your cries

 

The shakiness of your hands almost hurts

Typing on your keyboard is too hard

Now you feel you can’t get help

Your legs shaking doesn’t help

 

Trying to calm down feels only worse

Tears burn your skin as they slowly roll down your face

Your throat burns from choking back tears

Head aching as your thoughts pound

*

Shy is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 020

Never Stop Running

by Ashia Logie

The crash of the waves echoed up and down the shore. She stared out into the blanket of unknown ahead of her, unable to look away. The sea was a magnet, beckoning her closer and closer until she had no choice but to run towards it.

She ran from all the troubles of the shoreline, her feet tossing sand into the air with every stride. As she got closer, she began to hear a voice.

"Never stop running," it whispered. "Never let them catch you. You are safer here, in the arms of the sea, but never stop running."

*

Aisha is 14 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 021

The Glass Box

by Mira Bhandari

Anne strolled through the field on the pathway paved by the sunflowers. Her skin appeared as golden and supple as butter, and her hair a soft maple brown. Her ethereal lilac dress floated in the wind behind her as she took long strides, entranced by the sky. Streaks of cobalt were smeared across it and the clouds lightly pressed against the ceiling of the glass box.

Anne ran along the field until she couldn’t anymore. There was a glass wall, holding her back. She looked up at the sky, but only this time it was jet black.

*

Mira is 15 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 022

Life

by Lanxuan Luo

Midnight: A man was smoking at the crossroads. His eyes wandered off the dimmed lights.

A ghost went by him. The man yelled to him, "What’s it like being a ghost?"

"Worse than hell."

The man started another cigarette and breathed deeply. "How come?"

"We have to hide from things that scare us every single second."

They grew silence.

"People said that death comes as a merciful release," said the man, "but it is just the beginning of another misery."

"We always try to jump out of a dilemma," replied the ghost, "but we don’t realise we will fall into another abyss of suffering."

*

Lanxuan is 15 years old and lives in China.

Story 023

Oh! Ophelia

by Hannah

Oh! Ophelia

The river seemed to cry to her

Its grey waters stilled to mourn

And the underwater pixies wept bitterly

 

Oh! Ophelia

The birds sang out

Cheerful chirping turn black

Little ones hid under mothers’ wing

 

Oh! Ophelia

Weeping willows stooped even lower

The burden of pain too much to bear

Drooping tears join the river

 

Oh! Ophelia

Dainty blooms shook

Red petals turned white for woe

They wither and fade away

 

Oh! Ophelia

Came the chorus of voices

But there came no reply

From the murky depths of the lake

Only the flower crowns floated

*

Hannah is 14 years old and lives in Wales.

Story 024

Ecdysis

by Ruby Kellett

Sometimes she curls up in a ball, ignoring the world around her.

Continually, running through a maze of dead ends.

She flees from the pain, own mind against her,

telling herself she’s worthless….'never enough'.

Fighting a continuous battle without a weapon.

So, she hides.

She becomes so small, seems so meaningless, as if lost.

A shadow. A dot. A process.

Every day, the walls grow thicker like a prison. Keeping her trapped… enclosed.

Until one day the light reappears, bright enough to penetrate the darkness surrounding her.

Slowly, she evolves into what she was all along…

Growing.

No one is alone.

*

Ruby is 14 years old and lives in England.

Story 025

To Be Continued...

by Roxy Turner-Higgins

After years of living in Rosemary Cottage, Grace's adventure had just started.

As she pulled back some of the emerald ivy, she found a wooden gate. But this was no ordinary gate. Grace knew it because she had a magical tingling feeling inside her head and her heart was pumping almost too fast.

Was this the gate that her grandmother told her about in her stories? Surely it couldn't be, that was just a silly fairy-tale! She was grown-up, right? There was no such thing as magic.

Well, there was only one way to find out...

*

Roxy is 13 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 026

Seeker of My Soul

by Jessica Ann George

Enslaved by the hushed darkness, a creaking door in the distance, partial light shining beneath, seemed my salvation. My eyelids fought a salty torrent of sweat and fear, as dated, creepy mirrors and hooded mannequins yearned to awaken.

Suddenly something dropped, a thud reverberating amidst the silence. My shivering hands were led towards it by a force not good and I began swirling around in wild-eyed terror, the darkness growing smaller, fainter. I pulled away into the light.

Awake, fear covering my being, I pushed myself to look into the mirror. But someone else sneered back. She had become me.

*

Jessica is 14 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 027

Disaster

by Lee Lim-Shern, Ashton

It was Friday and Mike wanted to enjoy his weekend. But bad news, tons of school work awaited, the volcano was going to explode!

Rage flowed through him like lava. He didn't want to do all these assignments, so his mum sent him to bed early. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw all his workbooks and worksheets come to life and start attacking him! They grew sharp teeth and big claws and wanted to gobble him up!

"No!" He hollered for help and bounded out of bed.

From that day, he learned that he should always do his homework, even if it's Friday.

*

Ashton is 9 years old and lives in Malaysia.

Story 028

Learning to Blossom

by Cambria Burgess

i sit in a field of lilacs

admiring the worlds vibrance

and i feel as if

i am a part of this field

 

i have learned to become

my own lilac

in a field full of them

because i am capable

of receiving my own sunlight

without the guidance of another flower

*

Cambria is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 029

The Greatest

by Louis Nicholls

the first step to the top

is the hardest to reach

it's not what you’ve got

it’s about your belief

that look in your eye

gonna sting like a bee

the greatest of all time

that’s what i believe i’ll be

*

Louis is 16 years old and lives in England.

Story 030

It Was One Ordinary Day

by Hailey Park

On one ordinary day, I slammed the door in her face.

"Mom, leave me alone. I can’t even look at you!"

Days became months. Months melted into years.

I cried. I laughed. I got a job, a marriage, a child.

When I finally opened the door, she was gone.

I opened it again, and again. I thought she would have waited forever. But she was gone.

It was one ordinary day, my daughter in my arms, when I realized her meaning in my life.

It was one ordinary day when I forever lost her in my life.

*

Hailey is 17 years old and lives in the USA/South Korea.

Story 031

Red

by Toluwalase Osunmakinde

I pressed the knife deep into her chest

Until not even the hilt was visible

I sank the blade softly

Into her unturned back

Blood slipped like velvet snakes

Down her smooth pale skin

She cried out in agony

Tears melted with blood

Her limbs went limp

Her eyes began to shine

Her lips looked swollen

Her skin grey

Blood swarmed around her fingers

Was she in pain? I wondered

No, she could not be, I thought

As her eyes grew three shades duller

She could not be in pain:

Hadn't she said red was her favourite colour?

Red was not her favourite colour

But mine

*

Toluwalase is 12 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 032

The Epic Love

by Isla Eckersley

An endless ocean, an icy wasteland, a river of stars. Even in the velvet dark there is sound. She craves for a better end to the twisted love story, a way the cloistering blanket of darkness could absorb her.

Pain indulges her, gives her hope, allows her to think there may be someone else. Only the pain brings back the feeling. The feeling of love consuming her fully, her heart pounding every time he comes near.

She is swiftly snapped back into reality by the dancing flame labelled the northern lights. An infinite field of fireflies. Eternal. Enigmatic. Epic.

*

Isla is 13 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 033

Suicide

by Manahil Fazal

Her life was pleasant. She didn't think it could get any better. That was until she started school.

Her day started with tears. She was pushed, pulled and kicked to the ground, all because of her colour.

She woke up every day not wanting to leave her bed. Her mom kept asking why she was always alone. She was scared to tell – she was just a kid.

Soon, it got so bad that one day she took out a knife. The last thing she saw was blood oozing out of her wrist.

*

Manahil Fazal lives in Pakistan.

Story 034

Harmony Doesn’t Last Long

by Heba Omar

I knew this day was coming. We all did, or what was left of us. The day the Aselyons took over. We were three. The Artemplons, the Detroains and the Aselyons. We were in harmony and treated each other like siblings. Until one day:

An Aselyon soldier killed one Artemplon and two Detroains. These three were farmers and the Aselyon soldier stole their land and animals. Anger and sorrow seeped into the hearts of the Artemplons and Detroains. Still, the Aselyons were hungry for more.

We'd waited years for this and I am now the last Detroain standing.

*

Heba is 12 years old and lives in the UK.

Story 035

Milkshake

by Belle Chi

Wiping saliva from my face and taking out a straw, thinking of milkshakes makes me feel like I'm in heaven.

Milkshakes not only taste delightful, but also make you feel like you’re travelling. The milk will make you feel like you’re on a farm full of cows and cattle. After tasting the milk, you will taste the syrup, which makes you feel like you’re in a candy store. Then, you will taste the delectable and creamy ice cream, which will make you feel like you're in heaven.

This dessert, delightful and luscious, will definitely make your day!

*

Belle is 14 years old and lives in the USA.

Story 036

A Lesson: Never Give Up

by Abhirami

"Hey, look at you, you are so stout. People mock me when I'm beside you. I feel ashamed to say that you are my girl."

The girl felt devastated and started to sob. Everyone laughed at her when she ran away.

She accidently bumped into a man and apologised. The man asked the reason for her sorrow.

"I am fat and ugly so my boyfriend left."

He replied, "In my eyes, you look plump and cute."

Those words inspired her and she stopped sobbing and started to walk proud.

The next day, she met her boyfriend and said, "Don't judge a book by it’s cover. Look at the personality."

Let this story be an inspiration to all victims who have suffered body shaming.

*

Abhirami is 22 years old and lives in India.

Story 037

Public Parsimony

by Cynthia Rudy

Give-

For what?

Not that...

But what then? -You?

No- me. Me!

All of us?

Food?

Shelter?

Parsimony!

Then what?

What?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing for all?

Who then?

Me.

You?

Parsimony!

No!

Why?

Because...

Food, shelter-

give-

please

*

Cynthia is 21 and lives in the USA.

Story 038

The Failed System of Memory

by Jasmin Nava

You will forget about me,

Not all at once but

Little by little

 

What had I said, or you?

Under that same moon

Clinging to the same warmth

drifting off to sleep

with the sounds of roaring waves

 

You will forget about me,

Not all at once but

Little by little

 

What had I said, or you?

Talking to the same moon

On different coasts

remembering a conversation

like two halves of different fruit

 

I am beyond blue

With the seasons passing

and given the calm of knowing

with time, I will forget you too.

*

Jasmin is 19 and lives in the USA.

Story 039

Tony

by Lucy Pedersen

“Morning” I said. Gently. Avoiding the conflict, which had since settled after last night.

Mark was up, barely. I didn’t ask about Tony. Tony, my best friend. My best friend who stuck by me through thick and thin. My best friend who listened to every big decision I ever made. Tony. Who last night came into the kitchen, bag packed, saying, “I’ve got a train.” Tony, who had a train to a new place without us. Mark and I. Me and Mark. His best friend and his partner.

“Yeah, morning,” Mark replied. “Tea? Tony’s not making it.”

Oh dear Tony.

*

Lucy is 21 and lives in Scotland.

Story 040

The Black Sheep

by Taylor Jay

Skepticism. It eases through our bodies amongst the ambiguity and unwilling sense of deviance. It drips into our blood and curses the innocence of our flesh, biting at the truest of pain and horror we are hopeful to overcome.

But why now?

Why must my hesitant gut feelings kick back at the reality of life now? Where crippling politics continue to sabotage precious land and people’s self worth, where society dismantles mandatory, safe standards turning them into constant crimes and laws (unbreakable unless you’re asking to stand out).

Eradicate the bad. Exterminate evil. But then, where does that leave us?

*

Taylor is 15 and lives in the UK.

Story 041

Night-Time Fiction

by Isabella Kim

I drifted through the skies on a basket carried by a butterfly.

Tick! The ornate, wrinkled clocks floated by, reminding me of my urgent appointment.

Suddenly the air around me trembled with fear. Panicked, I looked to find an enemy ship protruding the fog, cannons raised. I frantically ordered the butterfly, “Fly higher into the sky!”

Just then, a loud boom echoed and tore my basket asunder. The impact sent me flying, the planet hurtling towards my body.

My eyes closed and the world whisked away disappearing as suddenly as it began. Stowed away into nothingness.

*

Isabella is 14 and lives in the USA.

Story 042

Where Am I?

by Lisa

I was playing on a sunny day when suddenly clouds covered the sky and it started to thunder. Fog appeared.

I couldn't see anything, but I could hear sounds. I decided to walk to the source of the sound. It got louder and louder. Suddenly, the clouds disappeared and the sky became sunny again. I looked around and realized that I was in a forest! I saw fairies flying around me, giggling and playing.

Suddenly, the ground shook. From a distance, I saw a giant coming closer, closer and closer, and it attacked us!

Then I woke up...

It was all just a dream.

*

Lisa is 17 and lives in Indonesia.

Story 043

I Want To Disappear

by Alexandra

In the middle of the crossroads I want to disappear. Not forever. Maybe for a month. To get a ticket to nowhere. I'll get carry-on baggage. A few T-shirts and my sunglasses. I want to disappear into a city's jungle. Where people rush to work in the morning with a coffee from Starbucks. Where people sit in their cars on the way to work and listen to another broadcast. Where people dress up and go to the theatre every Friday.

I want to disappear. Leave my phone at home. I'm tired.

I always care about people. Now I want to care about myself.

*

Alexandra is 21 and lives in Russia.

Story 044

The Ravaged Heart Screams

by Bhargavi Datta

The raindrops were dripping down my shoulder length hair, wetting the mahogany floor below me. My fingers were clenched into fists, drawing scarlet blood from my palms; my knuckles deadly white. It fell down, the blood, mixing with the water falling from my hair, dripping down…

I uncurled my fists and let out a scream, releasing only one fourth of all those bottled-up emotions. It was like my legs couldn’t support my weight anymore, they gave in.

And I fell, fell into that hole with no end…

The worst part?

This time there was no one to cushion my fall.

*

Bhargavi is 14 and lives in India.

Story 045

Catelyn

by Alice Galvin

Catelyn and I had a friendship stronger than an unbreakable chain, longer than elm branches. From two strangers riding the bus together on our first day of secondary school, to two A-level students, nail-biting before exams. With countless hours on the phone, wittering on about our favourite poets, playwrights and indie bands, until the dawn. Our favourite place was the beach; spring, summer, autumn and even in the bleak midwinter.

It wasn’t until we reunited after being separated by the arms of university – on the beach, in our spot, facing the sunset, eating doughnuts and chips – that I began looking at her differently…

I suppressed, suppressed and suppressed my feelings until they became unbearable screams… You have to tell her!

"Catelyn… Are you there? I… I have something to tell you."

"Bella, I have something to tell you!" she interrupted.

 Could she… possibly…?

"I have a boyfriend!"

*

Alice is 21 and lives in England.

Story 046

Greene

by Fin.F.Tiger

Done, Elle sighed happily.

She could relax now, just as she had been planning to do all summer. Elle had been studying ferociously – using every spare moment she had to study and now she could finally step out.

“Elle, there’s a parcel for you.”

Elle rolled her eyes and brushed herself down. Begrudgingly, she came down and picked it up. She turned the box, searching for some identification but she caused the box to shake and a dry foam erupted. “Mum, there’s—”

A peculiar green creature cut her off with a glare and handed her a note: 'He’s back…'

*

Fin.F.Tiger is 15 and lives in England.

Story 047

When You Feel Like You're Worthless

by Donovan McGregor

If God was real, why would he choose me? I'm pathetic, useless, people don't like me. I always complain, make a scene, please God just end me.

By the time I'm 14 I'll be changed, out of a world on a mental chain. Stuck in a place I can't escape. The others, free from their metal chain, laugh at me, tell me I'm not gonna change. But I'll rip out, I'll be free, I'll rip them apart and watch them bleed. I'll lift my soul and make it green, not black like when I was really mean, it's sweet 16. No, it isn't sweet. Just a normal day in a normal week. Every day, month and year I know I won't succeed. Just think about my pathetic life and you'll see. Even though I'm nice, I hide my identity. Black-souled, dark-hooded; no, this isn't me.

I need to make a change and be sweet but you're not gonna do it because you ain't mean. You wanna stay away, watch me suffer, watch me have a hard time, watch me stutter, wanna watch my pain and all I suffer. Never mind, you won't care, I'm just as useless as a legless hare, all my life despair. But I'll be confident, I'm not scared, you can laugh and bully me, but don't think I care. Next thing you know, teeth are on the floor, making you poor. You cry and I'll steal your soul. I'll be powerful. Just wait for it. It's you I'll show.

*

Donovan is 10 and lives in the UK.

Story 048

Hunted

by Madeleine Remedios

Fragments of moonlight shone through the trees. Sharp twigs ripped at Lorraine's dress, constantly leaving traces of her. She heard echoes of voices shouting her name and then, even more menacingly, "We're hungry." It wasn't her they wanted but her blood.

As Lorraine reached the lake, she saw nothing but the glistening abyss of her approaching death. Where's Harry, she thought to herself. He'd told her he'd be waiting with a boat to flee to safety.

She considered drowning herself as she heard them approaching. Suddenly, cold hands wrapped around her shoulders and she blacked out.

*

Madeleine is 19 and lives in Australia.

Story 049

Rape

by Samuel Omone Emmanuella

She was marked with a stigma

Isolated like a plague

Avoided like a disease

She pleaded for life

To be at least fair

But it had already happened

She lost her dignity

Forcefully to someone of no integrity

She hoped and yearned for the pain to die

 

She remembered the night vividly

The night she lost her innocence

Forcefully to a man she had no knowledge of

She was abused

With no mercy

She was battered

And she was left alone

Broken and shattered

To live and bring another life into the world

 

Left with no choice

She accepted her fate...

*

Samuel is 16 and lives in Nigeria.

Story 050

When I Grow Up

by Inayah Rashid

When I grow up,

I would like to teach knowledge,

So, when my students grow up,

They reach college.

Then soon they will grow up, just like me,

And hopefully will have time to sip on their tea.

All the Maths crawling inside their head,

Going home and rolling in bed.

 

When I grow up,

I would love to be,

A teacher that will be keen.

I hope to have kind children,

growing & learning,

So, when they reach a certain age,

They can start driving.

That will give me enough money,

So I can be funny to my bunny.

 

I want to buy a mansion to live in,

So I can take care of me,

And take out the bin.

In a few years' time,

My children will bring me flowerpots.

In return I will comb out their knots,

So they can note down their plots.

*

Inayah is 10 and lives in the UK.

Story 051

Being Alone

by Shreyash Mukherjee

Once I was walking alone in the rain,

Carrying my umbrella and a sweet pain,

Was completely lost in the clouds of my thoughts,

Recalling my points of success and all my flaws.

 

Suddenly I saw a girl getting wet in the rain,

Her clothes were entirely filled with mud stains,

She was like a bird but of a different feather,

And we traced a long way walking together.

 

The rain stopped and I removed my umbrella,

Astoundingly I again found myself alone with no Cinderella,

I smiled and became sure that it was my delusion,

My own loneliness has served me this illusion.

 

I stopped for a while and took a look at the nature,

Observing every flower and every creature,

A single solitary flower is as beautiful alone,

A meadow full is pleasurable but each grows on its own.

 

I was happy because now I was not depressed,

Now my opinions cannot be suppressed,

My feelings are able to be expressed,

After being alone also I felt I was blessed...

*

Shreyash is 22 and lives in India.

Story 052

Decision Day

by Sean Kim

With trembling hands, I tear open the envelope. I catch a glimpse of the words: 'regret to inform you...'

The letter flutters to the ground by my feet, tears blurring the paper.

"It's fine," Chris said soothingly, "if you got rejected, I definitely didn't get in." A spark of relief floods me. We'd still be together after graduation.

Halfheartedly, the other envelope is torn. A beat of silence... Then an elated whoop fills the air, shattering me.

"Oh wow. Congrats. I'm so proud of you." The effort of the smile carves knife wounds into my face.

*

Sean is 16 and lives in the USA.

Story 053

Life

by Minhong Kim

Birth.

Joy and sorrow.

Death.

That's life.

*

Minhong is 15 and lives in South Korea.

Story 054

If I Were My Hamster

by Rosemary Kim

Once, I wished I was my hamster.

 

My hamster lives better than I do.

It eats as much as it wants and sleeps all day,

It never worries about school, or friends, or its future.

 

After three years, I found its tiny body lifeless in its cage.

 

For its entire life, my hamster was alone.

It did not have the company of others of its kind who loved it.

There was no one beside it when it faced death.

 

I thought nothing could be more lonely than dying alone.

It was winter.

I watched the snow fall as I buried its little body.

*

Rosemary is 18 and lives in South Korea.

Story 055

Summer Logbook

by Ethan Lam

Day 1

Today is as normal as ever. Another Monday, the start of the week. The trees sway, as normal. The normal blank smell, as normal. The normal silence, as normal.

Day 2

Today the sky is cloudy. I smell the soap bowling out from the shower room. I hear the chattering of squirrels reverberate across the settlement. I feel the soft mat cushion beneath my feet.

Day 3

Today the sun is running around the Earth and is getting further away. I hear the scream of silence. I smell the scent of fatigue.

*

Ethan is 10 and lives in the UK.

Story 056

candy heart

by Stacey Na

your orange shirt in my

tangerine dreams

honey drizzle lips

and statuesque nose to the gods,

your eyes say so much

when they don’t look at me

 

shooting stars and black holes

in my thoughts

when you whisper in my ear

 

mango sorbet skin,

melt you with one kiss

 

my candy heart

beats at sweet simple tempo

 

i like the way you are alone,

confident

 

how you’re satisfied with your own presence

and that alone.

 

my infatuation with you ends

with you.

*

Stacey is 17 and lives in the USA.

Story 057

The Ship At Sea

by Alicia

An old, adventurous ship went out to sea,

Aboard it, were some sailors full of glee,

They hoped to catch lots of wonderful fish,

And serve them up for dinner in a nice, warm dish.

 

They threw the long, mesh net,

Peering over, to see what they’d get,

When the net came up they smiled with joy,

As they saw the greatness of their ploy.

 

The old, adventurous ship returned from sea,

The sailors, once again, filled with glee,

They had cooked the fish up and made a meal,

And as they ate it, they felt unreal.

*

Alicia is 12 and lives in the UK.

Story 058

A Big Mistake

by Finley Richardson

Dr D was in his lab when he had an accident. He transported himself back in time!

He was stranded in the middle of a jungle! BOOM. Dr D wondered what that was. BOOM, BOOM! He looked up and realised he was being chased by an eight-headed T. rex! He ran for his life! He climbed the tallest tree he could find but the T. rex snapped it in two like a pencil.

Dr D just managed to climb off the end of the tree but was closer than ever before. He sprinted but there was a cliff. Death or jump? JUUUUUUMP!!

*

Finley is 6 and lives in the UK.

Story 059

Abandoned

by India Chilvers

Between the macabre, neglected walls, a spectral light quivered raspingly towards a progressive corridor. The blight floor reeked of malevolent smells, displaying an odour of death.

Forcefully, the skeletal trees whispered through the bleak doorway that lead to the glacial world outside, where no one enters again once they step foot into the bloodcurdling pandemonium building.

*

India is 17 and lives in the UK.

Story 060

My Last Love Letter

by Holly Atkinson

A final goodbye.

My tears blotted the paper on which he had written to me.

Words that filled my heart.

“Do not cry, my dear, as I am with you wherever you go, always.”

He always had a way with words.

It was one of the many things I loved about him.

Our story comes to an end.

But I take solace in knowing,

That one day,

We will meet again.

*

Holly is 17 and lives in the UK.

Story 061

The Broken Glass

by Liv

Rain pattered against the open window as the half-drawn curtains were blown by the bitter breeze. Below the window, on the unmade, crumpled bedsheet, was a bottle of vodka and a photograph of two people once smiling, now bitter with remorse. Its frame was shattered beyond repair. The plethora of glass arrayed on the bedsheet reflected an attempt to salvage what was left. Traces of alcohol from the bottle intoxicated the room as it staggered precariously on the edge of the bed. The broken glass distorted an already distorted reflection. With the touch of his thumb, the malicious glass edge scraped his skin. The distorted reflection was swallowed by the crimson, red stream that trickled from the open wound.

*

Liv lives in the UK.

Story 062

The Goodbye

by G.Dhanvi Sri Reddy

Out jogging, I saw two elderly women hugging each other and weeping inconsolably.

The women had been good friends, living in adjacent apartments on the ground floor for years. One of them was now having to shift to the fifth floor, as the house owner wished to undertake major maintenance work. Since there were no lifts in the building, she would be carried upstairs, unable to come down – ever again. Her friend, just as frail, would not be able to visit her upstairs either.

Accepting the inevitability of their permanent separation, the poor dears said their final goodbyes.

*

G.Dhanvi is 11 and lives in India.

Story 063

The Melted Wedding Ring

by Sakhsham Raina

As my malevolent fountain pen hits the defenseless lined paper like a knife through butter, I recall my previous recollection to gaze upon with my weary eyes. My heart, being the most sacred organ of mine, can now pump only my blood which flows along my body like a flowing river. However, one more element by the name of love had caused my beating drum to be full to bursting. When my darling Delilah had entered the threshold to my already grand life, my quivering lips were rising like a risen light from the great night philosopher. I ask – why?

*

Sakhsham is 13 and lives in the UK.

Story 064

US: for ever

by Aadya

The world seemed hopeless.

There was a tempest in me.

My heart felt empty.

My chest felt tight.

My thoughts never stopped haunting me.

 

You came into my life.

You turned all my nightmares into daydreams.

You filled colours to the grayish world.

You transformed my fears into my strengths.

You filled my heart with love.

You made my dreams a reality.

You promised me forever.

 

And then, you left me!

But forever isn’t over.

I feel you, right beside me.

You are the love of my life.

Our death cannot part us,

We are a part of each other.

*

Aadya is 16 and lives in India.

Story 065

An Old Man Lived in the Village

by P. Jenya Royal

An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood.

The longer he lived, the more vile he was becoming and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him, because his misfortune became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him. He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.

But one day, when he turned eighty years old, an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumour: "An old man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up."

The whole village gathered. The old man was asked: "What happened to you?"

"Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. And then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now."

Moral of the story: Don’t chase happiness. Enjoy your life.

*

P. Jenya is 11 and lives in India.

Story 066

Another Life

by Gia George

He watched the world go by, curled up to shield himself. He tried to supress thoughts about his past life, the person he used to be. Still, the faces and sounds surprised him like a punch in the gut. Uninvited ghosts. Small things. His mother's pies, his father's hatred of coffee. His sister's laugh, the rattle of her sewing machine. Memories would swirl madly in his head; he sometimes forgot where he was. Noise would startle him into the present, into remembering. Then hopelessness would stare him down, and he'd feel nothing but numbness.

If they could see me now.

*

Gia is 13 and lives in the UK.

Story 067

Given

by Harry Clarke

School is hard for everyone, but if you have super powers...

Meet Jim. He has just arrived. He only discovered he had powers one week ago when he turned the cat into a ball. Rumour has it the cat is still flying to this day. He was given powers by an elite group of  wizards. He arrived by boat yesterday. He woke up to find a feast laid out on the table.

"You have been given special powers. Use them for good."

Jim munched hungrily. Then he received a post card. It read: 'Good luck, Jim.' And he knew he had a mission.

*

Harry lives in the UK.

Story 068

The Shirt That Lost the Shorts

by Jamie Kitchingham

Once upon a time there was a shirt and some shorts who were best friends, until one day they got lost. The shorts had disappeared so the shirt asked everyone if they'd seen them.

"Hello, Vest," said Shirt. "Have you seen Shorts?"

"No," said Vest. "Sorry!"

Shirt was so sad. He asked Socks, "Have you seen Shorts?" And then he sneezed. "Achoooooooo."

"Sorry, that's my smell," said Socks. "Oh, by the way, I haven't seen Shorts."

Shirt began to cry. But all of a sudden Shorts appeared.

"Oh, hello Shorts," said Shirt. "Where were you?"

"Someone was wearing me."

So they lived happily ever after.

*

Jamie is 7 and lives in the UK.

Story 069

Fate or Destiny

by Amizero Iriza Peace Mary

We feel that our lives may hit our fate

We feel that we cannot turn our fate

We think that our door is opened by fate

We deduce this mindset in illusion of the fate

Thenceforth we lived is it destiny or fate?

 

We create but the cosmos creates fate

We think we have fate but we don’t owe it

We create a destiny then leave the door open

The cosmos makes our fate when we close

Our fate or destiny will create illusion

 

We rather pretend fate as a shadow

And our destiny is our trail in cosmos

Since we feel that we believe not trust

Somewhat our fate is our trail to believe

Our future destiny is what we need to trust

*

Amizero is 16 and lives in Africa.

Story 070

A Part of Me Died That Day

by Sam Trudy Goodwin

Red painted on my knees,

One last cigarette I say,

His voice echoed in the trees,

Fingers crossed and I pray.

 

You have seen my cry,

You have seen me weep,

I constantly try,

But through the cracks they seep.

 

The voices they scream and scream,

Run, jump, shout, do anything,

Cracking at the very seam ,

No joy, no happiness, just nothing.

 

Rest In Peace they say; a part of me died that day.

*

Sam is 17 and lives in Spain.

Story 071

Neighbours' Love

by I R Kowshika

There was a big banyan tree in a village. In that tree lived different types of birds.

One day, two sparrows went to the forest searching for food. Suddenly, one sparrow's leg was wounded. It wasn't able to fly. So, the two sparrows stayed in the forest. Night came. The sparrows were scared because some animals were roaming there.

Suddenly they heard some noise. They slowly turned and were shocked to see their neighbours who had searched for them and found them.

The neighbours helped the wounded sparrow. Then they happily went back to their house.

*

I R is 15 and lives in India.

Story 072

Fire Fox

by Chloe Jane Griffiths

"Anyone who sees Moon Wolf, real name Xena, report to Sycia immediately," a gruff voice commanded through the speakers dotted around every corner of the Arena.

Xena needed to get out. This wasn’t what she thought it was, no, not at all. This place was a haven full of thieves. Some of them were killers, some just mere thieves. But they were all evil.

Sycia was the death grounds. The ground wasn’t red from paint like they told everyone, no, it was from blood.

Xena scampered across the arena, but when she reached the corner, she stopped dead.

*

Chloe is 10 and lives in the UK.

Story 073

Good vs Evil

by Caitlin

Usually, when we are young, we are taught the difference between right and wrong. The difference between kindness and selfishness. The difference between being good and being evil.

But what if being evil is the new good?

Being reckless but carefree, selfish but confident, feared but powerful. We hear in stories about how villains are evil, but in reality all they are doing is putting themself first. They are caring about the person who matters most to them. Theirself.

*

Caitlin is 16 and lives in Ireland.

Story 074

Struggle

by Amarah Nawaz

The struggle to survive,

To make it back home.

When each one wonders why,

Drinking from their metal cups,

How life has come to this.

 

The struggle to guard their country,

To protect her from harms meet.

To wake up every day,

Not knowing if it’s your last.

To hear the sobs of soldiers,

Giving you heart- sick fear.

 

The struggle to live in pressure,

That you must succeed,

You don’t have a choice.

To know that this is life,

Escape is very rare.

 

THIS IS WAR!

*

Amarah is 11 and lives in the UK.

Story 075

'Tis The Night Before Christmas

by L.F Ollard

Candy canes twist and cluster in lots,

Fir trees are rooted in colourful pots,

Father Frost glides through the sky with his make-believe troupe,

Families sing in a caroling group,

Whiskey warms the stomach of every frozen father,

But cocoa warms their heart – which one would you rather?

 

'Tis the night before Christmas and within the hour,

The sleigh bells will ring with their mystical power,

The silence is deafening; you can hear a pin drop,

But now St Nick is coming, it's too late to stop,

Nicholas sweeps through the houses, jolly and merry,

His eyes like raisins, his cheeks like cherries.

 

'Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

Nobody is stirring, not even a mouse.

*

L.F is 9 and lives in the UK.

Story 076

Kidnapped

by Zoya Vindhani

As the wind howled like a pack of wolves, Alex stood on the balcony staring at the moon which was as pale as a ghost. She shone her torch at the vast sea, watching the waves crash up along the abandoned island that she lived on. Her lips became blue but she knew she had to stay out – it wasn't safe inside. Alex's sight became blurry as she began to feel drowsy. She knew these were signs of hypothermia.

"Come inside now!" yelled a loud voice coming from inside the dilapidated structure.

She couldn't go in – not now, not ever!

*

Zoya is 12 and lives in the UK.

Story 077

The Coffin

by Zunairah Fatima

I wiped the dirt off my hands and returned the shovel back to the shed. Then I hurried back to the grave to make sure nothing was disarranged. The mourners would be here soon, and it would be unpleasant to see the coffin of a noble fixed by a peasant.

It's strange, that the coffin was one day late. Supposed to be a prioritised one, but then again the eccentric mortician had a pet tiger.

I was about to leave the graveyard, but then heard a thud behind me. I turned and saw the coffin out of the earth, wide open.

*

Zunairah is 12 and lives in Sweden.

Story 078

Anxious Perspective

by Patrick Turner

Time is constant yet circumstantial

Seconds for minutes,

Hours for years...

An inescapable battle

 

What are my fears?

Misleading eyes, pondering thoughts,

The steady rhythm of my trembling foot.

Years pass -- the clock remains stationary.

How much longer? When will this end?

Don't look away,

Try and remember -- think, think, think.

 

That familiar feeling,

Dreaded and feared among all your awareness.

Why now -- here?

Think this, not that

Tread, stay afloat

You're in control, try, try, try...

 

A rolling tide, crest, or trough?

The wave is here, don't drown.

You'd be anywhere else,

But you can't escape the physical.

 

Anxious.

*

Patrick is 18 and lives in the USA.

Story 079

In This Silent World of Ours

by Asher Winchester

Street lamps flicker, casting long, dim shadows across the empty streets.

Lovers walk hand-in-hand, cherishing their own silent world.

Slowly, snowflakes fall and pirouette in the frosty air.

As the snow descends, the world becomes quieter than before, peaceful.

Amidst this pure white and golden scene, the couple smile like there isn't a care in the world.

Perhaps in their eyes there isn't, because within each other's company, they are untouched and everything else is forgotten, just like the cobblestones under a blanket of snow.

 

A Christmas tree stands tall at the end of the street, its green arms catching the fallen snow.

Lights twinkle between its feathered branches.

Beneath its watchful eye, the lovers gaze in awe and wonder at this stunning scene.

And off in the distance, a song begins to play.

Perhaps it is a figment of their imagination, however if one were to pass by, they would also be captured in time by this beautiful melody of love.

Their footsteps patter across the square, arms and hearts entwined as they dance silently along.

A dance of two snowflakes caught up in a breeze.

Maybe our streets are normally crowded, but with moments like these, ones close to our heart.

Ones that are lonely but peaceful, maybe just maybe we will see the beauty of being alone with the ones we love.

Maybe, just maybe in this silent world of ours...

*

Ash is 14 and lives in the UK.

Story 080

Medication

by Baran Rastegar

Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. Hannah, in the closet, was desperately trying to hold her breath for dear life. If the frightening murderer could hear her internal screams, she would exist no longer.

As Hannah was busy wondering and pondering, she heard a creak from the aged wooden floor. Sweat was rolling from her pale forehead to her blue T-shirt. Suddenly, the most evil and vile creature opened the closet door with an extremely deadly weapon.

"Hannah! How many times have I told you? It's mandatory for you to take your medication!"

*

Baran is 14 and lives in Iran.

Story 081

A Depressed Teen

by Tharani Mathivanan

She, in a crisis of her existential,

forgets to unlock her inner potential.

Constantly questioning her moves,

fails to remember that she rules.

 

As she slips down the underwater,

there fades her amusing laughter.

Drowning in her own mess,

she felt suffocated by the stress.

 

Will she meet her old self?

Not on behalf of her fictional self,

but, as her true self,

the one that isn't under any spell.

 

Her mind is trying to run away,

instead of finding a healthy pathway.

Being the bearer of her family,

she is forced to act unemotionally.

*

Tharani is 17 and lives in Malaysia.

Story 082

Resting in Peace

by Toshi

I was in a quiet slumber in my room after a hectic day. The window was open, letting in the fresh, cool night air. I stirred in my sleep a little, then came a voice.

"Sush, little angel. Go back to sleep."

It was a man’s voice. It was neither my dad nor my brother. With a jolt of adrenaline, I turned to face him.

"I told you to go back to sleep. Now you’ve seen my face," he said with a cruel and malicious smile plastered on his face.

My blood ran cold and everything went black.

*

Toshi is 13 and lives in India.

Story 083

The Weakness Inside You

by Courtney Madley

It's like you're drowning alone… you want to be saved but no words can leave your mouth. You want to reach the air yet you let yourself sink. You want to be heard but you're silent. You want to be seen but you're invisible. You want to survive, however you give yourself every reason not to. You want to breathe but you're holding your breath. You're living but not alive anymore.

Depression is like a disease. It narrows down your days left, except you choose when it kills you. You watch it kill you and you accept it.

*

Courtney is 16 and lives in the UK.

Story 084

The Dream

by Lucy McIntosh

I was standing in the woods at midnight. The full moon was out shining brightly over my blonde hair. I limped over to a fallen tree and collapsed.

Why, I thought, why did I come out to see what the noise was?

Nothing mattered anymore, not even the strange howling noise I’d heard earlier. I was struggling to walk over to the little pond, but then I fell!

The next second, I was lying in my soft silky bed, wide eyed, realising it had been a dream…

*

Lucy is 9 and lives in Scotland.

Story 085

The Boy and the Ocean

by Abdalrahman Husam Al-Sayyed

Once upon a time, a family was living near the ocean. They had a boy who loved the marine.

"I am bored, could I go swimming?" the boy asked.

"No, the ocean is full of sharks," his parents answered.

The boy disobeyed his parents. He went there in the early morning when his parents were sleeping. He swam far from the land.

Suddenly, he saw a shark!

"I’ll eat you!" the shark said.

"Help!" the boy screamed.

He was lucky that a hunter helped him and killed the shark. He apologised to his parents and he asked them to forgive him.

The Moral lesson: listen to your parents to stay safe.

*

Abdalrahman is 10 and lives in Saudi Arabia.

Story 086

Soon the Earth Will Burn

by Sophia Sharp

Plastic is killing our Earth.

Trees are being cut down.

Fossil fuels all around us.

Don’t you want cleaner air?

This is our last chance.

I love this Earth.

We are the last generation to make a change.

Help us!

*

Sophia is 17 and lives in the UK.

Story 087

Midnight

by Megan Hawkins

Somewhere, mid January, when Winter's dead, old grasp seems eternal, where the golden naïvity of daylight cannot reach, where the shadows crawl, your thoughts are laced with the saliva of fear. Everything’s tinted a deep, cold grey. A lake; delicate, frothy lines of moonlight posing for your hungry eyes, trees sulking in the welcome shadows. You wonder how you’d’ve seen it in the daytime. How the lake would’ve had the uncanny beauty you’ve noticed before, how your thoughts would’ve lifted and started to leave the constraints of your body and flit up into the sky. 

But the sky is darkness.

*

Megan is 12 and lives in the UK.

Story 088

The Bored Duckbilled Platypus

by Darcey Allington

Ted was a platypus who lived in Australia. He was bored.

He zoomed on his bicycle and saw his friend Cat the Monkey.

Ted asked Cat if she wanted a sleepover. Cat asked her mum and she said yes!

Cat and Ted happened upon a friendly lizard called Jay. They asked Jay if he wanted to come to the sleepover too!

Jay said yes immediately!

They all went to Ted’s house. Cat brought a toy banana and a yellow sleeping bag. Jay brought a toy fly and a fly shaped cushion.

Pip said, “Why have you got your friends over?”

“Because we’re having a sleepover,” Ted replied.

Pip felt a bit lonely, but Ted asked if she wanted to join in!

“Yes please!” cried Pip.

They unpacked and Pip came back with a toy mouse and a soft pink blanket.

They played until it was time to go to bed. They got comfy and fell asleep!

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

*

Darcey is 7 and lives in England.

Story 089

My Best Friend

by Hasti Zabehi

I went to my locker to grab my books for the upcoming class. I heard him coming my way. I examined his pathetic distressed jeans and laughed.

"You still wear those?" I asked.

"Sure I do. You should go and take a look at your own jeans." He laughed.

"Mine are fine." I giggled.

"Anyways, do you think these are good enough to impress Gaby?"

"Gaby? Yeah, they're great..." I said.

"Great. See you after class."

I rolled my eyes, wiped away my tears and left for class, completely broken.

*

Hasti is 13 and lives in Iran.

Story 090

The Journey To Vacit Space

by Thomas

Rooster Markins, Jemini Hotuy and Xapi Vernando were sitting in the middle of the lunch hall until they and their water bottles started to disappear.

They were the last people on Earth because the other humans had to go to Vacit Space, which was where they were about to go. Vacit Space was a place where people could relax and stop working for a bit, but it was in the above.

Rooster Markins, however, was not going to make it. He looked at his compass one last time and said goodbye to the other two. Rooster Markins was not disappearing.

*

Thomas is 13 and lives in England.

Story 091

Toasts

by Niki Jahanbiglari

"Is it working?" I asked my roommate in a low and nervous voice.

She looked at me like it was all my fault.

"What do YOU think?" she said in a way like it was the last minutes of my existence.

"I didn't think it would end up like this!" I said in a low and squeaky voice. 

It made a sound. We both looked at it.

I couldn't help but smile. After all, she couldn't blame me for anything anymore.

The toasts popped out.

They were ready

Well...

Maybe a bit burnt, but at least they saved my life.

*

Niki is 14 and lives in Iran.

Story 092

Over the Cliff

by Finlay Hamwood

My friend, dangling over the cliff. Nothing but the rope that was strapped to me kept him from his death. We'd been hours like this. Hours with no response but the icy laughing at us. At me.

I was being dragged ever closer to the edge. Any longer and I would plummet myself. I had to let go. But if I let him go he would die and so would I on the inside, and how could I live with that? But he must be dead. Right? But then the rope (and his life) slipped away from my grasp.

*

Finlay is 12 and lives in the UK.

Story 093

Empty

by Kassi Clark-Brown

I opened my eyes and had no idea where I was… The place around me felt dark and empty, like a meaningless void of darkness. I could still feel my body, but all I could feel was the empty bitter and glacial cold. Luckily, even in this dark void, I could see my hands and my body. In this colourless void, I was very visible.

I began to walk for minutes, hours? I couldn’t keep track. I eventually came across four pillars attached to the void, reaching 1,982 feet in height.

I looked inside the middle of pillars and saw…

*

Kassi is 19 and lives in the UK.

Story 094

The Unknown God

by Joshua Szita

Two world travelling twins had, for unknown reasons, fallen into a vast strange world. As they attempted to leave this world, their path was blocked. It appeared to be blocked by an unusual being believed to be an ancient god. It started to attack the two siblings to stop their path. The two siblings raised their swords and charged the ancient god.

It was an even match until one of the twins was caught! The other rushed forth to aid their sibling but had not made it in time.

He screamed her name, "Lumine!" before he blacked out.

*

Joshua is 17 and lives in the UK.

Story 095

Trees Don't Smile

by Jasmine Calpn-Neway

It was as my old sulky car slowly moved out of the city that I took a deep breath. Was it relief or the anticipation? I couldn’t tell, but either way, knowing what I had done was buried behind me was calming.

The long winding road possessed a silk-like quality, one that I didn’t realise could also be a slippery slope. A look to the forest on my left sent pure shivers down my spine. I couldn't leave this behind me… Not when, smiling from out of the trees, appeared the decapitated head of the only person I ever loved…

*

Jasmine is 19 and lives in the UK.

Story 096

In Memory Of Grumpy

by Daisy Blacklock

Yes, I’m feeling low,

but I’m proud

to call you my hero.

I sit up on a cloud,

and let these words flow.

 

Your smile –

the faces you pull.

Meanwhile,

I sit in the blissful

moments with you and while

 

You may no longer

be with me everyday,

you have made me stronger.

My emotions still play,

but I promise this poem will make you live longer.

 

I love you,

Yes, it’s true.

I love you,

through and through.

I love you.

*

Daisy is 13 and lives in the UK.

Story 097

In The Fields

by Jake Fisher

*

Jake is 1o and lives in Wales.

Story 098

Interruption

by Joshua

They were perfect, everybody said so. Holding hands, eating together, the long chats after school. They had time for each other and understood each other, never too much or too little. They made it look easy, they made class a lot more interesting. Even the teachers were happy for them. They were a match made in heaven.

Until he came along.

*

Joshua is 14 and lives in Kenya.

Story 099

The Real Cinderella

by Sara Saiprasad

Have you ever wondered about the real story of Cinderella?

She was fiesty, bold and streetsmart. She lived in Uganda. And no, her father didn't die. He sold her as a slave to a wealthy family in England.

She did not want a husband, she wanted a wife. She had to hide it. When her father found out, he beat her up.

She didn't want to dress up for anyone. Her soulmate should love her for the real Cinderella in her.

Who did she end up with? You would be surprised. She didn't need a prince. She had her independence, her wilderness and a life full of purpose.

*

Sara is 10 and lives in Singapore.

Story 100

The Legendary Escape

by Oliver Caprari

Once upon a time, there were four brave ninjas. They were called Jay, Kai, Zane and Cole.

Jay had the power of lightning. Kai had the power of fire. Zane had the power of strength. Cole had the power of earth. And Wu was their master.

Suddenly, Wu came running!

"Lord Garmadon is back," said Wu.

So the ninjas came!

"What a surprise, those pesky ninjas are always in my way," said Garmadon.

One by one, they used their powers. They did it all night and eventually Lord Garmadon was destroyed once and for all!

*

Oliver is 6 and lives in the UK.

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