True STories
Walk in someone else's shoes with personal narratives and true stories as told by our community.
YOU PUT THE SUNSHINE BACK IN MY LIFE
I’d been down to the very bottom. I’d seen life from the lower end. The lord only knows how many bad roads there had been.
Thanks for Ruining One of My Childhood Experiences, Motherf*cker
Now peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the bane of my existence. Photo by Freddy G on Unsplash There are childhood memories that should remain
August 25: Today In History:THE NEW YORK SUN PUBLISHED PART ONE OF “THE GREAT MOON HOAX!”
On August 25, 1835, The New York Sun newspaper published the first article proclaiming the discovery of life on the moon. The six-part series, known
WALK A MILE
We never know what the world will hold. We never know how things will go. We don’t know what is coming around the bend. You
SONGS ARE IMPORTANT
The world needs great songs that present messages for people to hear. People are searching for so many things in life. A songwriter can always
When The Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 2 – Evil Lives Here
Image by Alex Yomay from Pixabay Two Years Prior… The Sonoma Valley was known for many things – exquisite wines, trendy wine bars and hordes
No Comment
I just read your powerful words Once again, it made your writer’s voice heard So many great sentences, that it’s hard to highlight Your ability
Time Stands Still in Pompeii
I walked the path of gladiators, sailors, and shopkeepers from 79 C.E. Image of the author, Crystal A. Walker in Pompeii, Italy Entering the gates
A Hairy Morning
Sometimes a morning doesn’t begin the way we intend it to. This was one of those hairy starts! The photo is of the actual culprit,
UNDERSTANDING THINGS IN LIFE
People don’t understand things the same way. People have different educational backgrounds, and they come from different environments. They have lived different lives. Also, they
A Lemonade Soaked Hollyhock
Hollyhocks formed — pretty little dolls.Lemonade, brimming with sugarSilence stares at you and me.Perplexing connectionof familial ties —reinforced truth:separatenessdefines us. My mother’s parents were strangers
I Feared for My Safety When He Slammed the Door Grille
- 5
If you’ve been following my work, you’d know that I rarely talk about personal experiences. However, something so bizarre happened yesterday that I just have
A Perfectly Imperfect Day in the Land of Ice and Fire
The best day of my life was celebrating a cold and dreary birthday in Iceland. Photo by S Migaj from Pexels Most stories reminisce about
If You Close Your Vocal Media Account With A Balance Less Than $20, They Keep Your Earnings: They’re thieves
I want to close my Vocal account. The problem is Vocal’s arrangement with “Stripe” only allows the writer to withdraw their earnings once they’ve earned
My Mother Broke Her Hip And Had Surgery Today: I wasn’t allowed to be there, but my sister was…
Being estranged from my family means I’m never told anything. But this time, it was serious. My mother fell and fractured her hip Tuesday night.
When The Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 5 – Concussion Interruption
Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay Another weekend has come and gone and it is all she can do to get herself up for work
The Lost Poem
Oh no! What have I done? My happiness has been stung By a major error There’s nothing in my mind except terror It ruined a
Shut Up And Stop Talking: People don’t want to hear about your mental illnesses and problems
Do you know how often people tell me no one cares about my struggle with mental illness and to stop talking about it? Let’s put
The June Birthday Girls: Correcting their selective memories as to why our friendships ended provided closure
For many years, June was a celebratory month. By the time I finished high school, five of my friends had birthdays during the first two
The Tornado That Never Came
I was in 2nd grade at (what felt like a big school) Lincoln Primary School. It was a beautiful sunny day in Leland, North Carolina.
I WON’T HAVE TO HURRY
One of these days if I make it to heaven, when my life on this earth is over, I’m gonna sit down and visit with
The Diver
I sliced my foot open on a broken bottle of Coors Light. It had fallen into the sand, half-buried, littered amongst the rest of the
WHEN YOU WALK BY
When you walk by, you’ve got the look of love in your eyes. I’ve got a clear blue sky. I love you girl. You’re my
NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF YOU
The heavens, they glow. The rivers, they flow. The sun shines through the trees. The birds sing in the still of the night. But nothing
LIVING IN THE FAST LANE
We’re all living in the fast lane today. We run day in and day out to get ahead in life. You know we can’t seem
THE OLD HOME PLACE
As I travel down Nebo Road, I go back to where the old home place used to be. It was located at the end of
Snow Day!
The guests arrived after 10 pm. 10:19, to be exact. I must have dozed off while waiting for their arrival, but the doorbell in this
August 14: Today In HistoryVICTORY DAY! JAPAN SURRENDERS!
On August 14, 1945, Japan’s official surrender to the Allies was announced and made public. Although Japan had already submitted a declaration of surrender to
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS
When you go out and play, try a little kindness along the way. When you’re feeling blue, remember a little kindness will always pull you
Escaping From Her Pain:My journey in and out of mental and emotional abuse
I could have walked away at any time. My friends encouraged, cajoled, threatened, and begged me to do so. One woman friend offered me sex
My Liver Told Me to “F*ck Off” and I Deserved It
I take full responsibility for what I did to my body that night. Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash A few weeks ago, I let
Facing Lightning
Holding the stop/slow sign with little power on an unknown road, 20-year old Jim felt tired but relieved his construction shift was almost over. It
It Was Easier to Forget My Lost Child Than to Accept I’d Never Know the Joy of Creating a Life: A repressed memory resurfaces
Not long ago, I read a story written by a writer I admire and follow, Arpad Nagy. It was a touching and bittersweet piece about the
The Povitica Polka
Discovering this savory bread while learning about my heritage Photo by Klaus Nielsen from Pexels I have always been intrigued to learn about my family’s
Lost In The City
I was distracted by the fiddle player for just a moment. The subway in Paris has groups of musicians in hallways and platforms. Hats on
Did I Play in the First Roleplaying Game EVER?
Despite the fact that I have attended GenCon for more years than you have probably been alive and that I was the world’s top-ranked player of
The Last Christmas Card
An ode to my Dad who left a surprise in my mailbox after his funeral Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash I remember when I
EDUCATE YOURSELF
You don’t have to go to a fancy college to get a good education. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go to college if you
August 20: Today In HistoryFIRST AFRICAN SLAVES ARRIVE IN JAMESTOWN
On August 20, 1619, the Portuguese arrived in the British colony of Virginia with 20 enslaved Angolans and others who they sold to the English
A Change In Demeanor
Walking in the UPS Store, I’m excited All three retail cashiers look delighted Helping their customers get what they need I couldn’t wait till it
EVER NOW AND THEN
We planned a pretty future. It was only yesterday. Two young hearts were parted and went a separate way. We lost a pretty future, don’t
TIME ROLLS ON
- 1.5
Each person has their day in the sun, so to speak. But time keeps rolling on. You can’t stop time, no matter what you do.
August 17: Today In History:LAST OF HITLER’S INNER CIRCLE, RUDOLF HESS, COMMITS SUICIDE!
On August 17, 1987, Rudolf Hess, 93, the sole prisoner at Spandau Prison in Berlin since 1966, committed suicide by strangling himself with electrical wires.
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE?
I picked a lovely flower for you today. I placed a red rose on your grave. I thought of memories of a life spent together.
Lament for a Troubled Land
Too many lands are troubled these days. Some are distant, some closer to home and some forever in the heart. I don’t know if I
My First Time Trying Pozole
The pristine light of the summer sun smacked me across the face. The massive jackhammer in my head told me we had danced in the
I’m The Doormat Everyone Uses To Wipe The Shit Off Their Shoes: But I’m afraid of confrontation, so I let people walk all over me
I’ve been a doormat for 45 years. I let people walk all over me and hurt me. I’m terrified by and hate confrontation; it makes
Finally Got It Down or Jerry Stahl and his story Kicking the Horse
Oh, hello there, blank page! It is being typed with Times New Roman font.Why not: Themes Old Catholic, Days Old Gregorian, Best Somehow Baltic, Zuzhelitsa
The Worn Spot on the Floor
The smell of summer morning was replaced by the sweet aroma of bacon frying when I opened my grandma’s door. She always made sure there
YOU
You, only you, can make my world go around. You are my dream come true. Darling, you are the one that always keeps me from
Little Children Of Uvalde
Little ones No one expected your short lives to end by the gun You were daughters and sons Trying to play and learn Only for
The Contact Lens Battle
Contacts will be the coolest thing to have, or so I thought. The actual experience was something I never expected or was taught. I’m in
The Somnolent Critic Reviews “God’s Bankers: A History of Money and Power at the Vatican,” by Gerald Posner
Year of publication: 2015Print length: 513 pagesPublished by: Simon & Schuster “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”-Matthew, 6:21 The Roman
GONE WITH THE WIND
We all start our lives with so much time. We spend it daily, until we get to the end of the line. Some of us
The Birthday Blues: My birthday is never any different than any other day of the year, so why attempt to celebrate?
Yesterday was my birthday. The day was no different than the day before or the day before that; the day was no different than any
ARE YOUR DREAMS REAL?
Every man or woman has dream within themselves, to reach a goal in life, while there is still time left. They want to find an
If You See a Toilet in Your Dream, Don’t Sit on That Motherf*cker
I’m convinced my body owes me a huge apology. Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash Hey there, body, I’d appreciate it if you stopped playing
When the Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 6 – Something is Wrong with Louie
Image by Stephen Keller from Pixabay “I can’t put my finger on it, but something is bothering Louie.” Willow and Steve take in the last
Love Remains
So many of us know the pain of losing a loved one. I write in empathy with you. Whilst everyone’s hurt is different, that we
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
If a rocket goes up into the sky, it will come back down. If birds fly up into the sky, they will come back down.
INFORMATION SOCIETY
We all live in the information society. We are presented with so much information every day that we try to consume. All of us have
One Of My Biggest Fears Could Be Coming True: Thankfully I had the opportunity to tell my mother I loved her before her surgery
Last week my mother fell and broke her hip. My sister had time to drive five hours from Toronto and was the one who spoke
REDBIRD AT MY WINDOW
There is a redbird at my window, looking in at me. Saying son, you’re not the child. You’re not the child you used to be.
YOU CAN’T GO BACK IN TIME
People say you can’t go back in time. So, you need to try to get your ducks in a line. You need to tell people
August 23: Today In HistoryPETE ROSE GETS BANNED FROM BASEBALL!
On August 23, 1989, Pete Rose, the Cincinnati Reds manager, received a settlement including a lifetime ban from baseball as a consequence of betting on
The First Time I Flew Alone Was To Visit My Grandparents in Florida During Christmas Break When I Was Twelve, And It Sucked: The flight there was the only part of the trip I enjoyed
My grandparents rented an apartment in Miami Beach every winter, as did many of my peers’ grandparents. Whenever possible, my mother, sister, and I would
I Will Never Be Ashamed To Admit I’m Mentally Ill: So don’t ever dare have the audacity to tell me to stop talking about my mental illnesses because you’re ashamed
The words “mentally ill” strike fear in the hearts of ignorant people who know only of the stereotypical mentally ill people portrayed by the media.
THINKING ABOUT YOU
When you first left me, I thought we were really through. But darling, I didn’t know I’d cry a river over you. There is not
My Podcast Journey: From Story To Spotify
Two years ago, nearly to the day, I began a story about a man walking his dog. Some of you had read it; The Trees
Under the same moon
It was July – Stranded stood at the beach, drinking a cocktail and checking her phone when she was not in the water. A message
Story Choices
This entire story already exists, but you are only experiencing it one word at a time as you move forward through it. You could, if
Speaking Truth to Power
I’ve written a lot of reviews and critiques. Books. Movies. Employee evaluations. Employer evaluations. Submissions to a writers’ group I was in. Long ago I
YOU NEED TO LOVE EVERYBODY
There are a lot of things going on in this old world, that I don’t understand. Like look how we treat our brothers and sisters,
EDUCATION FOR LIFE
Education is a lifelong process. You can learn something every day, if you try. You can learn something from people, books, magazines, internet, movies and
Hardwired.
I am hardwired to self destruct I am hardwired to self believe I am hardwired to self sabotage I am hardwired to self help We
I remember you in my heart
- 4.5
It was Spring when we first met. Our first meeting was not something special in terms of atmosphere. It was online in a game. We
The Land of Clouds
It is a time of endless possibilities, A time of new beginnings and a new hope. Youthful exuberance lies abundance, You and I, together with
I Can Hear You Call Me ‘Momma’
An ode to my unborn child Photo by João Paulo de Souza Oliveira from Pexels For the longest time,I dreamt of your red hair and
WALKER IKARD
Hello, I’m Walker Ikard. I wanted to introduce myself to the writing community. I’m the son of world famous, Osie Whitaker Ikard. Osie, along with
I Was Almost T-Boned by a Fighter Jet – My Wildest Travel Story
All I wanted to do was bring my husband some damn spaghetti. Photo by PiPhoto by Pixabay from Pexelsxabay from Pexels Early in my marriage,
August 24: Today In HistoryPLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET!
On August 24, 2006, Pluto was downgraded to one of the dozens of known dwarf planets from having been the ninth planet from the sun
The Real Story About The The Southern Border Crossing In The USA
This article tells the real story of the open borders we have now. The information I am about to tell you is all true and
PEOPLE WON’T STEAL THIS FROM YOU
Some people may try to steal your money. Some people may try to steal your car. Also, some people might try to steal your land,
Steam Dreams
This poem relates to a time when my children were young. Whenever they were unwell they would like to lie on the sofa covered in
When the page can not be turned.
When you go to the doctors there is often a wait, there are magazines around to try to keep you entertained, often over a year
ROADS OF LIFE
As I head down the roads of life, I can’t help but wonder if I will get it wrong or right. I know if I
A Love Song for the Hard of Hearing
- 4
Some frogs seem to be louder than others. This poem was inspired by some particularly deafening ones which dominate a memory decades later. *** In
Under the Rubber Tree
- 5
Each day I visit the village square, and each day the older men gather to pass time. Friends since school days, one by one they
THE GOOD ROAD OR THE BAD ROAD
Each person has two roads in life to choose from, the good or the bad. It is left up to each person which road to
NATURE
You go out in nature to spend your day. You want the sun to shine your way. You look at the beautiful trees and birds
Breeding… The Vicar’s Way
A humorous story, passing down the generations in my family. The moonlight blue saloon drew up in the drive at 4pm one sunny Saturday by
The Icelandic “Delicacy”: Hákarl
It is — by far — the worst thing I have ever tasted in my life. This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the
FRIENDS
Friends will always help you when you’re down. They’ll bring you back around. You can always call on a true friend when you need help
YOU’RE JUST GOING AROUND ONE TIME
- 3.5
Today, I met this old man of yesterday. His shoulders were bent, and his hair was gray. He said son, don’t lag behind. You’re just
An Open Letter to the Bird Outside My Window
I hope you chirp in hell. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels Dear Tiny Feathery Alarm Clock, At 5:03am on a Saturday morning, the last thing
August 21: Today In HistoryHAWAII BECOMES THE 50TH STATE!
On August 21, 1959, a ruling accepting Hawaii as the 50th state of the Union was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Polynesians who arrived
THE SILK UPON HER GRAVE
Now he unfolds silk upon her cold, cold grave. He is giving her the dresses that her young heart once craved. While she was living
Bougainvillea Snow
- 5
A Prose Poem about a Teenage Crush My heart soars like a kite on a windy day, As a silent hello escapes from your mouth.
PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS
People, around the world, come from different environments. They have different cultures, languages, life experiences, education and thoughts about things in life. So, people will
The First Day Of School Jitters
Yesterday, I got two video messages from a sweet little soul that I see as my niece. Her grandma and I met on a Christian