- Echoes of the Past
The salt in the wind tasted different here, Ailsa thought as she stepped out of the car. It wasn’t clean or sharp anymore; it was muddy, clogged with the damp chill of the sea mingling with the soil of the cliffs. The air was biting, stinging against her cheeks and ears, but she didn’t retreat….
- The Lighthouse Keeper’s Secret
The storm had been relentless, a howling beast that clawed at the windows of the lighthouse and rattled its ancient bones. Silas sat in his usual spot by the fire, the flames casting flickering shadows over his weathered face. The lighthouse groaned with each gust of wind, but Silas barely flinched. He’d lived through countless…
- The Threads Between Us
The store was quiet in the early hours, a rare moment of peace before the bustle of the day began. Akari Takeda adjusted the display of scarves in the accessories department of Hino’s largest department store, Yamamoto & Co. It was a place she had worked for five years, a microcosm of the city with…
- Robert’s Reflection
Robert Hartley stood before the bathroom mirror, his hands gripping the edges of the porcelain sink so tightly his knuckles had turned white. The fluorescent light above cast harsh shadows across his face, accentuating the deep lines of worry etched into his forehead. He stared at his reflection, barely recognizing the man looking back at…
- The Last Days of The Spoon House
The sign above the door of The Spoon House swayed gently in the cold January wind, its faded letters barely visible against the gray sky. Inside, the air was heavy with the lingering scent of garlic and spices, though no meals had been served for days. The restaurant was empty now, save for its owner,…