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verbomaniac (poetry + short stories)

Poetry

verbomaniac noun | someone afflicted with verbomania, a mania for words ; an excessive use of or obsession with words | • this book is a collection of my poetry, short stories and more! i love words and i hope this serves as not only enjoyment for...

#miniawards2018 #poem #poems #shortstories #shortstory #wattys2018 #writing

blind...date -> short story

7 3 0

by -lilac_sky

by -lilac_sky

[ B L I N D . . . D A T E ]
a short story about the preparation before something terrifying (it does not include mutants or zombies)

Don't panic.

No! Stop panicking. I just said don't panic! Why are you panicking? It's just a date. With a person you don't know. Shh, calm down! Catherine set it up. Has Catherine ever even let you down?

Yeah, like a thousand times, but whatever! She said the date's cute. They run track. Yeah. Get the pronouns right. Otherwise, I'm dead.

They're omnisexual. Cool. Yeah. So cool. Inhale. Exhale. Oh shit. Why isn't breathing working?

Stop. They could be here any minute. Oh no. What if my shirt's inside out? Fuck. Okay. It's fine. Breathe. Can someone tell me how breathing works?

Shit. What's taking them so long? What if they don't show up? No! Don't panic. Well, that didn't work. Just, do something with your hands. Yeah, I'll do something with my hands. Oh no. Don't think like that! Something else. Yeah, that! Just doodle on the napkin.

What's taking them so long?

Breathe.

Another failed attempt at breathing, of course—

Fuck. They're stunning.

Okay. Let's get this blind date started.

No, wait, put the napkin away!

There. Breathe. Say hello. Wait, no! Say hi. Too late. Oh well. Stop thinking. Just like, talk. There we go. Talk.

Yeah. It's going to be fine.