She had always hated hospitals. The last time there was an old uncle who had died did not even know. She was only ten years old, but that smell pungent and slightly sweet was left in the nostrils for weeks, as well as had remained in his ears the words and the tears of relatives, close the pain of loss. But now everything was different. She was 26 years old,...
Sarah was curled up on the couch in the hotel room suite. Sipping her coffee, she held the mug close to her so that she could enjoy the heat and aroma of the dark liquid. Her feet were a little cold, but that was to be expected when wearing only a dress shirt. She smiled; a hint of Thomas's cologne drifted into her nose from the shirt. There was a note in th...
CHAPTER 1: DANGLE He pushed through the crowd of traders, his scuffed boots kicking up dust from the arid ground as he passed by market stalls selling strange, alien fruits and scrap parts. The colorful tarps that shielded the merchants from the sun surrounded him on both sides of the street, prefab buildings had been erected to form a rudimentary town whos...
~~Julias~~ "Mister Terry, you'll be working with Madam Leauvion and Madam Jenning." The boy raised a brow. "Sire?" "I know you expected to be working with Mister Burksen and Madam Herrington, but ultimately, they have a lot of experience that would be better served working with younger, less experienced Kindred. In your team, your experience is key, and w...
~~Eric~~ Clara transformed into a human as she forced herself to stand. With a snarl, she shook off the injuries, and wiped her lip. It was that easy? She was hit hard, hard enough to go flying, hard enough to have bones broken. But, she was Uratha, and that meant... fuck, he didn't know what it meant. Strong, tough? Healing through anything? He didn't kno...
INTRODUCTION & DISCLAIMER - When Donny Jenkins' birthdate comes up in the Vietnam War draft, Donny accepts his conscription without complaint despite not personally agreeing with the war. When he returns from his tour of duty in early 1969, young Donny struggles mentally and physically, plagued by nightmares, insomnia and health problems, things made even wo...
Some people say "no good deed goes unpunished." I never subscribed to that armchair philosophy even though I had and saw many good deeds backfire. I must admit, though, that the "unpunished" saying did make me a little apprehensive that my most elaborate good deed might boomerang; but it didn't stop me. I'm a 52 year old guy with keen business acumen but p...
I sat here in the hospital room holding my wife's hand. She was a mess. She had skidded off a two lane county highway two evenings previously, sideways into a hundred year old oak tree. The car had hit the tree solidly with the driver's door and her whole left side took the blow when the car stopped and she didn't. Her left shoulder was broken and some ribs...
I was in the midst of my freshman year in college and was taking my prerequisite courses to enter the nursing program. My grades were phenomenal but I needed something extra to help my resume. I might have only been 19 years old at that time, but I was a "giving person" who volunteered while in high school at different places to help the needy but had not ha...
(edited by the hip and groovy DeReve) -------------------------------------------- Thanks to those who have messaged, commented and voted on previous Orbital Academy chapters! You guys keep me going, so keep 'em coming! -------------------------------------------- "I spy with my little eye, something devoid of all light, sound, and life." Jackson's joke...