Category Archives: Short Stories

There was a time when I went through a rough stretch at work. As a social worker it was clear to me that carrying this kind of burden would last just so long and I’d start to pay a heavy price. I decided I needed a program of “self-medication” to treat my stress, not with drugs or substances, but with what I thought would lead me into an inner realm where a healing process could be touched. Writing and photography were those two areas.

Writing was something that came easily to me. It was a big part of my role as a social worker in my reports and client summaries. As an introvert I was comfortable setting words to paper, more so than reporting verbally where the risk was ever present of being caught in that socially awkward situation of going blank out of fear.

My writing became half of my self-medicating regimen. It involved writing short stories , usually only 3-4 typed pages in length, depicting the battle of the forces of light vs. those of darkness. The protagonist was usually young, 8-12 years of age, often a young girl, accompanied by a guide from the spirit world. The villains were modeled after three executives I was acquainted with who fit the bill of villainy. Together the protagonist and her spirit guide fought and vanquished the forces of darkness. This part of my “self-medicating treatment” resulted in 45 short stories.

At the Dawn of Time

Posted on May 29, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

The winds had died down to a mere whisper around midnight, but the penetrating cold remained and cut deep to the bone. It was the time of the new moon, and the canopy of the heavens was clear, and stars … Continue reading →

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Shadows In the Galaxies

Posted on May 27, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

  Alli moved through the room with ease, and other than a furtive glance from someone at the far table, no one took notice of her. It was quiet in the way that libraries are quiet – with a hint … Continue reading →

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One if By Land

Posted on May 8, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

  Dense fog shrouded the rough terrain making it all but impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. Mole listened intently for a long time, but heard nothing. Allied intelligence had put the enemy’s top secret defense in … Continue reading →

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Dream Catcher

Posted on May 4, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

The sun rose into an azure sky and seemed intent on scorching what remained of moisture from the broad plateau. Storm clouds were gathering to the west, but while some atmospheric madness was causing spectacular lightning storms there, the storm … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Byte Mountain

Posted on April 26, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

Lance Corporal Presseny Key sat huddled under his rain slicker, and looked through the gathering darkness across the deadly expanse of no-man’s land. Heavy storms had obscured the mountain for most of the day, drenching everything in a downpour of … Continue reading →

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Land’s End

Posted on April 24, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

  Daphne ran down the dusty road toward the landing, the wind whistling through her hair, her bare legs pumping like pistons. Her brother, Griff, was coming home for the summer from Columbia University on the launch from Atlanta. He … Continue reading →

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Midnight Sun Rising

Posted on March 19, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

Snowy Owl banked to his left, and caught the updraft coming off the butte overlooking the river. He could feel the weather was changing — the long endless winter night was drawing to a close, and the land of the … Continue reading →

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A Knight Changes Today

Posted on March 12, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

  Knight Pancho Sanza leaned against an ancient oak tree and looked thoughtfully out over the pleasant valley as the rays of the sun at first light bathed the castle walls in a warm amber glow. He was tired from … Continue reading →

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Evensong

Posted on March 5, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

The day was cool, and the air still. Dew had formed on the shrubs and grasses just before dawn, and now dampened his ankles as he walked through them. He followed her lithe figure through the brush as she made … Continue reading →

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The Flute Maker and the Song of the Buffalo

Posted on February 26, 2016 by journeysofabentmind

Shadows creeped up the side of the bluff overlooking the Valley of the Dunes, as the sun passed low over the endless desert and nestled momentarily in the crook of the Whispering Mountains, before slipping behind the distant ridges. Brave … Continue reading →

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