37 Comments
User's avatar
Aravind Dharmasena's avatar

A ghost story with no creepy vibes. Love.

Ava Lane's avatar

Did I miss this one? What a ghost story. I agree with the above comment. This is a movie. It really grabs you and holds your attention.

Every Root, Every Thorn's avatar

I love this story and the fact that we both chose the same picture. There is something so hauntingly simple about it that makes this story that much more powerful.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Thank you so much! That picture lends to different interpretations. Isn't that a wonderful gift? To see things in different ways & then we get to share them.

I'm having so much fun!

The Circus Dragon's avatar

😳

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Oh boy… you ok? You didn't like it?

Breathe. We ok?

The Circus Dragon's avatar

No no I love it 🫂 I just get spooked easily 🤣

phin's avatar

Beautiful ghost story.

Charles D's avatar

This is super cool writing.

Robert C. Worstell's avatar

Love ghost stories - especially like this.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Thank you 💝 I'm so glad it landed.

Gregory Blair's avatar

So good! I got so caught up in it!

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Thank you Gregory. Im so glad you liked it. Thanks for reading.

Rachel Tribble's avatar

Wow. That was GREAT !

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Thank you Rachel 🐢❤️

DC's avatar

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I didn't read this knowing this was a short story based on a prompt, I thought it was a legit real event that someone named Zelda experienced. If anything, I hope you take that as a compliment of how well this was written. Great work!

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

You have made my day DC. Thank you so much. 🙌❤️🙌

DC's avatar

My pleasure, and thank you for the follow!

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

I look forward to reading your posts. Im happy we crossed paths here.

DC's avatar

Thank you, as am I!

Wendy Russell's avatar

So... you see ghosts/spirits in stairwells too? Interesting.

but seriously, this story needs to be made into a short film. I loved the way you subtly wove in the details of the characters and the building while keeping the pace flowing.

Nailed the prompt.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Oooo I like how you think. A short Indie film. Thank you.

My grandmother & I used to talk about buildings holding memories of events & people.

I grew up in Baltimore. So lots of history & my summer vacations were Civil War locations….so it was a continuing chat….

Wendy Russell's avatar

oooo, yes. when I lived in London I remember lingering in liminal spaces, wondering how many other souls from over the centuries were hanging out with me... especially in teh Tower of London... dude. I'm from NZ so anything that's over a hundred years old makes us really giddy.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Oh my gosh….same. in The Tower. I was wondering about all the souls within those walls. And the Ravens!! All the Ravens…..💝 I love historical places & geology….I can get lost studying the land & its history.

Wendy Russell's avatar

Oh, no. You did not just say ravens… I annoyed my whole tour group in the Tower because I would not leave the Raven Master alone. i had a pet magpie when I lived in Australia and she was the best little pet. so ravens are kind of similar and I was entranced by them.

I was that weird girl asking too many intense questions and had to be gently moved along by a Beefeater who was rapidly losing patience.

Which was hot AF because he had the most filthy Scottish accent….

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Omgosh we would get in so much trouble together!!! I was there with a friend who patiently waited because I have so many questions. I could hear the eye rolls though. Lolol

💝🙌💝

Wendy Russell's avatar

How cool would it be if, one day, we met up and annoyed everyone within a 2 kilometre radius?

Jon Mountjoy's avatar

From my inexpert opinion, you captured how buildings remember people long after people forget buildings. That quiet loyalty between places and humans lands really well. Your writing felt honest, which it was...beautiful work.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Thank you Jon. I'm so happy you enjoyed this one. It spilled out so fast. This story knew itself before I did….