Break From Reality. Daily.
He woke to the sound of breathing. It took him a moment to realize it was his own. Each inhale came short and uneven, as though his lungs had forgotten how to stretch. The air tasted wrong—sterile, metallic, with something sour lingering at the back of his throat. Pain answered the moment he moved. It…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2025 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. The chopper bucked and groaned; its rotor blades sliced the air into a thick, percussive thumping that vibrated throughout. From his vantage point, Santiago could see nothing but a swirling, green…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. A ten-year-old boy emerged through the fire door leading into a hallway, running at full speed. Rounding a corner, he crashed into FBI Agent Marcus Navarro and sprawled to the floor….
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2024 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. The annihilation of humanity loomed as the Consortium sought the extinction of the Earth Alliance. The Consortium wanted total control of the Delta Quadrant by taking over the Jump Gate network….
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Texas Ranger Lopez slowly navigated Traveller, his Appaloosa horse, down a narrow rocky trail. He’d ridden these trails since he was a kid but wasn’t fond of riding in this area…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2022 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Rey floated inside a deprivation tank every morning. It was the best way to make the voices stop. The tank door slid open at 5 am. He put on his noise-canceling…
This story is by Miguel A Zamora and was part of our 2022 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Detective Morgan ducked low and used his car for cover. Gunfire peppered the building overhead. Eventually, the firing ceased. He took a deep breath and sighed as he surveyed the…
This story is by Miguel A Zamora and was part of our 10th Anniversary Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Welcome to Morning Talk. I’m your host, Amy Dumas. Tomorrow marks the 3-year anniversary of the High Command defeat by the Alliance. Supreme Chancellor Prescott will attend the ceremony and…
This story is by Miguel A Zamora and was part of our 2021 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Angel ran the three miles to his art studio every night. He had worked hard to lose a hundred and twenty pounds in one year and had just fifteen pounds…
This story is by Miguel A Zamora and was part of our 2020 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Rune slammed his fist into the steel door, denting it on impact. Another strike and the door shook loose a part of the concrete wall. He grabbed the edge of…
This story is by Miguel A Zamora and was part of our 2020 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Day 1 Picture day. The six-person team stood behind a sign that read: NASA Simulation 21A Mars Lifeline Mission September 24, 2021. “Matt, how did you ever talk me into…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2019 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. I was tied up and bound to the chair by flex-cuffs. They were so tight they bit into my wrists. I felt rivulets of blood run down my hands. This…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2018 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Screams jarred me awake. I ran to the guest room where Ashley, my niece was staying. She was on the floor crying, so I took her in my arms and…
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2018 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. My cell is hot. Sweat rolls down back as I sit waiting to go the integration room. A guard informed me a Suit and Dame want to have a chat….
This story is by Miguel A. Zamora and was part of our 2018 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. 18-Jan 1320 Warehouse “The warehouse is cold and damp, floodlights are placed all around the warehouse. It smelled like fish. Hatch figured he was by the docks at one of…
This story is by Miguel A.Zamora and was part of our 2017 Winter Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Control Room 16:30 The room is bathed in red light and operators are processing the information as it comes in from all over the ship. Rebecca “Bex” Quinn walks into the…
This story is by Miguel A.Zamora and was part of our 2017 Winter Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Control Room 16:30 The room is bathed in red light and operators are processing the information as it comes in from all over the ship. Rebecca “Bex” Quinn walks into the…
