<link>https://www.17thshard.com/blogs/blog/240-random-short-stories-and-other-writings/</link><description><![CDATA[<p> Short stories that don’t get their own blog because they are too short. </p> ]]></description><language>en</language><item><title>When does it end?https://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1646-when-does-it-end/ Measure up, they say 

“Be like the others, 

it’s not that hard” 

But I see the others 

And they’re dying as much as I am, heart, body and soul

 

Measure up, they say 

To the ones who work now, relax later 

To the ones who we have lost, long ago 

Work and die now, 

be dead later  

 

Measure up, they say 

When the cup has no bottom 

and each accomplishment,  

each success 

falls into the void 

 

Measure up, they say 

As a projection of self 

As if saying that will solve all their problems 

as well as mine 

As if they’re not perpetuating a loop that has existed as long as we have 

]]>1646Sat, 30 May 2026 12:17:43 +0000Questions not for todayhttps://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1644-questions-not-for-today/ Having thoughts not my own 

Having doubts not my own 

Having opinions not my own 

Having experiences not my own 

 

Every day not my own 

Every second not my own 

It started as a moment,  

a moment of weakness 

 

Moments turned days, 

and days turned weeks,  

and weeks turned months, 

and months turned years 

 

Now noting is my own, 

only a copy of someone else 

A whole life lived, 

but was it my own? 

]]>1644Thu, 28 May 2026 11:53:54 +0000Ode to something in the pasthttps://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1627-ode-to-something-in-the-past/ Do you remember?

When we talked about the future, like we had any idea of what was to come?

When the days seemed to never end?

Like time slowed down

 

Do you remember?

When we thought it would all end up alright 

Me something professional, you something creative

Like we had any control in the matter

 

Do you remember?

It was so long ago, so I doubt you do

But I do

Like it was just yesterday…

]]>1627Sat, 23 May 2026 11:42:21 +0000All Too Fasthttps://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1544-all-too-fast/ All Too Fast

Quick note: I started writing this last year, then forgot about it, and since my writing style has changed a lot since then, I’ve tried my best to write in it. The continuation starts around the beginning of paragraph five, though there are a few small edits before that.

<><><><>

Step, step, step. Pace, pace, pace. The voices bubble around me as I walked into the gates. Sounds of laughter, crying, happiness, sadness and everything in between filled the air as I walk in. Hello Treble. The teacher says, how are you? How are you, how are you, how are you. The question paralyses me. What would a normal person say? Fine. I’m fine. I mumble. I’ve done it. Spoken to someone in probably months. The teacher smiles and guides me over to another kid. We can put you in the advanced group. Half of the others can’t even form coherent sentences yet. The girl in front of me looks up from her hands and looks at me. Her yellow sunflower dress swishes as she turns around. Quinn, this is Treble. She will be your learning buddy. You should get to know each other. The teacher turns around and it’s suddenly just me and her. Me and her, me and her. I don’t say anything, and she doesn’t say anything back. I look at her. She looks back. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until the teacher comes back and takes us out of this infinite loop. 
_+_ 
This is Treble. She will be your learning buddy. You should get to know each other. Words come out of the teacher’s mouth, ones that I comprehend all too well. The child prodigy, able to speak complete sentences at only 12 months, perfectly bilingual at 2 and able to do grade 3 maths at preschool. Polite. Selfless. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Everything a parent could want. Now, looking at this other girl, all I see is competition. Another contender for top spot, best. No, that’s not what right. That’s what they want me to think. I want to say something, but the words don’t find me like they usually do. Eventually, the teacher comes, and I can finally breathe again. 
_+_ 
Who am I? The assignment scares me. It’s been three years of primary school; I should know by now. I am a burden, I write. No, that’s not right, they’ll know. They’ll know, they’ll know. Quinn. The name suddenly pops up into my head. She’s smart, she’ll know what to do. I tentatively look up from my paper and see her on the other side of the room, sitting alone, as always. I never talked to her that first day, or the next, or the next. We never really talked outside of school, and only for projects at that. While everyone else was making friends, I was making regrets. Why didn’t I talk to this person that time, why didn’t I take up that kid’s offer to sit together for lunch? Regret, regret, regret. Well, the present is the perfect time to start fixing them. So I walk over, paper and pencil in hand, and ask. Um, hello. You’re really smart. Can you help me with my assignment? Quinn looks at me, not speaking not moving. Yes. The answer surprises me, and I quickly sit down beside her. What do you need help with? I talked to someone. I Talked to Someone. I TALKED to someone! Suddenly, my all problems seemed to disappear.  
_+_ 
You’re really smart. Can you help me with my assignment? Pain floods my chest. Of course, she, and everybody else, sees me as just a smart person, nothing more. I bet she doesn’t even know my name. But I should I help her? Yes. The response surprises even myself. What do you need help with? Treble looks shocked, what did I do wrong? A deep gut-wrenching feeling feels my body. Fear. But not a second later, she smiles and holds out the sheet. Um, everything please! I laugh. She laughs. We both laugh. 
_+_ 
The fingerboard of the violin feels heavy in my hands, like the secret I have been keeping from Quinn. No one else knows, and she’s my closest friend too. So she should be the first to know, right? So she can help, right? Quinn? Silence. Yes? Deep breath. Something... Something happened... Tears, one by one. Drip, drip, drip. What? A gentle question through the emotion. Bass... he... he’s... not waking up... He usually does by now... but... he hasn’t... I-I... I... Please, help me. Please, find a solution to this impossible situation. 
_+_ 
Bass... he... he’s... not waking up... He usually does by now... but... he hasn’t... I-I... I... Another request. Another solution needed. Another impossible request. All I can do is spin more false promises and hope for the best. Like always. Like always. Like always. Who does she think I am? Some sort of miracle worker that can make everything better? Another untruth. Another reality of another timeline. White lies never hurt anyone, right? 
_+_ 
I’m sorry to say this, but his heart monitor flatlined this morning. There was nothing much we could do. We offer our condolences. These words... can’t be real. I know my comprehension has dropped along the years, but these words should make sense. No. There must be a mistake. They must have the wrong person... It doesn’t make sense... It just... doesn’t... Phone out. Contact called. Yes? Treble? You alright? No, no, no. Something is wrong. Really wrong. And I can’t do anything about it. And again, I find myself struggling to accept this reality. 
_+_ 
Something is wrong. Really wrong. And I can’t do anything about it. Well, what do you want me to do? Crack. Make it better somehow? Crack. I’m really sorry for that- PLEASE. PLEASE. You HAVE to have a solution... please... Crack. But... I don’t... know... what to do about that... Breath. In. Out. please... Sigh. I can’t take this anymore. Just try to get some rest; I know this must be hard on you. You’ll feel better after that, and we can talk later. Yeah... End call. Crack. I’m tired... Crack. of being there for people... Crack. Who only want me for one thing. Shatter. A thousand pieces, all around the floor. You can try to pick them up again, but the shards stab, almost like they don’t want to be put back together. 
_=_ 
“This Sunday, there has been a report of a missing girl, Quinn Vel, around 16 years of age. She was last seen at around 10am at the Riverbrook Public Library. For possible sightings or location, please contact xxx....” 
“So, this is who you were before coming here?” 
“Yes, I suppose it was.” 
“And how was it back there?” 
“I’d rather not talk about it, look to the future, as they say.” 
“And how does your future look?” 
“Brighter.” 
]]>1544Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:13:56 +0000What a Strange Dream… - a short storyhttps://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1527-what-a-strange-dream%E2%80%A6-a-short-story/

What a Strange Dream... 
“Sometimes, a Higher Being or ‘God’ will choose a soul and mark them. It is not clear why, but it appears that when the soul is marked, they will experience extreme fluctuation on the Aspect that the God represents, often causing the soul to fall into deep emotional distress. Then, the God approaches the soul, and gives them a choice; a trial for their freedom or servitude until their moral body stops and dies. They spin stories of comfort and purpose to their mark, and most mean it, but some just use them as ‘playthings’ until they get bored. Most marks, at some of the lowest times of their life, and knowing no better, agree. It is better, in a way for them; they get their marks lifted, and their Aspects back to a normal consistency. But most grow to hate their new masters, and try to destroy themselves, causing deep pain to them and the God. Cases are rare, but not unheard of.” - an extract from ‘A Simple Guide to the Idyllic Principles and High Beings’ 
. 
. 
. 
Rising mist, no clouds... Red, yellow, black, green and all too bright. A figure, tall, a break from the light... Do you want... an escape? A leave? A difference? To leave and never come back? Your luck is terrible; everything goes wrong. So why not leave? Leave here and stay with me. It’ll be better. I promise. I breathe out, then in again. Logic said yes, but reasoning said ‘too good to be true’. No. A whisper. A slight change in the cold air. Well then, I just have to do it by force then? One minute here, one minute gone. 
_+_ 
Where am I? Atlas thought to himself, as he watched the bizarre events in front of him unfold. The last thing he remembered before he appeared in this place full of shouting people was him going to bed after another late night of revision. Finals were around the corner, and he could not risk being unprepared. But now, he was in a sort of stadium, and in the middle, a man wearing a large gold coat was playing Poker with a very bedraggled woman, looking around his age. Before they had been playing Blackjack, then Roulette. A large scoreboard above them showed the score: 0-2, in favour of the man in the coat. 
Suddenly, the woman put her cards down. “Fold?” the dealer asked. The woman nodded. Oh come on, you can do better than that! Atlas thought to himself as the man in the coat flicked his cards onto the table again. The woman had folded the entire round, not even trying. It was like she was trying to lose. The stadium was doused in confetti and cheers again, and the score changed from 0-2 to 0-3. “Not even one attempt to stand against me, dearest Ekfriril?” the man in the coat asked. Ekfriril? Atlas had known an Ekfriril, she was in his English class. He had never particularly cared for her, just seeing her as the ‘unlucky girl who needed to stop talking during class’. But now, under the bright lights and excited stares, she looked like a bug under a microscope; uncomfortable and trapped. 
Ekfriril said something quietly, and the man in the coat loudly announced to the crowd that “Our dearest guest will be taking a short break! She must be so tired from playing with us for so long!” The scoreboard flipped to a 10 minute timer, and most of the audience headed to some nearby booths. The people around the booth were yelling, pushing coloured pieces of paper into a thin window, shouting bets like their lives depended on it. A place to place bets? Atlas thought, as Ekfriril walked over to a small bench on the side of the stadium and sat down. Well, more like collapsed. It looked like her soul had left her body the way she fell, and then, seven smoky versions of Ekfriril appeared around her. This dream is getting weirder and weirder... 
_+_ 
Loud... all too loud... too many people... You can’t give up! Not now! Who... are you... We ARE you. Differnt versions of you. We can help you. You won’t even feel a thing. Anything... Anything but this... 
_+_ 
BRRR BRRR BRRR. The had finished, sending everyone else scrambling back to their seats. Ekfriril was still slumped over in her seat, but two of the smoky ‘versions’ of her walked up the man in the coat. “Oh, and how is Ekfriril doing?” he asked, with a malicious undertone. 
“Don’t worry about her.” a cyan version of Ekfriril said, walking in front of him. “Let’s get the next game going.” 
“Yeah, bring it on!” the red version said. 
“Hey you! Yes you!” Atlas turned around. A sunshine yellow and tea green Ekfriril stood behind him, holding the ‘normal’ Ekfriril. The yellow one passed Atlas a wooden slip with a few words on it. Below, Cyan and Red were having an intense game of mahjong with the man and another, not paying attention to what was unfolding above. “Take this. Go out to the outer gate and ask for ‘K-47’. They’ll take you back. But hurry, get back before sunrise or your souls will be stuck here forever. We’ll distract him as best we can. Hurry. Please. For her sake.” 
Before he could say anything, Atlas was herded to an exit by Yellow. Green passed over Ekfriril, who was unnaturally light (no time to think about this now though), to Atlas, and they pushed him out the door. What. Is. Going. On. Atlas thought as the stumbled out. The door slammed shut behind him. The dark hallway that greeted him was eerily quiet compared to the deafening stadium behind him. Well, just don’t panic, get to the ‘gate’, or whatever they meant, and leave. Easy, right? 
Atlas started down the hall, but as he was about to turn the corner, a skeletal figure jumped at him. Atlas, reasonably, screamed. He backed up, just to see another one come crawling over. Their faces were grey, like they hadn’t seen light in years, and their flesh was rotting away, covered with scraps of cloth. “Please...” one said, raising a skeletal hand to Atlas. “Just... a little... a little money... just once more... I can win this time...” 
“Please... another chance to gamble with him... For the thrills... I’ll give anything...” 
What are these people?!? Atlas thought frantically as he started slowly backing into another hallway. They talked about gambling with ‘him’, maybe the man in the coat? Where even am I? Why am I here? Who are these people? More of the ‘people’ started appearing; from every hall, every corridor. Atlas started running, pushing through them, taking random turns. They all followed, slowly but surely. “WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?” Atlas yelled, borderline manic. But they didn’t respond; they never did. They just continued to mumble, almost to themselves. 
Eventually, after many turns and dead ends, Atlas finally reached a door. He kicked it open to reveal a vast sky, stained violet and magenta in the pre-dawn light. A fence surrounded Atlas’s vision, with a large gate in the middle about 100m away. “K-49? K-49?” Atlas yelled, desperate. The ‘people’ had gained on him, just passing the threshold of the door. “Whoever you are, please help!” He took out the wooden slip, and waved it around best he could while holding Ekfriril, who had only grown lighter. 
“...Infinite depths of water... reflection.” A large sheet of what appeared to be water appeared behind him. When the ‘people’ saw it, they ran away back into the darkness. “You. Person. What do you want?” Atlas looked up. There was a figure, shrouded in darkness, looking down at him from the roof of the building he had exited. Atlas held out the slip. “I was told to give this to you. They said you’d help us leave.” The figure, presumably ‘K-49’ jumped down from the roof, grabbed the slip and examined it. “Very well then.” They slipped the slip into a bag, and grabbed Atlas’s arm. Quickly, they began making their way towards the gate, ‘K-49’ chanting mysterious words as they walked.  
“Woah ho ho...” A voice said from behind him. Crap! Atlas thought, turning around. The man in the coat was behind him, with what looked like guards. “You thought you could escape? Don’t kid me, this is literally MY domain! How could YOU, a third rate god do anything against me?” ‘K-49’ moved to stand in front of Atlas and Ekfriril, and held up what Atlas thought was some sort of seal. “I am on business for the Chrono Commission. Stand and forfeit these souls and their bodies, and no other measures will be taken.” The man in the coat stood back, and seemed to consider it for a bit. “How about a bet?” he proposed. He produced a coin out from a pocket, and held it up to the light. “Heads, and I let them go. Tails, and I keep them. Deal?” 
“Why would I be so foolish to gamble with the god of gambling?” ‘K-49’ asked sarcastically. And then they pushed Atlas back, sending him and Ekfriril tumbling through the gate.  
They fell into a sea of blues, then green, then yellow, then orange, then red, Atlas’s head reeling. Down and down and down and down... 
. 
. 
. 
_=_ 
Ugh... why does my head hurt so much... I didn’t hit yesterday, right? Anyways, that was a wack dream, but it’s alright now! Time to go back to being happy Ekfriril, who can do anything. Time to go back to normal. : ) 
_=_ 
Atlas woke up to the sound of a blaring alarm clock. 8:50am. CRAP, I OVERSLEPT! Atlas thought, as he quickly packed all his things and ran to his next class, barely a thought about the weird dream he just had. 
]]>1527Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:06:01 +0000‘Apparently Depressing’ - a short story I wrote last yearhttps://www.17thshard.com/blogs/entry/1526-%E2%80%98apparently-depressing%E2%80%99-a-short-story-i-wrote-last-year/

“From what I’ve seen, people want to fit in while also standing out. Theoretically, that’s impossible, but I’ve seen a fair few individuals accomplish that task” – ‘S’ 
___ 
“Unfortunately,” the nice teacher says, leading me to a classroom, “you weren’t put in a class with your friends.” I stay silent. Words usually have meanings, but I don’t understand these ones. I’m usually pretty good at understanding them, but the words “Please sit next to Treble” take a few seconds to decipher. I know no one. And no one knows me.  
_+_ 
I’ve been here for a week, and I haven’t talked to anyone. They all bubble around this girl, Treble, laughing, shouting, having fun. I want to do those things. I want to be able to easily laugh without looking weird and exist without judgement. I want to be them, having fun without consequence. I want to be Treble, in the middle of it all, experiencing everything. But that’s not what I am. They all know me as the weird girl with the weird name. Well, at least I can study in peace. 
_+_ 
“At this school, we have a partner system for study. Students will be paired, and they will work together for class. We’ve tried to put you with your friends to the best of our ability….” The words of the teacher are drowned out with the sounds of my classmates. Panic, fear and excitement fill the room. It’s stifling. “…Treble and Ekfriril. Go sit in your pairs” Oh no, this wasn’t supposed to end like this. Now everyone’s looking at me. Just kill me already. I see the whispers, the stares, the snarls. Please get me out of this. 
“Now, now, quiet down. Your first task for today is….” I zone out the teacher’s voice as I think about my dilemma. I could just ask for a partner switch, like any normal person, it would stop the stares. But didn’t I want this? 
_+_ 
At lunch, it takes me a few minutes to find my friends, and it takes a few minutes for them to notice me. They’ve all made friends, predictably, and are chatting away. I can’t find Ral, probably away sick, so I just sit there, watching. 
_+_ 
Treble speaks before I do, “Hi Ekfriril.” We’re sitting on a bench outside, with the instruction of ‘getting to know each other’. Treble sounds shy, with a very different demeanour that the one put on during class. She smiles. I frown, what does she want? “Yes, my name is Ekfriril, I thought we already established that.” And she laughs. I laugh. We both laugh. Maybe, for a second, I knew that getting close to Treble was a bad idea, that it would just lead to more pain than it was worth. After last time. But I just keep on laughing, and the pain goes away. 
_+_ 
Sometimes, people unconsciously gravitate towards others. Whether it’s because they release secret pheromones that the rest of us don’t know about, or because they have a good personality and qualities, it’s definitely nice. Treble is one of those people. During lunch one day, I saw like, six people walk up to her and ask to be her friend. But these types of people don’t usually seek out people, they usually have them come to them. You can even sometimes see their annoyance when the people they want to come don’t. One of those people, is Ral. 
_+_ 
Bliss is the only word that I can use to describe the last few weeks. I’ve become closer to Treble, and she’s gotten close to me. I’ve made other friends, like Katalri and Marcha. I haven’t seen my old friends (besides Ral) in a while, but that doesn’t matter. Everyone at this school knows me as Ekfriril, Treble’s friend. And I’m happy. And that’s all that matters. 
_+_ 
Once, Treble asked what my favourite colour was. It was grey. She called me depressed. Grey has so many shades, and complex depth. That’s why I like it. I told her that. She still called me depressed. A few days later, she called me depressed again. And again. And again. Now it was my thing. I was Treble’s depressed friend, Ekfriril. My slightly long bangs weren’t helping my case. That’s fine. This is fine. I don’t care what they think. I can be depressed for her.  
“Your name is a bit complicated and hard to say. Why don’t you get a nickname? How about Eki? That sounds nice.” Eki. I hate that name. That’s what they called me. I start to get nauseous. The schoolyard is spinning around me. Deep breath. You’re not there anymore. Treble is staring at me, oblivious of what is happening. No. Not at me. At Ral. He knows. “Ekfriril needs some water, she’s a bit dehydrated. We’ll be right back.” Treble looks displeased. Only slightly though, so Ral doesn’t notice. He takes my hand and nearly drags me to the water taps around the corner. By the time we get there, I’m already in tears. 
_+_ 
It's the next day, and I still don’t feel better. The nauseous feeling is still stirring in my gut, ready to pounce at any second. And it’s found its target. Lettie, Amelia and Tally turn the corner. I thought they went to a different school, why are they there? “Um hello? Tally says, “Could you give us directions to the front office? We’re the new exchange students.” They don’t recognise me. Good. I cut most of my hair off last year. I didn’t want to have even one thing in common with them. “Around 100m forwards and then to the right. I have to go-” I quickly push past them, feeling sick. They just stare at me, and I think Amelia recognises me, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters anymore. All my memories come bubbling up, as well as the vomit. 
_+_ 
A PE class finds me on the outskirts of the oval, drinking water and crying. In the nurse’s office, the nurse asks me if I’m okay. I say yes. She asks if I ate something funny. I say maybe. She asks if something happened. I say no.  
_+_ 
In the next few weeks, I see them everywhere. In the yard, in the hallways, in my nightmares. Being ‘Treble’s depressed friend, Eki’ doesn’t help either. Maybe, I should stop caring about the nickname; it’s not the same people using it, so it doesn’t mean the same thing. Right? Nothing matters but Treble. I confided in her. She listened. She cares. I don’t want to tell Ral, don’t want to bring up the memories. I didn’t even realise how I was acting until Ral noted it. “We haven’t hung out in a while. You’ve become too popular for dear old me.” He mused dramatically while eating his lunch. “So, what about… Saturday 4pm? Like old times.” 
“Sorry I’ve got plans.” I say. Mall trip with Treble and her friends. They’ve always been crazy, and that’s what I love about them. The unpredictability. The chaos. Something that I never had with Ral. I see him break a little. 
_+_ 
This morning is different from the others. Treble walks towards Ral instead of me. “Ral! You should come with us shopping this weekend! It will be SOOO fun!” Ral smiles. He nudges me and says “Looks like we’ll be hanging out this weekend anyways. Sure Treble.” It’s. Happening. All. Over. Again. But I don’t say anything. What is there to say anyways? 
_+_ 
After the mall trip, I remember. Last time it happened, last year, I made myself a promise; to not do it again, to not go through all the pain. At all costs.  
_=_ 
*a few weeks later* 
Not much has changed. People still swarm towards Treble, and she keeps being her usual self. I’ve done a good job at disappearing; no one calls me ‘Treble’s depressed friend’ anymore. No one calls me much anymore, besides Marcha. We’re friends now, probably the sole good thing to come of that. I’m happier now, I don’t have to rely on Treble for that anymore. I’m not her ‘study buddy’ anymore. It’s all better now. 
But sometimes, I look to the side of the room, where Treble is, happy and socialising, and wonder how my life would be if I’d kept being her friend. 
]]>1526Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:19:42 +0000