Mind bending Stories

I'm a freshman in college and since we've moved in, I've had the biggest crush ever on the girl across the hall, Gabby. We've become good friends, we get lots of meals together, watch movies, and even go out to bars together. There's just one problem ... she gets taken home by a different guy every time we go out. I'm practically in love with her but I can't say a word because I couldn't stand to ruin our friendship. And...

Alia stands before me in splendor, gleaming with what I can only describe as a victor’s light. She smiles so brightly that even under the ample lighting of the mall, she somehow manages to stand out. But it’s not a friendly smile. She twirls before me in her summer dress, holding a pair of heels she’s yet to try on, as I sweat and puff with the weight and bulk of bags upon bags of new clothes… Alia’s new purchases, of cou...

I’m in hell. I’m walking through Alia’s front door, and I’m in hell. And not in one of the nice circles, oh no. This entire evening has been a gradual, but unstoppable descent into my worst nightmares. I’m wobbly on my feet. My heels – which I hate wearing – have hurt my feet, my cocktail dress is a pallid imitation of Alia’s that only seems to emphasize rather than reduce our differences in wealth and status, and I’ve lo...

“How do I look?” Alia twirls in a deep green dress before me, giggling for all the world like we haven’t spent most of the afternoon trudging through the mall. Still, I’m a good sport, so I give her a smile. “Very pretty, Alia.” God, I feel like I’m in the Say the line, Ralph! scene from The Simpsons. “You should try some of these dresses yourself!” Alia says, picking another dress to try out. “Come on Zainab, live a litt...

I. Vicious State of Mind “Caution, approaching platform.” The announcement drowns out the clipped whispers, but the furtive eyeballing remains. Some knew me immediately. The celebrity-like recognition flashed like fat paparazzi Nikons as they traced the familiar tattoo slopping down my cheek, burning into the path of another that peaks just above the collar of a grimy Seattle Sounders T. Most don’t. You got the ones boyco...