A Strange Dream: An Anthology of Short Stories and Poetry

By Amanda Rose

Death, Depression, Insomnia, Prostitution, Eating Disorders, Abortion, Convicts, Insanity, and Marital issues... This anthology of short stories and poetry explores the dark reaches of the mind and mental health issues.
The 9 short stories, including award winning EGGS and OUTSIDER, as well as runner up in the Canadian Writer’s Guild Short Prose competition, DROWNING IN SILENCE, and 9 poems, take us on a journey from the surreal to the mundane. From day-to-day life to fantasy, the characters and situations explore many walks of life.

A Strange Dream shows the thread that ties us all together; our humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Rose
• Release date: Nov 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463657287

Amanda Rose

Amanda Rose, (1988-Present), was born in Toronto Ontario, to Paul and Deborah Rose. She grew up in Kingston Ontario, and has lived in Southern Ontario all of her life. Amanda took an interest in reading and writing from a young age. In high school she began competing her short stories in contests, and at age 16 she wrote her first adventure novel, Fire Fury Freedom (2018). In her college years she continued to compete her stories, and two years in a row won first prize among many competing schools. In her early twenties she was featured in the Canadian Anthologies produced by the Poetry Institute of Canada, both for poetry and short stories. Many of Amanda's Short Stories and Poetry pieces are available in her Anthology, A Strange Dream: An Anthology of Short Stories and Poetry (2018). Amanda enjoys writing on a wide variety of topics, and in various styles. Her first publication, Manifesting on Purpose (2018) ties back to her roots in new age studies with the Law of Attraction. Her second Publication, Fire Fury Freedom (2018) is the pride and joy of a lifetime of writing for Amanda, exploring a Dystopian world in an action-adventure fantasy. It is Amanda's hope that her works of literature inspire thoughtful change, and spark the imagination.

Book preview

A Strange Dream

Amanda Rose

Copyright 2018 Amanda Rose

Smashwords Edition

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Cover by Daniel McCutcheon

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Eggs

The Urban Sleeplessness

Burn the World - The Escape

Drowning in Silence

Insomniac Blues

Love and Desperate Measures

Outsider

Ring! Ring! Hello, This is Death Calling

Surrealism in a Harsh Reality State

Morphine

Island Dreams

DOWN SIDE

The Abyss

Moment in Life

Star Struck

SUMMER NIGHT

Anorexia

About the Author

Other Books by this Author

Connect with Amanda Rose

Eggs

The rain poured down outside. April showers drenched the outside world, blessing the fertile earth. The drops pounded against the cheap tile roof. The house was dark throughout. A single solitary wall lamp was lit in the kitchen. In the living room, which the kitchen opened into, sat a middle-aged woman in a big brown leather chair that had a small tear on the back.

The appearance of the woman was that of a generally well-kept lady. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, from which some loose hairs had escaped from their elastic prison. She wore a partially unbuttoned silk blouse and form fitting tweed skirt around her mid-sized frame. She had podgy cheeks and bags beneath her eyes. Her feet rested bare on the beige carpet.

The woman rocked back and forth in a slow hypnotic manner. Her light brown eyes stared vacantly downward at the photo album lying in her lap. She held a glass of gin in her right hand. Every so often she would blink, never losing concentration. She took in long deep breaths and let out raspy exhalations. Expand… collapse… her chest followed a steady pattern, which if timed, would be precisely on beat, to the very second, every single time.

The streetlights intruded through the stained lacy white curtains of Margaret’s front window. Occasionally a car would drive past. As they passed by, the headlights would shine in, casting extended shadows of the cheap furniture onto the peeling wallpaper in her living room. Still it left her undisturbed. Not even the sickly pungent smell eking in from the kitchen bothered her.

Suddenly the old tarnished grandfather clock chimed for the midnight hour, and the sound jolted the woman. Her eyes drifted over to the clock adjacent to her. Watching it with unwavering concentration, she stared at the pendulum swing. Memories came flooding back to her as it swung, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth…

Margaret, isn’t this beautiful? Wouldn’t it be perfect for you? Peter would love it! He collects antiques, you know? You could surprise him with it when he comes back from University! Susan, a talkative young woman, exclaimed as she admired the antique grandfather clock.

Margaret, at the youthful age of nineteen, took a stance next to her friend. Her hair was tied in the same tight fashioned bun. She looked over the clock with analytical eyes. A proud smile crept across her face. She ran her fingers over the smooth surface.

Yes, it’s perfect.…

The clock finished its twelve bongs, and her eyes sank down again. Simply listening to the tranquil sound of the rain, Margaret zoned out once more. She closed her wrinkled eyelids over her deadened eyes. Her soft cheeks puffed out as she let out a long breath. She wrinkled her brow. Gasping for a breath, her heart began to throb painfully as the past came vividly back to her…

Look at the stars… aren’t they mesmerizing?

I could just lay here with you forever… Hey, Peter?

Hmm?

Do you, do you think that anyone else is looking up at the sky like this? Just like we are, in the middle of a field of wildflowers? … Oh no don’t answer. I’m embarrassed now. What a silly question... Forget it.

It’s not silly. I don’t know for sure, but I hope so. I’d hate to be the only one this lucky.

Margaret giggled and rolled on her side. The young lovers lay staring into each other’s soul through the portals of their eyes. Iridescent fireflies glowed all around them. Loving fingers reached out to caress warm satin skin. Groping hands reached craving more. Silk lips grazed against each other. Her strawberry flavored lip-gloss had tasted like candy.

I missed you so much when you had to go away for school. I wish you didn’t have to go back. I know it sounds like I’m paranoid, but I worry about all of those girls you are with there… Margaret sighed sadly, Please promise me you’ll come back to me?

Peter took Margaret’s hand in his, and then gave her another kiss. As he pulled away she felt something slide onto her finger. Glancing down to see what it was, she saw a diamond ring, mounted in white gold, on her ring finger. Her heart fluttered, and she felt herself blushing. Up her eyes darted to meet with his. Her jaw fell open.

I’ll always come back, if you’ll have me.

I’ll always want you to come home to me, a smile crept across Margaret’s youthful face.

The two lovers confessed their deepest passions in the grassy field. A shooting star passed by above…

As if vibrating, Margaret’s hand quivered. The gin in her glass sloshed about. The veins in her neck stood out as she was engulfed in her memories. Thunder boomed outside. It surprised her, and she gasped. Lifting her shaky glass to her lips she gulped down her drink.

Before her weary eyes, were photos of her wedding. Taking her left index finger, she traced the face of her groom. Her heart grew heavy in her chest. A car drove by, reflecting light into her eyes. She did not lose focus on the photograph.

Peter… Her vague voice muttered. …

It was a cloudless day in late June. Pink, white and yellow roses bloomed around the cove by the pacific coast. The sea breeze blew softly, rustling playfully through the trees. The subtle lull of the gentle waves relaxed listeners. It was warm and barely humid. Birds chirped happily all around. It was the perfect day.

Margaret stood in her puffy white wedding dress at one end of a white carpet. At the other end of the walkway there was a gazebo post, decorated with purple lilacs, which matched the bridesmaid’s gowns. With her arm interlocked with her father’s, and a bouquet of lilies between her hands, she began her walk down the aisle.

All attention turned to Margaret. Ahead of her lay her entire future. Her husband to be stood under the gazebo by the minister. He was tall and handsome,