853 Results with the "Fiction" genre


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      Chapter 28

      Chapter 28 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The narrator attends a potluck with Jordi, feeling emotionally fragile and socially adrift. After Jordi leaves to move her car, the narrator is approached by Tara, a former assistant to the elusive Arkanda, who reveals a surprising connection: Arkanda had reached out due to their shared experience with Fetal-maternal Hemorrhage (FMH). Tara explains that Arkanda’s nanny, Jess, facilitated this connection, leaving the narrator stunned by the revelation and the unexpected personal link to the celebrity.…
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      Chapter 23

      Chapter 23 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist accompanying her friend Jordi to buy cigarettes after a shocking revelation. Jordi is incredulous about the protagonist's new arrangement with her husband, Harris, where each is allowed one night of freedom per week without ending their marriage. The protagonist explains she first confessed her desires to a telephotographer, which Jordi calls a "Third Thing"—a Quaker concept allowing indirect communication of difficult truths. The protagonist grapples with the…
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      Chapter 24

      Chapter 24 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows the protagonist and Jordi as they attend a gallery opening in North Hollywood, hoping to see artist Lore Estes, who doesn’t show up. Instead, they encounter Kris, Lore’s ex-girlfriend and muse, whose artwork resembles Lore’s. A subtle, unspoken tension develops between the protagonist and Kris, marked by fleeting eye contact and mutual curiosity. Jordi encourages the protagonist to seize the moment, leading her to message Kris and ask her out. The bold move pays off when Kris…
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      Chapter 29

      Chapter 29 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the narrator reflecting on her delayed journey to New York, which took four years instead of the anticipated six days. Now 49, she questions whether her odyssey—marked by symbolic elements like cliffs, caves, and a golden ring—has truly transformed her. She longs for a test to prove her growth, contrasting her current self with who she was four years ago. As she flies to Brooklyn for her book tour, she grapples with unresolved feelings, scrolling through old photos and hesitantly…
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      Chapter 30

      Chapter 30 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the narrator arriving at a crowded venue for Davey and Dev's performance, feeling physically recovered from prior vertigo but emotionally exposed. Dressed inappropriately for the event, they encounter acquaintances while navigating the ticket line, revealing their privileged access to the show. The narrator reflects on Davey's rise to fame after years of obscurity, noting how his past at Hertz contrasts with his current success. There's an underlying tension as the narrator suspects…
    • The Wonders of the World Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Abisola, a student who joins a school geography trip at the last minute after her mother unexpectedly earns enough money from a sale. Feeling self-conscious about her borrowed sneakers and the pitying looks from the trip coordinator, Mr. Baju, Abisola boards the bus and finds herself seated next to Zeme, a peculiar new boy whose erratic movements and unsettling aura make others uncomfortable. Zeme’s unusual behavior, including his whispered prayers and intuitive understanding of…
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      The Dusk Market

      The Dusk Market Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces the enigmatic Dusk Market, a hidden marketplace that emerges at twilight, filled with sensory richness—smoky stockfish, buzzing flies, sizzling agbara pans, and the cacophony of bartering voices. The market is preceded by flickering kerosene lanterns, guiding the way for those who belong. Ordinary pedestrians and drivers avoid the intersection instinctively, though children occasionally glimpse surreal sights like head-hopping men or winking birds, which adults dismiss or ignore.…
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      Manifest

      Manifest Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist, a 26-year-old woman, discovering her first pimple and fixating on its presence. As she examines the blemish, her mother unexpectedly calls her "Agnes," a name that does not belong to her. This unsettling moment occurs during a mundane activity of sorting beans, where the protagonist takes pleasure in removing and killing weevils, drawing a parallel to societal exclusion. The mother's sudden use of the name Agnes, followed by her silent retreat, introduces an air of…
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      Breastmilk

      Breastmilk Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist's raw and conflicted emotions after childbirth as she holds her newborn son for the first time. She describes the baby as a "warm, slimy creature," reflecting her detachment, while hospital staff interact with her in a patronizing manner. Her husband, Timi, attempts to participate but is sidelined by the traditional hospital protocols, mirroring the protagonist's own unspoken tensions in their marriage. The physical exhaustion of labor contrasts with her observational…
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      Contributions

      Contributions Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter describes a tight-knit group of women who practice "esusu," a traditional rotating savings system where members contribute money monthly, and each takes turns receiving the pooled funds. The system relies on strict rules and mutual trust, with severe consequences for those who fail to meet their obligations. The women pride themselves on self-sufficiency, rejecting banks and loans, and enforcing order through collective discipline. Past incidents, such as seizing a generator or temporarily…
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