fact or fiction

Is it a fact or is it merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the lesser known truths in the corporate culture of Journal.

Vacation Mystery
Watching the sun lower into the ocean is quite possibly the most relaxing experience on the planet, Hannah thinks as she sips her frozen, fruity drink. Taking a deep breath she digs her toes into the sand and watches the pink and orange streaks dance across the waves. I earned this, she thinks. I worked hard for this. Finishing her Masters degree was totally worth the student loans she has been slowly paying back. Now that she has aced her bar exam she will hopefully get a salary bump so she can make bigger payments and quit her second job.
By Jennifer Kent5 years ago in Journal
A Forgotten Blessing
Slamming the phone receiver back onto the base, Aimee growled in frustration. Fortunately for her, the office was currently empty and Aimee didn’t have to explain herself to anyone’s questioning glance. Her poor debit card stared up at her from the desk, the numbers faded as the glossy silver ink had long worn away from frequent use. Aimee knew the number by heart, of course, but when she had to give the number to someone over the phone for a payment, it always felt more comfortable with the card in her view - just in case a fluke of dyslexia or a memory lapse somehow made her give the wrong digits.
By Caryn Oles5 years ago in Journal
The Little Black Notebook
It is cold and raining, Ella runs to take shelter from the pea sized drops of water falling from the sky in a furry. As thunder shakes the earth, she pulls her hood back and looks up at the thick gray clouds, she is now in the temporary safety of the bus shelter. Her decision to take cover there for a time was only by chance, because of the weather, or perhaps, it was always supposed to be. Ella turns to scan her momentary haven. She finds a little black notebook sitting on the bench.
By TL5 years ago in Journal
Aurora’s Dream
The Sun Will Shine Again The sweet music drifting from her cell phone slowly wakes her up. It’s an oldy, but goody – Donna Summer’s “Heaven Knows”. Aurora, waking up from a Twilight sleep thought she was dreaming as she remembered her mother, dancing around the apartment getting dressed for the day.
By Toyin Harris5 years ago in Journal
Creative Process
Creative Process He’s stranded on the platform strapped to his backpack and clutching his laptop bag and looking at the sky because he can’t stand the sight of the rumbling train anymore. A passer-by brushes past on her way to the stairs. “Do you fucking mind?” he shouts. She turns and he sighs. “I’m sorry…” He deflates before she can retaliate. “It’s just –” He trails off and holds his hands up before his eyes point floorward.
By Jack William Asa Kindred5 years ago in Journal
Lost one
“I can’t believe this ! Are you seriously going to fire me over something so small ! I’ve gave this job 5 years of my life with nothing but hard work and dedication ! I’m never late , I show up before you most of the time !” I yell at my boss Mr Jones while he just stands there looking at me with no remorse , fine I throw my hands up storming out slamming the door behind me mumbling to myself “I can’t believe I just got fired over cold coffe “ it has to be deeper than that although I usually don’t walk away so easily this job has done nothing but drain the life out of , so I look at this as a sign a sign to finally follow my true passion , becoming a journalist. That always be my dream since middle school . I rush home full of emotions not knowing what to do next . The Drive seems longer than usual , Finally I pull up to my house . Walking towards The door I Noticed a package perfectly wrapped , I look around with a look of confusing on my face before picking it up . Struggling to put the door key in a little note falls from under the perfect bow on top . I picked it up bge a reading as I walk inside “don’t let your dreams slip alway” read the note , still shocked I sat down began unwrapping th package it was box and from the sounds of it there isn’t much inside , opening the box there was a little black book with my name on it , the pages were blank but the first page there was a link to a website written in ink pen . I type the link in and can’t believe what I was reading , it was a link to an writers competition with a chance to win $20k all I have to do is put my talents to use ! But the deadline is 11:59pm TONIGHT !!! I look at the clock it’s 6:45pm .. I rush to go shower so I can get comfoty . 30mins later I’m sitting on my couch with nothing but a bottle of wine , My laptop & little black book trying to go into my creative head space , I finally began writing and as I finally put it all down on paper the words began to flow after one another . A hour goes by I’m finally done putting it all on paper I proof read over & over I have yet to find anything I want to change , everything’s so raw and real I wrote about a lost girl looking for hope in such a cruel world the lost girl is me of course . I look at the time it’s now 8:00pm , I decide to take me a break and order pizza . While waiting on my pizza I decide to call my bff and tell her about the crazy day I had . *Ring Ring* *Ring Ring* “hmm no answer” *click* oh well guess I’ll just began typing up my story on my laptop. Moments go by there’s a knock on the door . Assuming it’s the pizza man I answer without saying hello . “Thankyou keep the change” I say while we exchange the money & pizza . Before closing the door I notice another note . “Ok this is getting creepy” I say to myself , walking back to the living room . I sat the pizza down while reading the note “you got this” I smiled , sat down & began eating and typing faster than ever . It’s almost almost 9:00pm , I began typing even faster so much thoughts running through my head on what I will do if I win , I can finally turn my life back around ! Start my own business ! give back ! The list goes on ! Another hour pass and I’m finally done typing . It’s not 10:02 “wow I can’t believe I did it just in time” I give myself a pay on th back ! I submitted my story & cross my fingers . I began scrolling to see when will they annoce the winners “May 12,2021” . Today’s May 2, 2021 so approximately 10 days I will find out . I lay back on the coach & Get lost in my thoughts . Zzzzz
By Melanin Black5 years ago in Journal
Radio City Hallelujah
It was August, Radio City Music Hall, downtown New York. The thick, bluish cast of late summer covered every skyscraper, tree cluster, passing bus and car with a dirty-sky-tinged mink of pollution and restlessness.
By Sharon Bousquet5 years ago in Journal
Tales of the Unexpected
Tilda’s heart was pounding already and the auction hadn’t even started. People were still just taking their seats in the vast Victorian auction hall, shuffling politely past the few already seated in their rows, muttering embarrassed ‘sorrys’ as they squeezed towards their destination, setting off mini Mexican waves as people patiently rose, breathed in, then sat again.
By Ali Todd5 years ago in Journal
Obsession
I had spent over sixty years planning and writing in the little black book, and yet, it seemed as though no one would receive it before my death. Pulling the elastic down over the cover to ensure that it would not be damaged was the least of my problems. But pull it down, I did. I looked at the cover, black, but worn smooth with time. The gold lettering, once prominent on the cover, was now a distant memory. Remembered only in half dreams between wakefulness and sleep, slipping away with each waking moment.
By DJ Goode5 years ago in Journal
It Begins
The summer of my 23rd birthday, I moved into my first apartment. A dingy little place with peeling paint and musty corners that shouldn't be examined too closely. It was a tiny one-bedroom cottage on the corner of Fifth and Magnolia, but the rent was cheap, and my landlady, a writer herself, didn't complain about the scraps of poetry and short stories I frequently offered her in lieu of an on-time payment. Living and working in that one-room cottage, the days and the words, and the steady flow of time all jumbled together into a monotonous heap. But that final week of August, when the leaves on the trees were just beginning to think about shifting, and my whole life changed, I will remember forever with immaculate clarity.
By Lily Krause5 years ago in Journal
Deep Pockets
Sometimes, in a rare, quiet moment, I wonder if maybe it could have all been different, if we hadn’t run out of wood for the stove and if the storm hadn’t hit on a Thursday.
By Jessica Clements5 years ago in Journal
No grandpa. You are just as crazy as me.
What would you do if one day you wake up and you find a black bag placed in front of your door? Hypothetically. Instant thought, RUN, right? Let’s say you don't. Instead, you open it and there it is, $20 000 staring right at you. Hypothetically. Fortunately, there is a little black notebook placed on top of the money. Unfortunately, it gives no answers...literary...the notebook is empty. So, what do you do? Hypothetically. I really need to know because right now such a bag is sitting on my kitchen table and I am in a panic. Not hypothetical.
By Rozaliya Markova5 years ago in Journal