Better Words For Said Novels & Stories

*That was the word. *That was exactly the word.*

--- --- Something chosen. --- Something that didn’t need to prove itself to exist. --- --- Because it already did. --- --- Out loud. --- ---

I couldn't say it. _______________

His eyes said it all. “Shit…”

she finally said. This isn't good…

he said slowly , as if weighing his words carefully.

I said. This time on our terms.

--- One she didn’t want to say out loud. --- But couldn’t ignore. --- “…Not somewhere,” she said quietly. --- A pause. --- “Someone.” --- The words landed heavily. --- Too heavily. --- Adrian’s expression shifted instantly. --- “No,” he said. --- Immediate. --- Certain. --- “That’s not possible.” --- But even as he said it— --- He wasn’t fully sure. --- Because the system had changed. --- Because they had changed it. --- Because something inside it— --- Had been learning.

I was, in fact, more than all right. I just did not have the precise word for it yet. I thought I would find it. Soon.

Eli’s expression did the thing, that small smile that didn't look like the performative cheerfulness. “That person sounds very insightful,” Eli said. “That person is also extremely annoying,” Lucien said. “And kind of correct, which makes it worse.” “You know you can say ‘kinda’ instead of ‘kind of’” Eli said, teasingly. “That’s not an English word” Lucien replied. “They update dictionaries, Lucien. No one still reads the 1969 Oxford Dictionary you obviously learned your words from Eli,” Eli said standing. “You have a mouth on you, you know that?” Lucien said standing too.