On Turning Ten By Billy Collins Novels & Stories

That night wasn't going to happen again in this life. I went home and dug out my old diary that I'd hidden in a deep corner of my wardrobe. I was ten years old, homeless and wandering the streets at night when Graham—18 at the time—took me in. He was cold and aloof with everyone else, but he was very gentle with me. I knew that I had fallen in love with him when I was old enough to realize it. However, it was a secret that I could never reveal to anyone else. I grabbed the diary and tore it to pieces, shredding every page. Then, I threw the scraps into the toilet and flushed them down.

] I turned off my phone and watched the scenery rushing past the window. This city held memories of my youth and love, but now I wanted to bury those memories with my own hands. On my first day in Gardenia, I threw myself into work. A new environment and a new project; being busy was the best distraction. Josh sent countless messages. Initially, these were explanations and apologies. However, they later became accusations and complaints. Josh: [Zoe, you're too impulsive!] Josh: [We've been together for ten years! Can't you give me a chance to explain?]

The bra was almost transparent with a peculiar inner layer. I held it up and insisted, "Check this item." "What tricks are you up to now?" Edward crossed his legs and scoffed as he leaned back lazily. "Are you jealous that Cindy has better taste and a better figure than you? Don't worry. Once I'm in a better mood, I'll buy you one too." While disdain was written on his face, Cindy's expression was the opposite. In an instant, all the color drained from her face. … The lab results came back quickly.

I smiled confidently and said, "Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Holly York, and I'm the freshman representative." There was a loud crash off stage. Lila had shot to her feet, making her chair fall over in her shock. She stared at me with wide eyes, her lips parted slightly in disbelief. Wanda gave her a slightly reproachful look. That made her sit down dazedly. She was still incredulous, though. In her past life, she'd only gotten into a regular college after sitting for the SATs. Our results had always been equally mediocre, so she couldn't believe that I'd gotten into the top college in the country after just a year of hard work.

THE MASSIVE TURNAROUND Ryan lay on his bed, his mind racing with thoughts. He couldn't believe what he had just heard from Mrs. Williams. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was finally free from the shackles of the Williams family. Ryan lay on his bed with a smile on his face. He was happy about the conversation he had just had with Mrs Williams. He felt like he was out of the prison he had been put in. Now, all he needed to do was wait for a day or two before he told them that he had gotten a new job.

I shall give you the money and then you can all leave me in peace', Mirabel said going to a corner of the room and bringing out one set of the money she had kept. 'Is this all,', the third boy asked when he was through counting. He was happy that they were going to gain alot from this job. The gentleman had paid them ten dollars each and promised them another five each afterwards, if the work was well done and here they had thirty dollars. Life could not be sweeter. 'Alright, Mike, leave the fool alone. If we want to kill him, we would do that here and now, he wants to be a hero but has no stamina for fight'.

At first, I thought that they would be furious at me and refuse to even answer my calls, but to my surprise, Mom burst into tears and told me that she wished I would go home as soon as possible. However, Ingrid began to cry when she saw me packing up my things. She pouted hard and looked at me, saying, "Mommy, Daddy promised to celebrate my seventh birthday with me. I don't wanna leave…" I felt my resolve wavering when I saw Ingrid's tears. She had been looking forward to her birthday, and if I took her away now, she would miss out on a happy childhood with her father. I decided to stay for a while longer and put up with it for her sake. I didn't want Ingrid to have any regrets.

After a moment of hesitation, he said, "If you're willing, you could also use the same plan as Winnie." In an instant, my body stiffened. A wry smile tugged on my lips as I once again had to fight back the bitterness and nausea rising in me. How could he do this to me? How could he trample all over our past like that? My phone lit up with a notification. It was a post from Winona on her social media. In the photo, a man's large hands were clasping a woman's smaller ones as they rested on a visibly pregnant belly. The caption of the photo was: "Be good, baby. Mommy and Daddy are waiting for you to enter this world!"

Kayla Moreno “Take me to the hotel close to the Enterprise…. I want you to find me a guy who can meet up with your standards,tall, muscular,dk type,fit, hot blooded, handsome..” " What for Miss Moreno?" her assistant Riley asked as she looked surprised, cutting Kayla short. “sign a ten days contract with him from 9 till Dawn,I need him to get me pregnant” " Huhhh” Her assistant screamed

I'm nine years old when I secretly contact my mom Lori Parker's family to get her out of the remote village. When my grandpa, Richard Parker, bursts into the cellar, he finds Mom chained by the neck, with a whip stained with dried, dark blood lying at her feet. Overwhelmed with rage, Grandpa beats my dad, Bruce Fraser, until he is almost dead, vomiting blood repeatedly. Dad is left paralyzed and bedridden for the rest of his life. Just before getting into the car, Mom cries and reaches out to me. "Amy, I'm taking you home!" My eyes sting as I clutch the hem of her clothes, but then memories of my past life come rushing back. Her family turns against her because she protects a bastard l