People do change-but the best parts of them can remain. A government job? Checked. A life free from the suffocating expectations of a traditional marriage? Working on it. Tired of the endless emotional warfare at home, Aditi decides to play the system. She proposes a fake marriage to her old friend and crush-a guy who is facing the exact same parental pressure and seems perfectly content to live a detached, carefree life. The agreement is simple: Live as roommates. Never try to control eachother. Aditi thinks she's found the ultimate loophole to protect her independence. But as the lines between fake vows and real proximity begin to blur, she realises that it's not that fake afterall. Aditi is about to learn that time and distance might alter a person's surface, but people do change-and the best parts of them remain. Now, she just has to figure out who her husband really is. Rankings🏆 07/08/2026 #1 in Self love #1 in independent

In the coastal town of Grayhaven, disappearances aren't crimes, they're cycles. Every twenty seven years, devoted parents vanish without a trace. Every twenty seven years, a quiet girl named Shanice appears soon after, as if the sea itself has returned something in exchange. Nineteen year old, Lucious Waters has lived with the aftermath of the last cycle. His mother was among those who vanished. Since then, he has carried a secret: when the fog rolls in and emotions run high, he sees something beneath certain people's skin, faint, drifting tendrils like jellyfish suspended in flesh. When the cycle begins again, Lucious realizes the truth is larger than grief, older than the town, and far more deliberate than anyone admits. Grayhaven Town is not cursed. It is protected. And protection always demands payment. PROMPT 38. Everyone sees an ordinary person but you are the only one who can see their true nature, a jellyfish in disguise. Tendrils of Grayhaven is a haunting supernatural mystery about grief, loyalty, and the terrifying cost of safety, where the greatest threat may not be what lurks in the deep, but what happens when it decides to change.

The Unsaid Tales: Pride Edition is a special Pride Month activity by Social Themes dedicated to celebrating LGBTQAIP+ voices, stories, and perspectives. Through personal submissions, writer interviews, and Pride-themed articles, this story creates a safe and inclusive space to explore identity, self-expression, acceptance, community, and the experiences that deserve to be heard.

Seventeen-year-old Grace Walker never imagined that four words could haunt a person forever. "See you on Wednesday." It was the last thing her parents said before the tragic accident that took them both away. Forced to leave everything behind, Grace moves to a new town to live with relatives she barely knows. Between a new school, unfamiliar faces, and the crushing weight of grief, she struggles to find her place in a life that no longer feels like hers. At first, everything seems normal. Until strange memories, unsettling dreams, and unanswered questions begin to follow her everywhere. And the more she searches for answers, the less certain everything becomes.

✨ Welcome to The Aurelia Awards ✨ A celebration of creativity, dedication, and storytelling excellence. The Aurelia Awards was created to recognize the talented authors, artists, and creators who bring imagination to life through their work. From unforgettable characters and captivating plots to stunning covers and inspiring creativity, this event honors the individuals whose passion continues to enrich our community. Join us as we celebrate outstanding achievements, applaud remarkable talent, and shine a golden spotlight on those who have left a lasting impression. May the pages be unforgettable, the creativity endless, and the achievements worthy of recognition. (🌿) Judging

The Boys on the Corner is the prequel book in a heartfelt Brooklyn trilogy that includes A Foot in the Door and Somewhere Between Old and New. In 1973, fifteen-year-old Gerry and his crew rule their corner-until three older guys arrive and everything changes. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2026 by Darkrai_X In Room 309, people learn how to survive each other's pain. Elise Valencia is dying, and everyone around her seems to speak softer because of it. Everyone except Matteo Reyes, the chaotic night shift cleaner who steals hospital sunflowers, breaks rules constantly, and refuses to treat her like she's already gone. What begins as irritation slowly becomes something deeper inside the oncology ward, where laughter feels rebellious, love becomes complicated, and strangers leave permanent marks on one another's lives.

Copyright © 2026 by Darkrai_X In the quiet riverside town of Willowbrook, North Carolina, life moves at its own gentle rhythm until two broken hearts collide. Asterine Rufino, a spirited young artist with a secret mission to leave a mark on the world, and Soren Lockhart, a boy haunted by guilt and despair, meet by chance under a fading sunset. As they navigate the small town streets, hidden trails, and lantern lit riversides, their worlds slowly intertwine. Together, they uncover moments of laughter, vulnerability, and fragile hope, discovering that even in the face of heartbreak and endings, life can shine in unexpected ways. Paper Lanterns is a tender, emotionally layered story of friendship, self discovery, and the courage it takes to truly live, reminding us that the smallest moments can leave the brightest marks on the heart.

(X) Closed for submissions. While we wait for the TEGSA prompts to drop on July 1st, let's keep our nimble fingers busy. Introducing a mini-contest, well---a musical mini-contest. It is on the TEGSA profile after all. Let's see how this works...

Daisy Marie "Dee" Del Buono and Luca "Kai" Romano have lived next door to each other their whole lives-but they've never lived in the same world. At school, Kai is untouchable: the star of the track, the golden boy everyone talks about, the name everyone knows by heart. He is the center of the stadium lights, loud and inevitable. Dee is a different kind of sound-the first-chair oboe who everyone hears but no one truly sees. She's the girl who lives in the static between band practice and her two best friends, hiding her 88-key heart behind a music stand and a wall of hoodies. And between them sits a lie they've both agreed to believe: They're not friends. Until one summer night, they cross a line they swore they'd never touch. When Dee's older brother, Arlo-Kai's best friend-leaves for college, everything shifts. The fence between their houses becomes a bridge. Late-night talks replace old arguments. They learn each other's secrets. They learn each other's smiles. Now it's senior year, and they're trying to pretend it didn't happen. Pretending they're fine. Pretending they can go back. Pretending the truth isn't pulsing every time they lock eyes across the hallway and across their bedroom windows. But the sweetest lies are the ones you tell to protect your heart- until the night they finally destroy it. "The Sweetest Lie" is a story about first love, quiet longing, and the moment when pretending isn't enough anymore. For readers who crave the chaos of Never Have I Ever, the longing of The Summer I Turned Pretty, and the quiet devastation of Normal People, The Sweetest Lie will absolutely wreck you (in the best way).