Marcus, a struggling 17-year-old Black boy from the projects, marries Evelyn, a wealthy 70-year-old woman, in a desperate bid to escape poverty. Though their marriage is purely transactional, Evelyn treats him with unexpected kindness. But just three days after the wedding, Marcus discovers her shocking will. Marcus shivered under the flickering streetlight, his stomach growling. At 17, he was used to sleeping on park benches, dumpster diving for food, and dodging cops who told him to move along. His mother had left him months ago just another broken promise, another person gone. Now he survived by doing odd jobs, selling…
Author: town gist
The funeral of Officer Daniel Reed was supposed to be simple, formal, final. The white marble casket lay on a polished base, surrounded by flowers and uniformed officers. The sun glinted off polished badges. The American flag, draped across the coffin, rustled lightly in the wind. Everything was by the book except the girl. She didn’t cry like the others. She screamed. “That’s not my dad!” Six-year-old Naomi, Daniel’s adopted daughter, was nearly hysterical. Her small fists pounded the side of the coffin. Her eyes were red and wild, her face twisted with something more than grief. “He’s not in…
The girl whispered, “The bus driver did it again. Teacher calls cops immediately.” It was a gray, humid morning. The usual hum of the school day had barely started. Miss Caroline, a white teacher in her early 30s with shoulder-length brown hair and a warm face, was arranging papers on her desk when the door burst open. Little Amara, a small Black girl of about six years old with her hair tied in a simple ponytail, stormed in, tears streaming down her cheeks, her tiny hands clenched in fists at her sides. Her yellow shorts were slightly twisted at the…
The morning rain had stopped, but the streets still shimmered with puddles. Sunlight struggled through gray clouds, reflecting off wet pavement and passing cars. The city was waking up, the sidewalks filled with hurried footsteps and umbrellas being shaken out. But no one noticed the girl no one except Mr. Daniel Carter. He was just walking back from the grocery store, his tan jacket zipped to the collar and a brown paper bag tucked under his arm. He nearly tripped when he saw her—a small Black girl, maybe six, curled up on the edge of the sidewalk right beside a…
“Sir, I don’t care who you think you are. This seat is for first class passengers only.”The flight attendant’s voice was cold and dismissive. She stared at the well-dressed Black man sitting in a first class seat. Around them, other passengers looked away, uncomfortable. Some whispered, others just pretended not to notice. That man was David Mercer, the CEO of one of the fastest growing tech companies in the world. He wasn’t just rich—he was a self-made billionaire who had worked his way up from nothing. He had flown first class for over 10 years. But today, something strange happened.…
“You will die tomorrow,” he said. The millionaire laughed—but begged for help. The next day, the sharp clack of Evelyn Harper’s heels echoed along the quiet street. Her emerald green blazer hugged her slender frame, blond hair swept neatly behind her ears. A self-made millionaire at 30, Evelyn was used to moving through the world with confidence untouchable. It was early evening, the sun casting long blue shadows. The sidewalks gleamed from a recent rain, the city humming softly in the background. Evelyn glanced at her phone, scanning her packed schedule. That’s when an unexpected voice pierced the air—sharp and…
A Black woman in a worn-out coat and headscarf quietly walked into a local police station holding a clipboard. She didn’t speak. She didn’t flinch. But what happened next would shock the entire city. As she entered, one officer looked at her with disdain. “You lost, ma’am? Welfare office is two blocks down,” he said in a mocking tone. Another officer, equally sarcastic, muttered, “Better search her. She’s probably here to file a false complaint.” The woman said nothing. She remained calm, simply observing. Then one of the officers snatched the clipboard from her hands. “What’s this?” he sneered. “Confidential…
The courtroom was silent until Judge Karen banged her gavel and said, “A man like you doesn’t belong here unless you’re cleaning the floors.” The Black man standing before her didn’t even flinch—he just smiled. Exactly seven minutes later, she was the one in handcuffs. The court was packed that morning. Judge Karen Monroe, known for her strict rulings and ice-cold demeanor, sat high above everyone in her robe, glaring down like she was royalty. Opposite her stood James Carter—a calm, well-dressed Black man in his mid-30s, hands behind his back, confidence in his eyes. But the judge didn’t care.…
The old gatekeeper who once denied Trial Ray entry into the building couldn’t believe his eyes when they met again. “This place doesn’t serve vagrants,” he had said. It was Monday morning, and the sun in Uagadoo was gentle. The air was fresh after a night of rain, and the red dust still clung to the streets. The city seemed to have just woken from a dream, with small shops cracking open their doors, students spilling out of alleys, and the government buildings in the center opening their gates to welcome a new workday. On Paul Wedrago Street, the district’s…
The sun was very hot that afternoon in Wagadugu. The streets were busy as usual. People were buying and selling. Cars and motorcycles were everywhere, and the smell of roasted corn filled the air. In the middle of all the noise walked an old man called Mr. Dumbia. He was about 75 years old, thin, and his back was slightly bent because of old age. His white hair was shining under the sun. Many years ago, Mr. Dumbia was one of the best teachers in Burkina Faso. He taught many children who later became great people in the country. One…