The Ink Well Highlights Magazine # 228

_{Image modified using a picture by Becca Clark from Pixabay}

This periodic magazine highlights a small selection of short stories posted to The Ink Well community that stood out and were awarded a Curie vote. Thank you to all authors in The Ink Well for sharing your creative work!

Important Note

We are showcasing authors who have contributed well-written and edited stories, have read and commented on the work of other authors and comply with all of the community rules posted on our home page. These activities help our community thrive.

The following are just a few of our favorite stories from September 15 to September 21 /2025.

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Featured Author: @popurri

Dreaming in dreams

_Pixabay

> We enter a café and there, sitting at a table in front of a steaming cup of coffee, is my friend. "It can't be. I've dreamed of this place and this moment." "It's true, in your dreams you always come back here".

@popurri
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Featured Author: @zain-ab001

The Red Door

_{Image is by Meta AI generated}

>The men left the room. James then said in an old tongue, “Now I shall leave alone and ye shall bear witness," as he slowly took off the bags from their heads. He took off the last one, and he staggered back on seeing her. He cleaned his eyes and said in disbelief, “no it can't be, what are you doing here?” “Daddy?" Jessica's voice trembled in a different kind of fear.

@zain-ab001

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Featured Author: @janaveda

Soteldo's Chest: Fidel's Temptation

_Pixabay

>I said to myself, and doubt took over the room. Suddenly, I felt Soteldo's silhouette materialize in front of me, like an echo of a presence that had always been just around the corner. “God! What are you doing here?” I shouted. I couldn't breathe, and multiple needles pricked my back, making me sweat with cold. “Nothing. You tell me,” replied the silhouette, and its shape sharpened until it became the image of my grandfather, so familiar and yet so distant at the same time.

@janaveda

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Featured Author: @lailawrites

A Dance With My Final Paper

_{Image is by Meta AI generated}

>You don't have to go." My dad, standing in the door again now. The whole family gathered around my sickness like it's something amazing, something to behold. But I have to go. Four years of it, four years of all-nighters and early mornings and the constant stress of becoming something. I can't just walk away now because my body decided to turn against me.

@lailawrites

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Featured Author: @zerah

Beneath The Ocean

_Pixabay

>"Okay, plan B. We seal the chamber and make sure no one gets the gold. We return with enough firepower to fight and take them. For now, let's get off this ship." “We need to go, now,” Ifeanyi hissed. "Wait!" Maya yelled. "If I can get to the control room. I can call for help." I turned to the old man. "Where's the control room?"

@zerah

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@jayna , @gracielaacevedo , @yaziris , @itsostylish , @samsmith1971, and @agmoore

p.s. You can see the past magazines here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46,47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107,108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128,129,130, 131,132,133,134, 135, 136, 138, 139,140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146,147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155,156,157,158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177,178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184,185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206,207,208,209,210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 , 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227

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