This was absolutely stunning. The imagery wrapped around me like heat off the pavement, familiar, nostalgic, and just a little off. You captured that breathless, liminal space of childhood summer and folded it into something dark and magical. The pacing, the transformation, the Ringmaster’s sorrowful recognition, it all gave me chills. I’ll be thinking about Leah and that tent for a long, long time. Bravo.
It's a nice book and it has that end of childhood, end of summer, soon things will change sort of feeling like your story does. Plus the creepy circus as a catalyst.
Oh wow … I remember seeing an episode or reading a story—I don’t exactly remember, hmm!—with dancing puppets that were once human. This was brilliant, thank you.
This was absolutely stunning. The imagery wrapped around me like heat off the pavement, familiar, nostalgic, and just a little off. You captured that breathless, liminal space of childhood summer and folded it into something dark and magical. The pacing, the transformation, the Ringmaster’s sorrowful recognition, it all gave me chills. I’ll be thinking about Leah and that tent for a long, long time. Bravo.
Thank you 🥹
Beautiful prose. And I like your style.
Thank you 🙏
It made me think of Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Even just making someone think of Ray Bradbury 🥰 (I have to admit I haven't read that one yet but I really should)
It's a nice book and it has that end of childhood, end of summer, soon things will change sort of feeling like your story does. Plus the creepy circus as a catalyst.
Fantastic!! Beautiful, haunting and haunted work. Brava! (Have you ever read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? I think you'd enjoy it.)
Oh, I didn't, but I think I have it sitting on my bookshelf among the other hundreds to be read. Moving it higher in the pile!
Thanks for the lovely comments
It's more about atmosphere than plot.
Awesome story! Loved it. The end was bitter but worked to make it all hit.
Thank you Alma.
This us incredible! Excellent work!
Thank you! It's my first time trying a horror short story. So glad you like it
Oh wow … I remember seeing an episode or reading a story—I don’t exactly remember, hmm!—with dancing puppets that were once human. This was brilliant, thank you.
Excellent and chilling!
Thank you! 🖤