The Ink Well Highlights Magazine # 224

_{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 August 18 to August 24/2025.

Featured Author: @marsdave ## [The Weight No One Sees ]( https://peakd.com/@marsdave/the-weight-no-one-sees )  _{[ Author's image]( )}

> That night, I dragged myself home. I couldn't even eat. I just took a shower and lay down on the bed. I kept replaying how the day went. I had thought catering was just about food and you know....but it was pressure, hard work, sweat, humility and you won't even be able to eat anything again at the end of the day. @marsdave 

Featured Author: @seki1 ## [Help The Sick ]( https://peakd.com/@seki1/help-the-sick )  _{[ Image Generated using Chat GPT]( )}

>“Oga, You go make me better small small. I don see you heal wound wey bad pass dis one for Mr Ben leg. I believe say you go do something for dis one too. Dem no even dey pain me like before, e don dey heal already.” The fact that her elder parents looked at her and at me with eyes of hope made me realize there was no correcting her. @seki1 

Featured Author: @kristabel123 ## [What We Never Said ]( https://peakd.com/@kristabel123/what-we-never-said-h8b )  _{[ Image Generated using Meta AI]( )}

>Nothing was meant to and could possibly happen between me and Alex. I had a boyfriend and he was the kind of boyfriend parent liked – had a steady job, a nice smile, the kind of man who showed up on time and never raised his voice. And Alex was the opposite. Alex lived in a constant half-chaos life: mismatched socks, unwatered plants and a desk covered in half-filled notebooks. But he listened. God, did he listen. He would tilt his head and let me ramble for long, but he always understood and heard everything I was saying. @kristabel123 

Featured Author: @jennyzee1 ## [HARD CHOICES ]( https://peakd.com/@jennyzee1/hard-choices )  _{[ Image Generated using Meta AI]( )}

>"Herald, I've always loved you, and always dreamt that it would be you and me forever, but you didn't love me enough to tell me about your mom's accident. I would've dropped everything to go with you, so you wouldn't be lonely. You stopped calling, my calls went straight to voicemails, and you never returned them. Now you're here, telling me you love me after I had already moved on. What do you want me to do?" Helen sobbed. @jennyzee1 

Featured Author: @tranquil3 ## [ The Witness]( https://peakd.com/@tranquil3/the-witness )  _{[ Image Generated using Meta AI]( )}

> That night, he couldn’t sleep. Every sound made him jump. He kept replaying the scene in his head. Maybe he was crazy. Maybe boredom had tricked his eyes. By 4 a.m. that morning, a faint chill swept through him as he watched from his window. A car was parked outside the opposite flat. Two men lifted a heavy sack into the trunk. The man with the sunglasses stood by, directing. The sack was long. Too long. @tranquil3 

Featured Author: @litguru ## [ ]( https://peakd.com/@litguru/guardians-of-the-night )  _{[ Image generated using Generative Art software]( )}

>Wednesday 9:17 AM The jeep rattled as Lucia drove it down the fiendishly muddy road. The heat was oppressive, but at least the morning breeze felt cool on his face. “I don’t remember anything," said Liam rubbing his eyes on the seat beside her. "We were in the mangrove when I felt the pain in my leg. Then after that. It’s all a blur.” @litguru 

Featured Author: @whatmidesays ## [Apparently, Boredom Is Just Drama Running Late ]( https://peakd.com/@whatmidesays/apparently-boredom-is-just-drama-running-late-4lh)  _{[ Image Generated using Meta AI]( )}

>Three notifications. My heart skipped because I thought it was him typing in paragraphs. You know when you’re waiting for that one reply and your brain is just like God, please soften his heart? Only, It wasn’t Ola. It was Reynold. @whatmidesays  @jayna , @gracielaacevedo , @yaziris , @itsostylish , @samsmith1971, and @agmoore p.s. You can see the past magazines here: [1](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-march-25-2021), [2](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-april-1-2021), [3](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-april-10-2021), [4](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-april-17-2021), [5](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-april-24-2021), [6](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-may-1-2021), [7](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-may-9-2021), [8](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-may-16-2021), [9](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-may-23-2021), [10](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-may-30-2021), [11](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-june-6-2021), [12](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-june-13-2021), [13](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-13-june-20-2021), [14](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-14-and-announcement-june-29-2021), [15](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-15-and-weekly-top-commenters-july-5-2021), [16](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-16-and-weekly-top-commenters-july-12-2021), [17](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-17-and-top-commenter-recognition-august-15-2021), [18](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-18-and-top-commenter-recognition-august-22-2021), [19](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-19-and-top-commenter-recognition-august-29-2021), [20](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-20-and-top-commenter-recognition-september-5-2021), [21](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-21-and-top-commenter-recognition-september-12-2021), [22](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-22),[23](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-23), [24](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-24), [25](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-25), [26](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-26), [27](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-27), [28](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-28), [29](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-29), [30](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-30), [31](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-31), [32](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-32), [33](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-33), [34](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-34), [35](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-35), [36](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-36), [37](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-37), [38](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-37-r67be3), [39](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-39), [40](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-40), [41](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-41), [42](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-42), [43](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-43), [44](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-44), [45](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-45), [46](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-46-r98a9r),[47](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-47), [48](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-48), [49](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-49), [50](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-50), [51](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-51), [52](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-52), [53](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-53), [54](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-54), [55](https://peakd.com/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-55), [56](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-56), [57](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-57), [58](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-58), [59](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-59), [60](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-60), [61](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-61), [62](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-62), [63](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-63), [64](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-64), [65](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-65), [66](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-66), [67](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-67),[68](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-68), [69](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-69), [70](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-70), [71](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-71), [72](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-72), [73](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-73), [74](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-74), [75]( https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-75), [76](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-76), [77](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-77), [78](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-76-rkraog-hive-170798), [79](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-79), [80](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-80), [81](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-81), [82](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-82), [83](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-83), [84](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-84), [85](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-85), [86](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-86), [87](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-87), [88](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-88), [89](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-89), [90](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-90), [91](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-91), [92](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-92), [93](https://peakd.com/publish?edit=theinkwell%2Fthe-ink-well-highlights-magazine-93), [94](https://peakd.com/publish?edit=theinkwell%2Fthe-ink-well-highlights-magazine-94), [95](https://peakd.com/publish?edit=theinkwell%2Fthe-ink-well-highlights-magazine-95), [96](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-96), [97](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-97), [98](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-98), [99](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-99), [100](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-100), [101](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-101), [102](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-102), [103](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-103), [104](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-104), [105](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-105), [106]( 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[117](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-117), [118](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-118), [119](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-119), [120](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-120), [121](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-121), [122](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-121-s0lhi7-hive-170798), [123](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-123), [124](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-124), [125](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-125), [126](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-126), [127](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-127), [128](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-128),[129](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-129),[130](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-130), [131](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-131),[132](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-132),[133](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-133),[134](https://peakd.com/publish?edit=theinkwell%2Fthe-ink-well-highlight