Short stories

            In a town ruled by monstrous officials who feed on stolen hours, Juan leads a quiet uprising. Armed only with memory, shadow, and a fragile scroll stitched from reclaimed time, he and his neighbors resist the ritual that devours their lives. But as the Time-Eaters unleash silence, forgetting, and division, Juan must confront not just the system—but the illusion of powerlessness itself. Time-Eaters is a haunting allegory of ordinary heroism, systemic critique, and the quiet dignity of reclaiming what was lost. Time - Eaters Devouring Moments, Reclaiming Life: A Look at Berns Pen's "Time-Eaters"  Imagine a world where the very fabric of your existence—your time—is not your own. Berns Pen, known for his thoughtful explorations of human experience, delves into such a chilling reality in his haunting new allegory, "Time-Eaters." The Town Where Time is a Feast Pen masterfully crafts a dystopian landscape where monstrous officials, known as "...

  "Through the Quiet Wall" began as a meditation on silence—how it can protect, isolate, and eventually invite us to listen more deeply. But as the story unfolded, it became something more intimate: a quiet reckoning with the ways we inherit harm, and the courage it takes to unlearn it. Henry’s journey is not one of easy redemption. His past includes a moment of boundary-crossing that, while not sexual in nature, still carries weight. It is a moment shaped by emotional isolation and learned behavior—one he neither excuses nor repeats. This story does not seek to justify his actions, but to explore what it means to face them with honesty, to choose presence over hiding, and to rebuild trust without demanding it. Elena’s arc is equally vital. She is not a savior, nor a symbol of forgiveness. She is a full person—an artist, a survivor of her own silences—who chooses reflection over reaction, and who holds space for her own boundaries as she decides what love means on her terms....

       When a devastating flood shatters his village and takes his children, Clement Reyes uncovers a web of corruption tied to a powerful mining empire. As he fights for justice, his wife Isla—lost to memory—quietly begins to reclaim her past. Together, they plant truth in scorched soil, turning grief into resistance. The River Remembers is a haunting, hopeful story of environmental reckoning, quiet heroism, and the power of memory to heal what was nearly erased. Read the full story here: The River Remembers Where Grief Meets Resistance: Unearthing Truth in "The River Remembers"  A river gives life, but in Berns Pen’s latest work, "The River Remembers," it delivers devastation. This haunting, hopeful novel plunges us into a world shattered by tragedy, where the struggle for personal healing mirrors the fight for environmental justice. The Scorched Soil of Injustice The story begins with a catastrophic flood that doesn’t just destroy Clement Reyes' village; it...

       Trevor once froze when it mattered most. A car sank beneath the surface of a quiet canal, and he stood still — holding a bag of oranges, watching, haunted ever since. Years later, a subway fire forces him into motion. Smoke, panic, and a trapped child become the test he never expected — and the moment he finally moves. The Man Who Failed to Move is a quiet, introspective journey through fear, forgiveness, and the small, unheroic choices that shape redemption. Told in twenty poetic chapters, this story explores what it means to carry regret, to prepare for courage, and to find motion in the aftermath of silence. For anyone who's ever wished they had moved — and still can. Read the full story here: The Man Who Failed to Move The Burden of the Orange Bag: Finding Motion in the Aftermath of Silence  What happens when your greatest regret becomes the defining moment of your life? Berns Pen’s profound, introspective story, "The Man Who Failed to Move," explor...

            Percival Alonzo, a reclusive billionaire known for his ruthless business acumen, is admitted to a private hospital after a sudden cardiac episode. Used to commanding respect and silence, he finds the sterile luxury of his suite suffocating—until a bright-eyed girl named Celyn begins visiting. Celyn, the daughter of Aling Fely, a lunch vendor beloved by the hospital staff, is a curious and precocious child. She wanders the halls with ease, chatting with nurses, joking with doctors, and even offering unsolicited advice. Her presence is like sunlight in a place designed for quiet suffering. At first, Percival is irritated by her visits. But Celyn’s unfiltered honesty, her stories about her mother’s sacrifices, and her innocent questions begin to chip away at his cynicism. She asks things no one dares to: “Why are you always alone?” “Do you ever laugh?” “Is money your best friend?” Through Celyn, Percival begins to see the hospital not as a pla...

  The world tells you that your potential is fixed. Your circumstances—your job, your history, your genetics—feel like inescapable chains. This is the weight of Fate. The Destiny Blueprint is the essential guide to escaping the default script and designing a life of profound purpose. Drawing on 25 chapters of integrated wisdom, this book provides a complete, 6-phase framework for overcoming internal resistance and external barriers. Discover how to convert the chaos of chance into the structure of your calling by: Mastering the Growth Mindset and cultivating long-term Grit . Strategically navigating Systemic Barriers and maximizing your Social Capital . Using Experimentation to find your unique path to Flow State and intrinsic motivation. Destiny is not a secret revelation or a stroke of luck; it is a strategic construction built through intentional effort and unwavering choice. This is the map for the life you were meant to create . Read the full story here: The Destiny Bluep...