26 Comments

Finally got time to really spend time with this. Whew! I am such a scaredy cat so was afraid, but you did that in this post. I am in awe of talented fictional writers because my brain appreciates it but can't replicate it. A whole world could be created I agree!

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I’m glad you enjoyed it! You’d be surprised what you could cook up with a lil inspiration

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Finally had a chance to read this. Consumed by love and death!

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Would you want to be zombified?

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Oh no. I’m going into the air.

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😭😭😭

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I was waiting for this post and I’m so happy I made time and space to really enjoy it. This is dark, twisted, beautiful and sad. You would turn something as grim as a zombie story into a tale of the lengths we will go for love. Thank you for this!

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Thank you for reading Stanley! Dark, twisted, and beautiful are all wonderful adjectives for my work. Cue *what would you dooooo for loveeeee

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You’re one of my favorite writers. If there’s one thing imma do on Substack, it’s read your work

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🥺🥺🥺 that’s so kind because I am perpetually blown away by the sharpness of your work

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Whew! 👏🏽

It didn't end like I expected since I thought someone willing to bring their deceased partner back to life would have an unhealthy attachment and subsequently struggle to let them go peaceably.

2) I don't think I would. My wife has violence so I'd feel like I was betraying her if I brought her back in a form that required, or tempted her, to do violence to others out of instinct.

3) "She eyes me as if deciding if she would risk ending herself." 🔥

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I think the first point is so true the caveat being that she knew going in she would have a shelf life so she got to give herself a bit more time to say goodbye!

That’s super thoughtful about what your wife would or wouldn’t. My husband told me don’t zombify him 😭 I’d still be tempted tho 🤔

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Great point.

And let that man rest in peace lol.

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😭😭😭😏 I’ll think about it

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😂

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I love this. I love the relationship, the ritual, the mangoes. I could definitely read more!

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I’ll add to my list of short stories I should turn novellas 🕵🏽

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You know it’s good when your partner is giving your feedback about world building. I’d bring my partner back without hesitation.

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I prob would too and low key I was like okay Brent with the critical feedback

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I really enjoyed this piece. Especially since she had a shelf life, which is just not considered in the 'modern' zombie.

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Yes modern zombie stories need to add some more of the basics! Spice things up a bit. Thank you for reading

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I could def feel a novel wanting to erupt from this. So good. Also, this line really grabbed me: "The sound of crickets is the drumbeat that I shovel to."

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Thank so much! I battled with that line and almost deleted it so glad it stuck out. Appreciate you reading and sharing Sean.

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The structure of that line is really cool. Whole story is great! Thanks for sharing it!

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Jun 2Edited
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Thanks for reading and for your opinion even though I disagree particularly about slang or curse words being difficult to use effectively. That’s how I speak, that’s how many people I know in my culture speak. It’s effective enough to be used for generations. Perhaps it’s just not for you. And yes it was about voodoo as zombies originate from Haiti and their voodoo practices. Thanks again for reading.

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Jun 13
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Yep, I am from the islands and you’re definitely entitled to your opinion. Ideally in longer stories more details would be flushed out but I try to keep reads under 10 minutes here so it is hard to expand too much and still keep the story tight at under 3000 words. Hopefully I will get to read your Mexican occult story. Good luck in writing it.

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