Short Stories in English to Read | English Short Stories
Short Stories in English to Read | English Short Stories
Time-Traveling Friend
Liam and Jake were best friends who did everything together—playing video games, riding bikes, and chatting about their favorite movies.
But one day, Liam noticed something unusual about Jake. Jake started disappearing at odd times and returning with unbelievable stories.
“I just saw a dinosaur!” Jake exclaimed once. Another time, he said, “I met a knight in shining armor!”
At first, Liam thought Jake was joking. But he couldn’t ignore the feeling that something was different.
One evening, Jake showed up at Liam’s house after being gone for hours. He was holding a strange device—a small, silver gadget with buttons and flashing lights.
“Liam, I need to tell you something,” Jake said seriously. “I’m a time traveler.”
Liam’s eyes widened. “A time traveler? Like, you can visit the past and future?”
Jake nodded. “Yes. My great-grandfather invented this device and passed it down to me. I’ve been exploring different times.”
“That’s incredible! Can I come with you?” Liam asked, barely containing his excitement.
Jake smiled. “Of course. But we have to be careful. Time travel can be risky.”
The next day, the duo decided to visit ancient Egypt. Jake pressed some buttons, and in a flash of light, they were transported to a bustling market.
People in white robes and golden jewelry surrounded them, and the pyramids towered in the distance.
“This is amazing!” Liam said, awestruck.
But time travel wasn’t all fun. They had to avoid being noticed by locals who might see them as spies or sorcerers. More importantly, they couldn’t change anything in the past, as it might affect the future.
During an adventure in medieval Europe, disaster struck. Jake accidentally dropped the device, and a curious knight picked it up, mistaking it for a magical artifact.
The knight took it to his king, forcing Jake and Liam to sneak into the castle at night.
After a tense chase, they managed to retrieve the device and return to their own time—just in time for dinner.
Exhausted but thrilled, they sat in Liam’s room, catching their breath. “That was close,” Liam said, shaking his head. “But it was the best adventure ever.”
Jake grinned. “There are so many more times to explore. We’ll just have to be extra careful.”
From then on, Liam and Jake continued their time-traveling adventures, ready to face any challenge together.
The Forgotten Journal
Tom loved thrift stores. He enjoyed finding unique treasures and old books.
One rainy afternoon, he discovered a dusty old journal tucked behind a pile of clothes. Its leather cover was worn, and the pages were yellowed with age.
Curious, Tom bought it and took it home. That evening, he sat in his small apartment and began to read.
The journal belonged to a man named Jack, who had lived in the same town many years ago. Jack wrote about his daily life, friends, and job at the local factory.
But as Tom read further, the story took a mysterious turn. Jack mentioned feeling like someone was watching him.
He described seeing a shadowy figure following him and finding strange notes on his doorstep.
One entry stood out: “I think I know who it is. I’ll confront them tonight.” After that, the journal ended abruptly.
Tom felt a chill. What had happened to Jack? Why did the entries stop?
Determined to find answers, Tom went to the library and searched through old newspapers. Hours later, he found an article dated twenty years ago.
The headline read: “Local Man Missing Under Mysterious Circumstances.”
The article described how Jack had vanished without a trace. No one knew what had happened to him.
Tom spoke to older residents in town. They remembered Jack and his sudden disappearance but had no clues about what happened.
One day, while walking through the park, Tom met an elderly man named Mr. Harris. He used to work with Jack at the factory.
Mr. Harris revealed that Jack had a feud with a co-worker named Bill. Bill was jealous and often caused trouble.
Following the lead, Tom visited Bill, who still lived in town. At first, Bill refused to talk. But when Tom showed him Jack’s journal, Bill broke down.
He confessed to following Jack because he believed Jack was hiding something valuable. The night Jack planned to confront him, they fought. In a panic, Bill pushed Jack, who fell and hit his head.
Terrified, Bill hid Jack’s body in the woods and kept the secret for decades.
Tom informed the police, who arrested Bill and recovered Jack’s remains. Finally, Jack received a proper burial, and the mystery was solved.
Tom realized how powerful forgotten items could be. The old journal had helped uncover a long-buried truth.
A Day in the Future
Jake woke up to the gentle hum of his smart bed. It was the year 2124, and the world had transformed in unimaginable ways.
As he opened his eyes, the walls of his room turned a cheerful yellow—a built-in feature to brighten his morning.
In the kitchen, breakfast awaited him. A robot chef had prepared his favorite meal: pancakes with syrup and fresh fruit. Jake marveled at how easy life had become.
He dressed in smart clothes that adjusted to the weather, keeping him comfortable throughout the day. Outside, his self-driving car waited to take him to work.
The city was a blend of sleek skyscrapers and greenery. Drones buzzed around delivering packages, while people glided on hoverboards.
Advanced technology had eliminated pollution, and rooftop gardens added a touch of nature to the urban landscape.
Jake worked as a virtual reality designer, creating immersive digital worlds. Today, he was developing a virtual safari where people could explore wildlife without leaving their homes.
At the office, Jake donned his VR headset and stepped into the safari he was building. Elephants, lions, and even dinosaurs roamed the landscape.
His remote colleagues joined him in the virtual world, collaborating as if they were in the same room.
During lunch, Jake used a teleportation pod to visit his grandmother. They reminisced about how life used to be—manual cars, gas engines, and paper maps.
After finishing his project, Jake returned home to relax. He watched a holographic movie that projected scenes around his room, making him feel like part of the story.
Before bed, Jake planned his next day with the help of his house AI, which even read him a bedtime story.
As he drifted off to sleep, Jake felt grateful for the incredible technology that made life so exciting. He couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.
