Greetings @theinkwell.
After reading the comment, I was simply shocked, disappointed after the bucket of cold water. It took me a few moments to react, thinking between shutting up or replying. Indeed, the publication guidelines in its numeral 7, mention that the stories should contain a range between a minimum of 750 words and a maximum of 1500 words, but does not specify that it is mandatory not to exceed that amount, but on the contrary also mentions that longer stories are also fine, although they have a tendency to have fewer readers, and also expresses that it is appreciated to respect the length for better time management, which is not clear if it is something clearly limiting.
Sometimes writing stories that contain good introductory elements, character development, conflict arc development, and conflict resolution in order to immerse the reader in an interesting read simply takes more than 1,500 words. Although stories can be simplified so as not to exceed that amount, it makes it, in my opinion, a bit more difficult to successfully address some of the descriptive and sensory elements that serve to enrich the story. Not to mention that also writing a story, reading it again, making corrections and, in my case, translating it, and then publishing it, takes time and effort; maybe others find it easier and simpler, but not necessarily, it is the same for everyone.
In spite of this, I feel grateful. I can say that I have learned a lot thanks to you, as I follow the tips, conditions, rules and guidelines of the many posts for writing stories that you have published; they are very good and have given me a teaching that has helped me a lot. But hey, healing is not mandatory, because in the end, when you give a vote, you give it to who you want to give it to without obligation; a universal right.
I apologize for this rejoinder, and also for my enthusiasm in writing and bringing to this community a story that does not fit into time management. An editing tip or a recommendation to keep the stories within that margin would have been easier for me to digest, although I know that sometimes the most demanding teachers tend to be like that.
The biggest thing you could do to chop your word count is to stop with the redundancies. The bulk of the information in the opening three paragraphs of text is implied or outright stated in the text after it. This happens quite a few times throughout the work.