“Donate those. Throw that away.” She categorizes the items that her daughter brings from the closet one by one. “You sure you wanna do this now?” “Yes. Let’s continue, shall we?” Her daughter sighs and picks the next item. “Ah, the pink dress…” Her pale, thin face softens. “I wore that for the event… How many years ago?” Her daughter says nothing. “I thought I … Continue reading her hero
She stirs the pot, scrunches her nose at the smell of garlic and herbs, and mops the sweat dripping down her neck. A sudden clinking sound of bottles behind startles her, but she keeps her eyes on the pot. Her hands shake a little, more sweat breaks out. The braids of her hair tremble. The clinking bottles move away, out of the kitchen, down the … Continue reading what’s cooking
Tim tries to open his eyes and flinches. “You’re gonna make it, buddy.” Who’s that? Tim tries to move and realizes he can’t. “You’re all strapped in and immobile,” the unfamiliar voice seems to be talking to him, “You were in an accident.” Accident? Tim tries to remember what happened. He was driving. He had borrowed Dad’s car. Tim moves his eyeballs and sees he’s … Continue reading precious cargo
I knew it was coming, but this soon? TV, SNS, and the papers are talking about the alarming discovery. What do I do now? I take the box out of the closet, carefully open, and remove the contents. Keys, a towel, a knife. All familiar. A pang in my chest. At the bottom, I find the answer. It has always been there, in the … Continue reading a package deal
Through the kitchen window, my eyes glance over the backyard. The fence needs a fresh coat of paint. The lawn needs to be mowed. I lean against the cold laminate counter, keeping my eyes outward. My fingers dripping water. I need to get out of here. My gaze focuses on the limited view beyond the faded fence. Cars whipping by. People talking on the phone. … Continue reading suspense
“I…I’m sorry, but…what are you doing?” “I’m just adjusting. I know you’ve made the bed already, and I thank you for that. But, I just noticed the corners aren’t right…” “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll do it better next time.” *** “What are you doing?” “I’m making the bed.” “I just did that.” “I know.” *** “Hey, what the…” “What!?” “…Nothing!” For Friday Fictioneers … Continue reading crescendo
She hears a muffled hum. A fly? A bee? Trapped somewhere in the room? She looks around, trying to locate the source of the murmur in her bleary vision. The sound intensifies, reverberating throughout the room. She grabs the arms of the chair, bracing to get up. After several failed attempts to stand on her feet, she plunks herself back down. The incessant noise … Continue reading stuck
Tap, tap, tap. Ding. Tap, tap. Tap, tap. Ding. Click, clack. Click, clack. Clack, clack, clack. Thump. … Sip. … Sip, sip. … Gulp. Gulp, gulp. … Ticktock, ticktock…ticktock, ticktock…ticktock… For Friday Fictioneers – 27 March 2020. PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold Continue reading masterpiece
My New Year’s resolution was decluttering. I started with my closet: fading and fraying shirts, skirts that I used to wear. This shirt is so comfortable. I might be able to fit in that skirt again. Next, I tackled the spare bedroom, which is used for storage. Roomful of dusty “stuff” was babbling on monotone stories as well as some colorful ones from the … Continue reading decluttering
She looked at her cracked fingertips as the dry, cold air rustled around her, and her warm breath melted the frost. She had lost everything, almost everything, her life turning upside down. The faint light shimmered in the frigid, and she trod on, leaving her footprints in the fresh snow. Three challenges in one! Written for Friday Fictioneers – 13 December 2019, Flash … Continue reading downfall
