My Flash Friday Entry #11

Happy Saturday! Here's my entry for yesterday's Flash! Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak! Today kicks off the third year of Flash! Friday - time really flies when you're coming up with stories told in a microsecond! 

I sadly didn't make it to Round Two of the Flashversary last week. But I still think my piece was very strong, and it's becoming a short story in my head. I'm looking forward to developing the characters and plot, so something good did come from it! 

Today we were required to do the following:

• Use the photo prompt
• Word count 140 - 160

The Photo Prompt:

Wine glass. CC2 photo by BlakJakDavy. 

~ Untitled ~

146 words

I blush when he takes the wine glass from my hand and places it on the porch railing. The air crackles with electricity. He sweeps my hair over my shoulder, and then his lips meet mine - tender at first then becoming more urgent.  

Guilt threatens to tear us apart while lust and longing pull us together.

Sorrow brews between us. Our kiss is full of unsaid goodbyes, unfulfilled hopes, and shattered dreams of what can never be. But there’s also volumes of love there. If there’s one thing I want more than anything, it’s for this kiss to never end. He breaks away before I’m ready.       

“If only everyday could be like this,” I whisper, hoping to stretch out our last minutes together.

“Me, too,” he murmurs into my hair and holds me closely.

I stand, gather my things, and walk away without looking back.

* * * * * *

I made a mistake mostly because I changed something at the last minute and was in a hurry. I could use some advice - I don't feel like I'm getting the hang of this flash fiction thing, and if anyone has any words of wisdom, I sure could use them. 

I want to give a special shout out to my daughter who just turned 12 yesterday (Dec 12th)! Happy Birthday to my clever, creative, bookish, imaginative, and fun-loving daughter! I'm so very proud of you! <3

  

My Flash Friday Entry #10

Today's Flash! Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak is very special - it's the second Flashversary, and this time there are three rounds to determine the winners as well as prizes galore! I really felt the pressure to up my game today, lol. 

Below you'll find my entry for Round One, and tomorrow I'll find out if I've made it to Round Two. Here's hoping!! 

Today we were required to do the following:

• Use the photo prompt
• Word count 150 exactly, no more no less

The photo prompt:

Red Sunset. CC2.0 photo by Petteri Sulonen 

~ Torch of Light ~

150 words

Our village is burning down as the day slips into night. Closing my eyes, the image of the setting sun and the church steeple stark against the burning sky has seared itself into my unwilling brain.  

“Mama, I cannot breathe,” I whisper into her sweater.

“I know, Alyona, I am sorry. But we must be quiet now.”

I focus on listening to her steady heartbeat, allowing the sound to calm my own heart. The fire allows the thick black smoke to choke us, the heat to stifle us. The hellish flames continue to lick the buildings with their orange tongues of destruction.

Mama attempts to distract me. “Have I ever told you what your name means?” she whispers softly.

“No, Mama.”

“‘The torch of light.’ You will be the light our village needs once this scourge has reached its end.” Tenderly she kisses my forehead and holds me closer.

* * * * * *

I'm really proud of this one. I was super nervous about coming up with an idea since it's the flashversary, and that photo! Wow, that photo is mesmerizing. 

An idea immediately popped into my head, which is what I wrote above, and I think it's my best entry so far. I have high hopes I'll at least make it to the second round. 

Wish me luck!! :D

My Flash Friday Entry #9

Here's my entry for Flash! Friday from November 28th hosted by Rebekah Postupak! 

Today we were required to do the following:

• Use the below photo
• Include coming of age
• Word count 140 - 160

The photo prompt:

Your Hand in Mine/Goodbye. CC2 photo by Tony.    

~ Goodbye to the Land ~

160 words

Tendrils of my dark wavy hair fall down to just below my shoulder blades as I take out my ponytail holder. The rain kisses my hair causing dripping wet tresses, but I don't mind. I am about to become soaking wet from the ocean anyhow. 

At the edge of the water, I begin walking into it, carrying the umbrella with me. No one is at the beach today - the rain has driven everyone but me away. The deeper the water gets, the heavier my dress feels. I wonder what will become of it once the transformation is complete. I suppose it won't matter. 

Once the water comes up to my neck, I open up the umbrella. I dip under the water and ease the umbrella down with me. Immediately I feel the process of losing my human legs beginning. My coming of age ceremony is just beginning. 

I bid a warm farewell to the life I had on land.

*  *  *  *  *  *

I think I could have done a lot better with the photo prompt for this one, especially with incorporating a coming of age theme. I'm disappointed with this writing - it doesn't feel terribly original, and I think I limited myself somehow. This photo makes me think of all kinds of possibilities, but sadly, I didn't grab onto any at the time. 

What do you think? Let me know your thoughts!   

My Flash Friday Entry #8

Here's my entry for Flash! Friday from November 21st hosted by Rebekah Postupak! 

Today we were required to do the following:

• Use the below photo
• Include a puppy
• Word count 140 - 160

The photo prompt:

Caruso with phonograph, early 1900's. Baen photo owned by LOC; no known restrictions.   

~ Memories ~  

*  *  *  *  *  *

What do you think? 

And remember - come write with us every Friday! It's a lot of fun! :D

My Flash Friday Entry #7

Hey, how are all of you?! Things have been a bit crazy here, lol. I'm behind on posting my entries and am catching up this weekend. :) 

Here's my entry for Flash! Friday from November 7th hosted by Rebekah Postupak! 

Today we were required to do the following:

• Use the below photo
• Include treasure
• Word count 140 - 160

The photo prompt:

Chef at the Trans-Siberian rail wall, between Moscow and Khabarovsk. CC 2.0 photo by Leidolv Magelssen. 

~ Beautiful Potential ~

{157 words} 

Every day brought a new location with the promise of new adventure. No regrets and no worries were his way of life. When the train stopped, he became excited with the prospect of finding a new treasure to add to his collection of knickknacks. Soon he'd have to find a larger and sturdier box to store them all.

This particular day, he looked out of the train car, pensive and quiet, in the early morning light. Passengers were boarding, and he liked to imagine he knew why they were traveling and where they were headed. Noticing a young woman struggling with her luggage, he stepped down onto the platform.

"May I assist you?" he asked gently.

She blushed a beautiful shade of pink. "Thank you kindly, mister."

He picked up her luggage as though it weighed nothing and helped her onto the train. They smiled at each other. 

And somehow he knew he had found real treasure. 

*   *   *   *   *   * 

With this entry, I have some exciting news...

I won 2nd runner up! 

I think I jumped up and down for the rest of the day, lol. Here's what the judge for that week, Phil Coltrane, said about my writing. :D  

So how cool is that?? I was so happy, and since this happened last month during NaNoWriMo, it was a positive boost I needed. :D

Come write with us next Friday! It's so much fun, and we respond to each other's writing. It helps me become a stronger writer every week. 

Have a happy weekend! 

My Flash Friday Entry #6

Hey guys! Here's my entry for this week Flash! Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak!!!  

If you'd like to participate, click the link above for the rules and come join us next Friday! 

Today we were required to do the following: 

• Use the below photo
• Include bankruptcy
• Word count between 140-160

Here's the photo prompt:

Title: Mr. Hydrick, county supervisor, and Mr. Melody Tillery examining mouth and teeth of his mare, which has mule colt. Pike County, near Tray, Alabama. Public domain photo by Marion Post Walcott 

~ The Loss ~

"We lost," Greg said firmly. "How did we lose? That bet should've been a sure thing." 

"You know your wife is going to disown you now, right?" I shuffled nervously, my hands glued into my pockets from the unbearable heat. 

Greg frowned at me. "I'll find a way out of this mess. Somehow, some way. I don't want to lose her. I CAN'T lose her." He began mumbling and sweating profusely.

Worried about him, all I wanted to do was reassure him. The words stuck in my throat - I felt like we were out in the Sahara. I was out a lot of money, too. But I didn't have a wife - I only had myself to worry about. 

Pacing back and forth, Greg looked too pale for being out in the sun all day. I looked up - and saw his wife marching our way. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Not my best work, but I was in a hurry, eep.

Would you like to participate in Flash! Fridays? 

Let me know so I can cheer you on! 

My Flash Friday Entry #5

I came so close to skipping this week thinking what in the world could I write about? I eventually worked something out - if I stop this week, I'll stop every week. 

So here's my entry for this week Flash! Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak!!!  

If you'd like to participate, click the link above for the rules and come join us next Friday! 

Today we were required to do the following: 

• Use the below photo
• Include a politician 
• Word count between 140-160

Here's the photo prompt:

Local fisherman, Yugoslavia. CC photo by GothPhil 

~ Fishing is Trouble ~

Strong tugging on my fishing pole gave me little time to balance myself in our boat. Hair blew in my face along with spray from the water. I began to reel in the fish slowly, my muscles straining.

“What’s the holdup, Andrea?” Jess shaded her eyes, smiling. “Too much for Wonder Woman?”

“Yeah yeah, struggling over here! Come help me!”  

Jess shook her head, laughing, and stood next to me. Her eyes widened. “Boy, you weren’t kidding!”

We tugged on the line as hard as we could, and just when we thought it would snap...  

“Oh shit, it’s a shark!” Jess shrieked and immediately backed up.

The predator thrashed around, then disappeared. I lifted up the line, and the upper half of what once was Senator Warman, pale and bloated, lifelessly stared back at me.    

I opened my mouth to scream but not a sound escaped my lips.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

I'm asking for constructive criticism please. What can I do to make my pieces stronger and stand out from the pack? 

Would you like to participate in Flash! Fridays? 

Let me know so I can cheer you on! 

My Flash Friday Entry #4

I participated in Flash! Friday again hosted by Rebekah Postupak!!! Last week I didn't win or get even an honorable mention, which has only made me more determined to put my best writing out there and kick some a$$. This time I didn't wait until the last minute - I swear, scrambling around trying to cut words is SO nerve wracking - and I think that helped a lot. We'll see on Monday how I did.  

If you'd like to participate, click the link above for the rules and come join us next Friday! 

Today we were required to do the following: 

• Use the below photo
• Include a death
• Word count between 140-160

Here's the photo prompt:

Typhoon Maid Thursday. CC photo by Shuji Moriwaki 

~ Last Breath After Coma ~

Ghosts of the past and memories too painful to bear haunt me as I stand on the riverbank gazing at water. A distant beeping temporarily distracted me but soon ceased. I can hear soft voices but know not to whom they belong. Still as a statue, I longingly strain to hear what they're saying. 

My mind begins to wander, and I think about how as a child my parents told me the same story every night. When I asked where it came from, they only assured me it was a story. But I knew better. 

Images of an accident in the water assail me, and instead of a river, I now see myself on a bed. My parents sit next to me but cannot hear me when I try to speak. They're telling me the story one last time as my heart aches for one last chance to say good-bye. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

I'm asking for constructive criticism please. What can I do to make my pieces stronger and stand out from the pack? 

Would you like to participate in Flash! Fridays? 

Let me know so I can cheer you on! 

My Flash Friday Entry #3

I haven't participated in Flash! Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak for a long time, but I'm feeling like taking on the challenge. So Friday night, I did, and at the last minute, too, lol. Click on the link above to find out the rules and how you can participate, too.

Below are the links to the last two times I've participated (over a year ago, yikes!):

My Flash Friday Entry #1 

My Flash Friday Entry #2 

God flash fiction is extremely difficult, and I think this is exactly what I need to work on that will strengthen my writing.

For this week, we had to do the following:

• Use the below photo
• Incorporate a marriage proposal into our piece
• Word count between 140-160

Here's the photo prompt:

Krak des Chevaliers/Qalat al-Hosn, Syria. CC photo by Jon Martin 

~ My Piece (Untitled) ~

Contemplative in the silence, I knew this moment of peacefulness wouldn’t last long. I wondered when she’d come bursting in with guns blazing. I gazed out the balcony door, grasping the last moments of sanity before everything blew to hell.

The door burst open, vengeance rolling in waves from this woman I loved. I sat up, the box safely tucked away in my pocket, knowing I might not need it after all.

“How could you, Robert?” Her words hung in the air, stabbing me like a knife.

I sighed. “Vic, your life would have been in danger. Now we know - we’re both assassins. What are we going to do about it?”

“You should have told me there was a hit out on me!”

“I never would have gone through with it.” Down on one knee, I opened the velvet box. “And this is why...I love you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my partner in crime?”

* * * * * * * * * *

What do you think? Constructive criticism is always appreciated. :) Do you think you'd like to participate in Flash! Fridays, too? Let me know! :)

My Flash Friday Entry #2

This week, the prompt for the story is the below photo, and the word count had to be between 145-155. Here's my entry from last night that I posted at the Flash Friday blog .

Photo courtesy of Wondermar at Pixabay

“Saying Goodbye”

“Are you ready?”

“I’m not sure…does it have to be now? I’m afraid…”

Daddy looked down at me with his gentle smile, puffs of breath steaming in the cold air. I let go of Daddy’s hand and wrapped my coat around me tighter. The chill seemed to penetrate my thick coat. I grabbed his hand again.

“You don’t have to be afraid. I’m right here with you. Mommy’s waiting for you.” At the mention of her, I looked up and saw the tears gathering in his eyes. He blinked them back when he saw that I noticed.

“She is?” I asked uncertainly.

Daddy smiled through his tears. “Yes, baby, she’s always been waiting. I’m going to help you – you won’t be alone, I promise.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes against the weak sunlight. “Okay, Daddy, I…” The next thing I knew, I saw my Mommy. I had crossed over.


Okay, critique time! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Give it to me straight - I can take it, lol. Thank you so much! <3