Bruises concealed. Flinches masked. Happiness faked.
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Six Word Story: Charade
FFfAW: Winter’s Child
Winter's Child He had to wait for winter to arrive. Or so they told him. The summer, they said, belonged to others. He had to wait for the air to turn chilly and the wind biting; for the frost to form on the trees. Only then would it be his time. But the summer seemed... Continue Reading →
TLT: The Flying Banana
Each weekend they'd piled into the backseat, little ones on older siblings laps, ready for an adventure. It had been part of their family: the Flying Banana, the greatest car in the world. Which was why, despite being told it was only good for the scrapheap, the rusting wreck continued to sit in their garage - some day the banana would... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Susceptible
Susceptible Willow spotted the pair long before they reached her. The man was perfect, open minded and curious. The woman was more... problematic. She exuded confidence, carrying a fixed world-view that prevented any tampering to her thoughts. But the man was too good to ignore. "Come," she whispered into his mind. "This way." He stopped, his vacant gaze turning towards the doorway where Willow... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Captivated
Captivated Raedan's hands clenched around the gift box as he listened to the announcement. Lady Seleste had chosen her suitor. And it wasn't him. Everyone else faded into insignificance as she glided across the hall. With each tilt of her head, each flash of a smile, she set his senses reeling. She'd captivated him from the first. Now he had one... Continue Reading →
TLT: Boxed
She'd always said that she wouldn't be put in a box and forced into conformity, that she wouldn't follow their indifferent society's path, only to be left feeling stifled and unfulfilled. So how had she come to this? She turned away from the window, from the view of coffin like apartments, and began to pack her bags - it... Continue Reading →
CWW: Ancient Paths
Meandering path, following a well trodden route. To whose doorway do you lead? This post is for Cee's Which Way Challenge. This week's pictures were taken at the Chysauster Ancient Village in Cornwall (England), the remains of an Iron Age settlement thought to have first been occupied nearly 2,000 years ago, during the Roman occupation... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Wisps of Gold
Wisps of Gold Emily stood beside the piled leaves, peering around the garden for any that might have escaped her notice. It had taken far longer than she’d expected to scrape the mound together, each breeze threatening to undo her work, but she’d been determined to gather every golden scrap she could find. "Well?" she called. "How's... Continue Reading →
TLT: All the Time in the World
She'd always complained that there weren't enough hours in the day as she dashed from task to task, her to-do list never shrinking. Then fateful words caused her world to shatter. Suddenly she had all the time she'd ever needed, but nothing could fill the interminable hours as they dragged on into an increasingly bleak future. This post... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Seven PM
Seven PM Edmund stood on the shoreline. Waiting. It was something he was good at. As a child he'd waited for his father, watching the ticking clock. At seven pm, daily, the man would hear the governess' report, granting him a fragment of his time: a smile, a question, a word of praise... if the report was fair. On days when... Continue Reading →
TLT: Tools of the Trade
He'd collected many tools of the trade over the years, as he moved from job to job in search of a career that fulfilled him. Each time he'd thought he'd found it, thought that this time he'd be happy - only for boredom to soon set in. But this time... this time would be different. This post is for... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Sidelines
Sidelines Jenny hurried past the sports field with her head down, eyes fixed on the path before her. The hubbub of the players stirred memories she'd rather ignore. Plus, he was there. She could hear his voice, bellowing orders over the field. She could feel the weight of his knowing gaze. She'd spent so many hours standing on the sidelines, cheering... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: The Children
The Children "For your disregard of our laws-" "Father, please," Lia said, tears flowing. But no trace of her doting parent was visible. It was the High Councillor who faced her: stern and forbidding as he passed sentence. "-you are hereby banished." Her hand tightened on the pony's reins, and she avoided looking at the children on the... Continue Reading →
TLT: Fruitful
She'd always dreamed of a fertile union. In her youth she'd painted her lips cherry-red, desperate to attract a partner to fulfill her desires, only to be left with a sour taste as their rot spread through her life. Now her season was waning - maybe it was time to reach for the promised fruit alone. This post is for Sonya's... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: The Birth of Ambition
The Birth of Ambition "This used to be one of the greatest gardens in the area." The rough voice caught Finley's attention as he stomped along the path. "Some day it could be again." Finley paused, juggling his armfuls of equipment as he peered at the old gardener leaning on his spade beside the path. With weathered... Continue Reading →
TLT: Waiting
Waiting "Why are you here?" he asked, even though he knew the answer. "I'm waiting for you." Her heels clunked against the cabinet in a familiar rhythm. "I'll wait forever if I have to." "I won't be long now." Ephemeral fingers traced his aged cheek before she faded from view. This post is for Sonya's Three Line... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Imaginary Friends
This post is for Priceless Joy's Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. This week's prompt was provided by me. Imaginary Friends "It's just your eyes playing tricks on you," everyone always told her. "None of it's real." Even her grandmother - who told the most wonderful stories - had always waved a dismissive hand and said, "Your imagination is running away... Continue Reading →
Six Word Story: Discontent
This post is for The Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story Challenge. This week's prompt is: discontent. Irritation simmers, expanding: ready to explode.
Six Word Story: Tease
This post is for the Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story challenge. This week's prompt is tease. "Mum! Charlie keeps on poking me!" As soon as I saw this week's prompt I knew I had to write a six word story about siblings teasing each other! Working with kids I tend to see a lot of that. 🙂 I chose... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: The Window
His post is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, a flash fiction challenge run by Priceless Joy, that asks you to write a story of 100-175 words based on the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by Nonnaci. Thank you Nonnaci. The Window Raen stood in the doorway and considered the benefit of retreat.... Continue Reading →
Six Word Story: Insult
This post is for the Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story Challenge. This week's theme is insult. Thick skinned? He'd had to be. I didn't really know what picture I was going to use to illustrate this six word story until I went hunting around on Pixabay. Then I entered the search term 'thick skinned' and elephant pictures appeared. Perfect! One of... Continue Reading →
TLT: To Shape the World
This post is for Sonya's Three Line Tales challenge. To Shape the World She smiled as she walked away, her every possession carried in the bag on her back. For too long she'd allowed his derisive opinions to control her actions - but no more. From now on, her world would be shaped by her hands... Continue Reading →
Six Word Story – Dark
This post is for The Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story challenge. This week's theme is dark. Within shadows he watches, waiting. Soon...
TLT: Tug-of-War
This post is for Sonya's Three Line Tales, a challenge that asks you to write three lines based on the photo prompt below. Tug-of-War With feet apart, teeth bared and fists clenched, they battled yet again for supremacy. Chloe turned away, dialling a familiar number on her phone. She refused to be the prize in... Continue Reading →
TLT: The Sands of Time
This post is for Sonya's Three Line Tales challenge. The Sands of Time The sand flows steadily on: seconds, minutes, hours... building into days, weeks, years... Memories of childhood joy lies smothered beneath arid desert. Still, enough time remains to build sandcastles before the glass turns once more.
Six Word Story: Paranoia
This post is for the Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's six word story challenge. This week's prompt is: paranoia. Skin itching; eyes peering; creatures lurking. I'm not sure I'll ever manage to come back on this post -that spider picture is making my skin itch. Yes, this is definitely a paranoia that I have. If I see a... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: The Weight of Duty
This post is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, a flash fiction challenge hosted by Priceless Joy that asks you to write a piece of flash fiction of 75-175 words based on the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by momtheobscure. Thank you momtheobscure! The Weight of Duty Ieldu stared at the ruins... Continue Reading →
Six Word Story: Revealing
Vicious words exposed seething bitterness within. This was written for The Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story Challenge. This week's prompt is: Revealing. I actually put together this post at the weekend, during a lull in the chaos at work - as usual, finding the picture took longer than anything else. I then forgot about... Continue Reading →
Six Word Story: Perfection
This post is for The Sometimes Stellar Storyteller's Six Word Story Challenge. This week's prompt is Perfection. Crumpled papers lie discarded: standard unattained.
FFfAW: Creations Studio
This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by Uday . Thank you Uday! Creations Studio The moment Tessa saw the strange doorway her world shifted out of... Continue Reading →
SPF: Memento
This story is in response to the Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, hosted by Alistair Forbes, that asks that you write a story / poem of around 200 words using the photo as a guide. Memento She'd always wondered what was kept in the garage. Frances clutched the key to her chest, curiosity battling with trepidation as she stood before the... Continue Reading →
TLT: The Game
The Game They laugh as they play their game, ruthless ambition hidden behind genial smiles as they move counters with calculated precision. Bank balances keep score: vast accumulated wealth the desired pinnacle. On the city streets below the people scurry through their daily lives, unwitting pieces in a cutthroat contest. This post is for Sonya's Three Line Tales challenge.
FFfAW: Celebrations and Sorrows
This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by me. Celebrations and Sorrows For the third time in less than a week Lili climbed the steps... Continue Reading →
TLT: The Eternal Library
This post is for Sonya's Three Line Tale Challenge, that asks us to write three lines in response to the photo prompt. She wandered in a dream-like haze, unaware of time's passage. The sights and scents of paper and ink filled her senses. Occasionally a text would beckon and she'd digest every word before moving on. If this was eternity, she was... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Breaking the Silence
This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week's prompt is from Pixabay. Breaking the Silence Edan's steps faltered, halting his furtive progress as faint strains of music reached his... Continue Reading →
FFftPP: Faded Calligraphy
This post is for Roger Shipp's Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner challenge. For this challenge we are given a photo prompt and an optional opening line / prompt sentence. This week's prompt line is “There it was. You could see the corner of the folded yellowed parchment sticking out of the torn lining of the battered book.” I've not used the... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Solitude’s Isle
This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by TJ Paris. Thank you TJ! Solitude's Isle He watched from the clifftop as she meandered along... Continue Reading →
MWC: Freedom
This post is for Baheya's Miniature Writing Challenge. This week's prompt is Freedom. For this challenge you are asked to write either an ultra short story (50-150 words), a haiku or a little poem. This week I decided to share a poem. Self-Doubt Ensnared in a churning morass of fear, insecurity, spiralling ever deeper. Not as good;... Continue Reading →
Six Sentence Story: A Question of Honour
This post is for Ivy Walker's Six Sentence Story, a flash fiction challenge that I haven't joined in with before but decided to try out this week. The only rule of the challenge is that you write a story in six sentences - no more and no less - on the given prompt. This week's prompt is draw. A Question... Continue Reading →
FFfAW: Gifts
This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week's prompt was provided by Ady. Thank you Ady! Gifts “Thompson here yet?” Billy jumped, squawking in surprise at the sound... Continue Reading →
