81 Words Flash Fiction Writing Challenge – Stories Page 3

Story 201:

TIME BOMB

by Shaun Clarke

She'd found him strewn over the bath, pacified, motionless.

"Tim?" She panicked, before telling herself he's a joker.

"Tim?" she enquired, standing back, smiling hysterically.

She frowned…

"Timmy Sharpe, stop it now." Then she spotted the telling blood.

He was announced dead on arrival at hospital.

When she learned he'd died of liver cancer, she remembered he'd complained about a pain which they never took seriously. She closed her eyes in absolute agony. There was always something more important to do.

Story 205:

PRIVACY POLICY

by Chris Cantor

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Story 221:

MY PET HATE

by Johanna McDonald

I like writing. I have submitted some of my stories to competitions and enjoy writing for themed challenges. There is, however, one thing that I cannot abide and that's a writing challenge that specifies a set number of words.

An exact word count is my pet hate. "Use this many words, no more, no less." Whatever happened to freedom of choice? It's like living in a dictatorship. Nothing stifles creativity more and I absolutely refuse to participate in such restrictive challenges.

Story 240:

REINCARNATION

by Chris Tattersall

I was once so full of life. I felt healthy but, in a devastating turn, it ended too soon.

My death came quickly and, thankfully, without pain, but it saddened me that nobody cared. I grieved for my own demise with a journey through the five arduous stages of loss – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance that my life was over. Yet again.

I had to wait. Soon, I would be rewarded with a new life. Candy Crush does that.

Story 269:

SECOND BEDROOM

by Gillian M Seed

They painted the room sunflower yellow. Back when they still hoped, she would stand inside and imagine what the future would be like. Crayon marks on the paintwork, juice spilled on the carpet. He caught her in there once and laughed, but it was indulgent laughter. Sharing her dreams.

He paints the room magnolia. Neutral, sensible magnolia. A blank canvas, according to those interminable property programmes they watch instead of talking.

They tell themselves having a spare room will be useful.

Story 300:

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

by Jackie Batteiger

She sits, alone, just enjoying the peace and quiet. With closed eyes, she lets her breath flow in and out. She just enjoys the silence. Restorative silence. She realises that old song is true: 'You don't know what you got till it's gone.'

Gently, nodding her head, a power ballad from the '90s fills her mind. She dares not sing out loud and break the silence.

"Mummy, where are you?"

And with a deep sigh, she stands and flushes the toilet.