81 Words Flash Fiction Writing Challenge – Stories Page 10

Story 901:

NO RELEASE

by Natalie Marshall

"Sorry, you have been unsuccessful."

I had no reply.

I needed the tears and doubt blown away. Find a new course. Beginning again, starting from scratch. Painful and heart-breaking – these words just don't cut it.

I know the breeze and the sea are not people. But they are the most comfort. They embrace me and listen. All that can be done for me at the moment. All that will help to fix me.

Then, the beach was deemed out of bounds.

Story 919:

UNDERNEATH

by Marie Arbon

"Mummy, why do I have two mummies?" whispers Sebastian.

"Seb, Emily and I love each other and you, so very much."

"I know, I love you both too, but why do I have another you, Mummy?"

"You don't, silly. Come on, time for bed."

Mummy turns on the nightlight and closes the door. "Sweet dreams."

A shuffle. Mummy Shadow appears from underneath the bed.

She grips his hand tightly. "Remember, Mummy will love you forever."

Sebastian shivers, closes his eyes tightly.

Story 937:

ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL

by Michele Kelly

I am about to walk into the room of my life's accomplishments.

I turn the metal knob, scorchingly cold, of a heavy wooden door. I expect a packed room. Like a hard-core hoarder in winter.

Scenes flash. Three children. The one man I ever loved. Words written. A business.

The door breathes a skinny whine.

The room is empty. Dead air.

"Have I done nothing?" I ask Him.

"The room is not empty."

"It is," I say defeatedly.

"You are here."

Story 946:

LOST IN WORDS

by Alison Reese

Authors often say their characters take on a life of their own, dictating their own story.

"Rubbish," I scoffed, "I'm writing it, I decide."

Apparently, my characters disagreed, as I find myself trapped within my words, a hostage to the characters I created. All attempts to break free have failed.

"What did you expect?" laughed my main protagonist. "You're the one who insisted that the author writes the story."

I pondered this. "But, if I'm here, then who's writing it now?"

Story 971:

NIGHT

by Meredith Argent

Night prowled in, the moon in his hand and stars glistening in his fathomless eyes. A foreboding creature, he swept his shadow across the town, throwing his soul over the world, and the Earth fell upon its knees.

Night kicked out Day as if she were a mere twinkle of dust and killed the sky, ripping it in half and exposing the black abyss behind. The sky had no choice but to obey him – Night had come to seize the day.

Story 983:

HEGEL

by Livia Furia

I was half asleep when I heard the bedroom door open and something jumped onto the bed.

"Hegel?"

There was no answer. I felt steps, perfectly measured, crossing the bed from one end to the other.

"Hegel?"

The intruder carefully climbed onto my chest and curled up. She was heavy and cold. She sighed softly when I moved.

I jumped out of bed screaming at the top of my lungs. I had buried Hegel in the garden almost two months ago.

Story 988:

THE OLD LADY

by Mohamed Atta Amer

A thief entered the home of an old lady who lived alone. He stole clothes and some bread, then ran away beneath moonlight.

The old lady stood behind the window, watching the thief running between fields. She looked at her necklace and said, "Ah, if you'd sat for a while and talked to me, I would have given you this necklace even though you wanted to steal from me, because I haven't seen anyone who is interested in me for years."

Story 1,000:

WHEN DOES ENOUGH BECOME ENOUGH?

by Anna Capstick

When does enough become enough? When the eyes which once sparkled are flooded with rain? When your inner lifeguard turns his back and leaves you drowning in your worries? Or when you begin to disintegrate under the merciless words which tear you apart?

Perhaps when the passion which once drove you burns out, or when you wither away at the thought of fighting that same battle continuously, or when staying silent becomes the easier option.

Maybe that's when enough becomes enough.