Category Archives: Flash Fiction

Silhouette: Fiction Friday

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4

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Shaktiki Sharma

Photo copyright Shaktiki Sharma

Silhouette

Carol tried to hide behind her camera. Standing as far away as she could, hoping no one would notice, she photographed people as silhouettes, two-dimensional beings, dark contrasted against light.

Over time, however, her camera became her connection to people instead of a shield. The individuals she photographed often came up to her with comments and questions about her work, about her. To them, she wasn’t just a shadow.

Eventually, Carol reconsidered her tactics. Stepping out of the darkness, she approached people, asking permission to photograph them, finding a universe of uniqueness, a fullness detailed in her newly discovered light.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

Coming Home

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3

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Roger Bultot

Photo copyright Roger Bultot

Coming Home

The soldier, in full dress uniform, sat at the counter without touching the food April put in front of him.

“Home on leave?” she asked.

Looking up, he shook his head with sad, hollow eyes.

As she waited on other customers, she saw him weep, teardrops falling on the newspaper he was reading.

When she next noticed, he was gone. April cleaned up the counter where he’d been, picking up the newspaper. Her heart broke when she saw the splotches of his fallen tears on the obituary page. It was his photo looking back at her; his burial was today.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

As Soon As Possible: Fiction Friday

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8

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Photo copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

As Soon As Possible

Ah, true love: snuggling by the fire, cozy coffee mornings, decorating the Christmas tree while snowflakes fell softly. That’s what Shirley thought she signed on for.

Her first winter on the farm exposed the frailness of her white wonderland fantasies. But it was Steve’s home and where he was, she wanted to be.

Except Steve wasn’t here anymore. He up and died during that storm, leaving her trying to survive, alone, in this hostile environment.

One thing Shirley knew for sure: if this storm didn’t kill her as well, she and the ponies were heading south as soon as possible.

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This is my 125th Friday Fictioneer story. To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

Sisters of the Sky: Fiction Friday

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5

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Lucy Fridkin

Photo copyright Lucy Fridkin

 Sisters of the Sky

Joyce’s dream was always some variation of the same subject: she flew high above the city, circling the skyscrapers. She felt her smooth feathers, hollow bones, the uplifting wind.

As usual, a phoenix appeared on her left; on her right, a gryphon. Sisters of the sky. Together they flew towards the horizon. Each night she left them, returned to the city, woke up, went on with her life.

One night, she decided not to turn back. Wingtip to wingtip they soared into the east, screaming in solidarity. Joyce wondered if she would wake up in the morning. She thought not.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

Best Date Ever: Fiction Friday

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9

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Jan Wayne Fields

Photo copyright Jan Wayne Fields

Best Date Ever

Tonight Alex was taking Elaine somewhere new for dinner. An out-of-the-way place, not yet overcrowded. It didn’t look like much, he admitted when they arrived, but it was too late to change plans.

They waited. For a long time, nothing happened. Just when he decided it might have been a mistake to come here, a human arrived, entering the campsite. Alex breathed a sigh of relief: Just as advertised.

The two pumas, Alex and Elaine, twitched their tails and tensed their muscles, preparing to pounce on the camper. Elaine crept forward, intent on her prey. Best date ever, Alex thought.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.