#Flash Fiction – Together Forever

Image © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

 

There’s nothing quite like the smell of hospitals, disinfectant mixed with decay; hand gel mingled with hope.

‘Open your eyes,’ I whisper.

It’s been a week since we crashed. I was driving and if you don’t recover, I’ll never forgive myself.

I rest my head on your chest, lulled by the rise and fall, but then there’s stillness.

You’re by my side now. We watch the nurses flock around your lifeless body.

‘Go back!’ I beg.

‘I don’t want to live in a world without you,’ you say.

You stretch out your hand and I link my fingers through yours. Together we walk towards the light.

 

It’s been a busy week editing The Gift but I’ve found editing a novel a little easier this time around thanks to all the best-selling authors who contributed to my blog post on editing. I’ve tried out most of the tips these past couple of weeks. You can read the post here.

This week’s 100 word story was difficult to pull off within the word count and I do hope it makes sense. Written for Friday Fictioneers. A weekly 100 words story challenge inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and read the other entries here. 

Flash Fiction – On Reflection

Image courtesy of Ceayr

This week I’ve written two stories for Friday Fictioneers from a his and hers point of view. I hope they both stand alone, but I’m posting them together.

 

Joy’s story

Joy eases off her wedding ring and tosses it into the water, before wiping her eyes and re-joining the party.

How could Ed give her a vacuum cleaner for her 50^th birthday, in front of all their friends? Their kids are grown now and she should have known Ed’s promises they would travel would come to nothing. She is sick of waiting.

‘Give this to my husband.’ Joy pushes an envelope into the hands of a passing waiter. By the time Ed reads the goodbye letter she’ll be long gone. As she leaves, she doesn’t notice Ed push through the crowd waving an envelope of his own.

 

Ed’s Story

Ed pushes through the crowd, envelope in his hand. He’s lost sight of Joy and his stomach churns with nerves. He’d thought presenting her with a vacuum cleaner at her birthday party would be funny. It’s not her real gift, of course. He’s taking a 3 month career break to take his gorgeous wife around the world. Joy’s spent so long raising the kids she deserves to be spoiled. Only now he can’t find her to give her the tickets.

‘Sir?’ A waiter hands him an envelope. ‘Your wife asked me to give you this before she left.’

‘Left?’ Ed’s heart sinks. The joke’s on him.

 

It’s been a fabulous week. Apple invited me to their iBooks Author Event and Music Festival and as it was my first outing as a published writer it was all very exciting. We had a fabulous night which you can read about here if you wish to.

‘On Reflection’ was written for Friday Fictioneers. A weekly 100 word story challenge, inspired by photo prompts, hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries over at her blog here. 

Nowhere to run

Photo courtesy of Amy Reese

 

Taking a break from editing The Gift to check out this week’s photo prompt I thought it actually fit perfectly with a scene I’ve just written which takes place in a corridor at the top of a stairwell. Please excuse me for not writing something exclusively for FF this week, with my deadline fast looming things are a little fraught!

 

If I wasn’t so lost in thought I might have heard it. The opening of the communal door. A creaking of the stair. Footsteps creeping up behind me. But as it is, I am completely unaware that I’m not alone as I rummage through my bag for my keys until I inhale sharply in frustration, ready to huff out air, and I smell it.

Stale smoke.

And then it only takes a split second to feel the presence behind me. Breath hot and sour against my cheek. A scream builds inside my throat but there’s already a hand clamped over my mouth, fingers knotted in my hair.

 

The Gift will be published on December 16th in all formats and the Kindle version is available to preorder now via Amazon (UK) or Amazon (US).

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly flash fiction challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and you can read the other entries here.

 

 

Flash Fiction – SOS

Image courtesy of Roger Bultot 

 

Every day after school we’d take the short cut home, past the witches house. We’d creep through the overgrown front garden that stank of cat’s wee and ring the bell before running away.

One gloomy winter’s evening there were flashes coming from the upstairs window and we clutched each other’s arms and said she must be casting spells.

The next day Ma told me old Mrs Withers had been found, dead on the floor of her bedroom. She’d  fallen and had been trying to signal for help with a torch.

I always walked the long way home from school after that.

 

It doesn’t seem long since my debut The Sister was published and while I’m thrilled it’s still in the UK top ten, I’m super excited to have revealed the cover to my second psychological thriller this week. It’s called The Gift and will be released on 16th December on Digital, Audio and Paperback formats. The Kindle version is available to preorder now. 

SOS was written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries over at host Rochelle’s blog here. 

Flash Fiction – Get Stuffed

Image courtesy of Sandra Crook

I’m a patchwork of shame, despair and sorrow, woven together with fear. You pick away at my confidence. I’m too fat, too thin; too loud, too quiet. I’m unraveling. The threads holding me together become slacker, until I’m nothing but a heap of rags on the floor.

‘Scraps no-one else would want,’ you say. ‘Worthless.’ And as I hear this, there’s a shift. Anger surges and slowly I tighten my stitching, pad out myself esteem, until I’m standing tall on the doorstep telling you it’s over. As I watch you walk away I touch my mouth, feeling my smile stretch beneath my fingertips. I’m whole again.

 

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story challenge inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and read the other entries, and join in!

Flash Fiction – Rise & Fall

Image Copyright – Georgia Koch

 

‘How could you? Again?’ I step back, away from the scent of another woman’s perfume.

‘It didn’t mean…’ you stretch out your hand. I slap it away.

‘Get out.’

‘You’ll come crawling back.’ Your lips that have kissed me a thousand times twist into a sneer.

Nausea swells. Bile stings the back of my throat. I run to the bathroom, kneel on the cold tiles and clutch the toilet pan.

The smell of daffodils drifts through the open window. Spring. A new beginning.

I place my hand on my stomach. Feel the rise and fall. A new life.

I’ll take care of us both.

 

I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has reviewed The Sister. I’m stunned my debut novel now has over 1400 4 & 5🌟 ratings in the UK and the US and I’m hugely grateful to everyone who taken the time to post a review. 

Rise and Fall was written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 words story inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and read the other entries here. 

Flash Fiction – Strike a Pose

Image courtesy of Adam Ickes.

 

Look at the size of her waist!

The lights are hot, bright. These heels impossibly high. I twisted my ankle in rehearsal and the pain is sharp with each and every step.

There’s not an ounce of fat on her!

Turn. Hands on hips, bones digging into my palms. The applause rings hard in my ears. A thin film of sweat coats my body. I scan the room. It smells of money, expensive perfume and admiration. I’m exhausted. Dizzy. Sick.

I’d give anything to look like that!

My vision tunnels. When was the last time I ate?

She’s living the dream!

 

 

I’m absolutely delighted The Sister is still No. 1 in the Amazon UK Kindle charts. This week Amazon are featuring The Sister as their Paperback of the Week so if you fancy a physical copy it’s half price for the next few days. 

 

‘Strike a Pose’ was written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries over at host Rochelle’s blog and please join in! The more the merrier.

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Fiction – Abandoned

Image courtesy of Janet Webb

 

‘You will always be my baby,’ whispers the woman I thought to be my real mum. In her eyes, my own pain is reflected back at me.

‘Why did she abandon me?’

She hands me a cream envelope, a name I don’t recognise scrawled on the front in looping script.

‘Who is Eleanor?’

‘That was your birth name. Before…’

I turn the letter over in my hands. It is heavy. Weighted down with words I don’t feel ready to hear.

‘Can I still call you mum?’ My voice is small.

‘Always.’ She hugs me tight – vanilla and coffee – she still smells like home.

 

It’s been a crazy week. The Sister is still no.1 on the UK Amazon Store, and has also been no.1 on Amazon Canada and iBooks and is in the top 10 on the USA Today Bestsellers List. I’m so thankful for all the support I’ve received and especially grateful for the WordPress blogging community. A sanctuary where I can step away from the madness that is editing and scribble a few words.

Abandoned was written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and read the other entries here.

Flash Fiction – Forever Blue

PHOTO PROMPT- Copyright – Jan Wayne Fields

 

It’s him again. He wades into the sea. My breath quickens and longing heats my skin even though the water is cool. He’s watching me. I adjust my bikini top and lick my lips, tasting salt and desire.

He’s been here every day this week. I thrust out my chest, smile and beckon and as he swims towards me, I gently retreat, until the beach is a pinprick and we’re swallowed up by blue.

He’s here. I trail my fingers down his cheekbone, kiss his mouth softly and swish my tail as hard as I can. His face floods with confusion and fear. He’s beautiful. He’s mine.

 

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries here over at Rochelle’s blog – here.

Flash Fiction – The Sheep Effect

Image courtesy of Sandra Crook

Pureed vegetables seep out of your mouth, dribble down your chin. The muslin tucked into your t-shirt is soaked with drool. My darling boy. Your hand swipes for the plastic spoon but your movements aren’t quite coordinated enough.

‘Let Mummy do it.’ I chide, kissing the tip of your nose.

The love I feel for you swells but it isn’t enough. Was never enough. Why did you feel such a desperate need to follow the crowd? To party so hard?

‘Chill out. Everyone takes stuff,’ you’d say but now you’re nineteen years old and back to wearing nappies.

My heart breaks for you, and for me.

 

What an amazing few days! The Sister was published on Thursday. I had a fabulous publication day, and then a launch party at the weekend. I’m thrilled my book shot into the Top 5 in the UK, US and Canada, in the Amazon charts. BIG thanks to everyone who has supported me ❤️

The Sheep Effect was written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and check out the other entries here.