Flash Fiction

Jenny draws the curtains so a thin line of light pierces the darkness.You trip, and you’ll turn to ash, Aldous always warned.Would that be so bad, silly old vampire? she’d kid.He’d…

Old Mrs. Grimwald spied on old Mrs. Bloom, toiling away in her yard: how arrogantly her sworn enemy preened her garden.Mrs. Grimwald “harrumphed” down the ladder; she’d be damned if…

It had been a particularly bountiful crop season that year, for all the families. How that sun had shown on the golden grain.“We won’t go hungry this year,” Mama said.The…

They found Blue Boy. No matter where he hid, they always did, eventually.​They beat him deeper hues of blue and walked away.But he got to his feet and said:“I’m beyond…

Greta never feared walking home.On her sunset strolls, she’d greet Amos, the burly homeless man, and give him five dollars. Then off she’d walk, alone.But tonight Greta runs. She stayed…

Birds stop trilling as the elephants near the sun-bleached bones. The savannah seems to silence itself for its gentle giants.​With their trunks, they delicately lift the bones of their beloved…

Tears cloud Trista’s eyes. So many people sing “Happy Birthday” to her daughter for her 24th birthday.Gracie rests her head on her mom’s shoulder and Trista hears her as a…

The Okoro family knew they weren’t moving into the neighborhood to open arms. But they figured times had changed enough they’d be left in peace. Every morning they woke to…

Aldous struggled with the door. Dead, shriveled rats littered the ground.Jenny cradled herself as she wept in the dark corner. “You’re right, rat blood won’t do.”“You had to try. I…

He opened an eye as she did her makeup in his mirror.Pretty.They always were.Even drunk, he had good taste.​He closed his eye, pretended to sleep.She’d sneak out,they always did.Easy peasy.​“I…