Broken Dreams

Today is the day for this month's Knights of MicroFiction hosted by Jess and me.  In case you missed it here is the prompt:  

In 400 words or less, your character(could also be more than one), has a chance meeting with someone who will change their life.

And if you'd like to join us, we'd love to have you.  You still have time just post by 11:59 pm Jan 16th and add your link to the linky list below.

Ok here is my entry.  It ended up being 394 words.  Hope you enjoy it.  

BROKEN DREAMS

Sam rolled off the couch and slowly stood.  He wasn’t hungry but when had he eaten last?  He stumbled past piles of dirty laundry and headed for the kitchen.  His reflection in the hall mirror startled him.  He looked more like a Neanderthal than a man.  His shoulders were hunched and he hadn’t shaved for a month.

Would he ever wake from this nightmare?

 

He opened the fridge.  Not a single thing. He stared at the bright white shelves.  Why the hell would someone make them so bright?  Or maybe it was his eyes, he hadn’t turned the lights on for a week.  

He preferred the dark now, it was soothing; it helped him forget...

No not forget, nothing could do that.

 

His stomach now reproached him with a loud rumble.

 

It was too soon.  But the fog in his brain cleared enough to understand the need for survival was greater than his need for seclusion.  He had to find food.

 

He stuffed his bare feet into his Timberland hiking boots and without tying them staggered out the door and down Walnut street. He almost passed the grocery store.

  

Inside, he  grabbed a cart and wandered down the aisles.  After a few minutes, he realized, he had gone through almost the whole store, yet his cart was still empty.

 

Tuna fish cans were stacked on the shelf in front of him.  Simple enough.  He grabbed five.

In an odd moment of clarity, he thought of bread.  For a sandwich.  He retraced his steps to the bread aisle and gazed at the different plastic wrapped loaves, as if confused by the choices.  He bent down to look at one marked “Heart Healthy”.

Out of nowhere, a cart slammed into him and knocked him over.  

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” a woman’s voice said.  She reached out to help him up.  He pushed her hand away and grumbled.  

Then he looked up and saw her face.  Her bright smile sparked a feeling in his heart.  She was the map for his lost soul.    

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I’m fine.”  The fog in his head slowly dissipated.

She held out her hand and this time he took it.

“Can I make it up to you? Let me buy you a coffee next door.”

He heard himself say, “Ok.”

     

Maybe his nightmare was finally over.   

****

Well that's what I came up with. What do you think? Do you have any news you want to share? What's going on in your world today?

Kathy :)

KoMF Prompt

Hope you all had a great weekend!  The weather sure was nice here in Ohio.  All our snow is gone and we even got to see some blue sky.

It's already the middle of the month so that means it's time for the Knights of MicroFiction, hosted by me and Jess.  Anyone can join.  The more the merrier!  Just sign up on the linky list below.  The purpose is simply to have fun writing flash fictions and get to know more about our fellow bloggers.  As always, two participants will be chosen to be guests on Jess's or my blog.

Here's all the details for this month.

Prompt:  In 400 words or less your character(could also be more than one) has a chance meeting with someone who will change their life.


Post your entry before 11:59pm on Wednesday Jan, 16th and then have fun going around to read as many other entries as you can.






Kathy :)

Romantic Writer's Holiday Spirit Blogfest

First, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful anniversary wishes!  You guys are super!  We had a fabulous evening taking the kids out to dinner and enjoying some great family time.

Now on to the main event!  

I'm participating in the Romantic Writer's Holiday Spirit Blogfest today, hosted by Denise Covey and Donna Hole.  I decided to write a flash fiction. Hope you enjoy.

ALONE

I handed Ellie her bags.  “Hey, you’d better get to the taxi or you’re going to miss your flight.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” she asked scrunching her eyes up.  

“I’ll be fine, now go and have a Merry Christmas in snowy New York.”

“Ok, call me.”  She  hugged me and hurried out the door.  

I told her I’d be ok, but as the door closed and our little apartment fell silent, a lump formed in my throat.  I couldn’t believe it was Christmas Eve and I was spending it alone.  When John dumped me two days ago, Ellie asked me to join her, but I didn’t want to barge in on her family’s Christmas.  I would have loved the snow though.    

My parents were off somewhere in Rwanda studying mountain gorillas.  I was proud of the important work they were doing, but I longed to see them.

I slunk down on the worn pea green sofa and water flooded my eyes.  I stared at the twinkling lights on our miniature Christmas tree.  At least Ellie had insisted on decorating it.

The colors blurred with my tears.  I was pitiful, but I couldn’t help it.  I let the lights bathe my mind in their soothing warmth.  

A noise at the door startled me and I slowly sat up.  A figure appeared in the doorway.  I shook my head.  It couldn’t be.  Standing in her favorite pink Chanel suit was Grandma Liz.  Impossible.  She died three years ago.  

I was devastated by the loss, we had a connection that Mom and I never had.  

“Trish, come on let’s go out on the town.”  She tapped her gold watch like we were already late for something.  

My mouth hung open.  

“It’s me, come on grab your jacket and let’s get some food,” she said.  

I did as she asked, grabbed her outstretched hand and we were suddenly in the old Italian restaurant she always used to take me to.  

We sat and talked for hours.  It was lovely.  She took my hand and said, “Trish, you have to move on, find someone who appreciates who you are.”  Tears threatened the corners of my eyes.   “You are never alone, I will always be with you...looking out for you.”

Then she was gone, and I was in my apartment gazing at the twinkle lights again.  I got up to clear my head.

Outside, big fluffy snowflakes fell from the sky.  Snow, here in South Carolina?  I smiled.  Grandma Liz had sent me snow.  She really had come to visit.  I felt the warmth of her spirit and I decided I would not spend this Christmas Eve alone.  

I grabbed my jacket and headed for the local soup kitchen.  I could at least help bring joy to others tonight.   

****

Check out all the other great entries here and add your link to participate.

Kathy:)

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Knights of MicroFiction!

Sometimes it can be a chore coming up with ideas to blog about.  But the best part of blogging is to meet knew friends and build a community.  Jess, from Write Skate Dream, and I wanted to be part of that building spirit.

So we came up with a new monthly blog hop called the Knights of MicroFiction (we'll have a button soon).  On the last Monday of the month we'll post a prompt. Post your work of 250 words or less on your blog, then  leave a comment either here or at Jess' with your link in the comment box so we can all check it out.  It's kind of a two day thing so just post it by Tuesday night and then on Wednesday Jess and I will pick 2 winners who will be featured on our blogs.

Today's prompt is:

Write a flash fiction/microfiction piece of 250 words or less about someone who has just done something wrong, but they don't have the guts to apologize. Whether they end up apologizing or not is up to you.     


Here's my version:

"I can't believe you did that!" Max said hurt.
"What?" Sonja said exasperation coloring her voice.   How could things have gone so wrong?  She thought.
Max looked down.  He couldn't fathom her betrayal.  A single tear trickled down his face, but he couldn't bring himself to say anymore.
"That wasn't what was supposed to happen," she said.  Why couldn't she simply say "I'm sorry?" She had not done it maliciously, hadn't even thought it would be an issue.  But she hadn't looked at it from his perspective either.  Now she felt terrible.  It doesn't matter whether I thought it would hurt him, it did. She knew there was only one hope. She had to swallow her pride and say, "I'm sorry."


And there it is! Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

Thanks,

Kathy