The Boy – Five Sentence Fiction

It’s time for my latest offering to Lillie McFerrin’s Five Sentence Fiction, a weekly prompt where there is no word limit, just a limit on the number of sentences. Plus, although she provides a word prompt, it is just for direction only – you don’t have to include the word itself in your contribution.

This week, the prompt is  – MAGNETIC.

Do let me know what you think of my offering below – and whilst you’re at it, why not take a look at everyone else’s offerings (I’m sure they’ll be fabulous), and even give it a go yourself…

*****

– The Boy –

The boy stared, the tingling that had started in his fingertips crawling up his arms like an army of ants; they had all told him not to open the door.

It wasn’t anything special, just plain wood that could do with a lick of paint – in its prime it must have been scarlet, now it was dulled with age and several flakes lay on the floor, crispy like autumn leaves; they crunched under his shoes.

He sidled closer, reaching out to touch the handle, pulling his fingers back sharply as they made contact with the cold metal.

The boy muttered to himself “Do it!”

Closer, yet closer, hand hovering over the handle; still he couldn’t steel himself to grasp, and push…

Lillie McFerrin Writes


Undertow – dVerse Meeting the Bar

– Undertow –

I stand and stare at you
in the moments after you stop living;
there are no more words to say to you,
under my breath.
I can no longer pretend or hope or believe or pray
that you can hear me,
that you can smile somewhere deep inside
at the sound of my voice,
and be glad that I’m with you
at the end.
I resent you for it;
for not saying goodbye,
for cutting free so unilaterally.

*****

So, for me, an unsurprising choice this week, when we are invited to write about the difficult or spicy subjects that we tend to swerve, given half the chance. Death yet again is my theme. The death of my dad. Today in particular has been pretty bad. There’s no rhyme, no reason for it. That’s grief, I guess. Tomorrow will be different, I know.

You can read and discover many more slices of life right here.

The Choosing – VisDare 39

Here’s my latest offering for Anonymous Legacy‘s photo-inspired prompt, VisDare. This week’s prompt word is ‘Adore’. The rules are simple:

150 words – or less.

Post entry to your blog and “link in”.

(Please – no erotica or graphic violence.)

DON’T FORGET to read and comment on others’ entries!!

The photo is below, and my piece follows.  Let me know what you think, and give it a go yourself, why not?

– The Choosing – 

“Who is she again?”

“We call her Mother.”

“Yes, but who is she?”

“Mother. That’s all.”

“You don’t understand. I need to know her bloodline, her ancestors, her descendants. It’s important!”

“Why?”

“I’m sorry, what do you mean?”

“Why is it important? What is the difference?”

“My research…”

“It is of no consequence. She will still be of us. She will still love and be loved in return. She will still be Mother.”

The man stared, swallowed. The grey eyes stared back, unblinking.

“Come. Come and be with us. Meet Mother. Just be.”

The man stood, feeling strangely at peace. He allowed himself to be drawn in, to meet Mother.

His research could wait.

*****

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