by Natalia Vodilkova It was Mr. and Mrs. Popovich’s 20th anniversary today, and both of them forgot. Boris Popovich went about his day routinely; Wake up in his damp bed around 5 am. Take a piss. Without washing his hands, put on the same khakis and collared shirt as every workday. Check himself out in the mirror. Not bad for 55. Head for the door—pay no attention to Mrs. Popovich on the way out, who Read more…
by Marleigh Green Tom knew there would be consequences when he knifed Andre in the ribs, not that he’d had much choice in the matter. Andre had been mad-dogging him across the yard for weeks, and everyone had whispered that he was fixing to do something. Tom never found out what the something was. The creaky cot squeaked every time he moved, but other than the sounds he made, the cell was silent. It was Read more…
by Amanda J. Marshall “Ouch!” Alice cried. She looked down and slid back the kitchen knife to survey the damage. At first, all she noticed was a white line on her index finger, but, after a pause, blood fiercely spurted out, raining down on the freshly sliced carrots. She grabbed a towel off the stove handle and held it down. She started to feel faint, and it wasn’t because of the blood. This is how Read more…
Sitting amidst the woods with the golden glow of the sun, you watch satyrs run by with their flutes. Fairies zoom to join them. Well, except for one. She’s barely the size of your finger, but you still manage to see her smile beneath her wide eyes. The fairy offers a hand to you. Sound familiar? Fantasy is a genre known for bending reality in beautiful ways. Whether the world is based on our own, Read more…
Flash fiction is brevity: a story told in less than 1500 words. As such, it requires a unique skill set: the ability to work under pressure. The writer is on a clock, each word is a moment, and when their time is up, their words spent, their story must be told. Readers, used to the drama and intrigue of longer formats, want that same level of tense emotion from flash fiction. Consider the microflash, “For Read more…