A Short Story, Part 2 (SF)

Part 1 here. The suit he flicked at her opened up to ten separate pieces. “Where was it?” she asked and pulled it open. What went where? “I’m still covered in gunk,” she said. “It may help if …” He didn’t finish. His jerky movements sped up as he tried the pieces of the suit …

A Short Story, Part 1 – SF

Take 2: Goldilocks #716 “There should be mention of the headaches.” Shera held her head in both hands. She didn’t want to follow the blaring instruction to swing her legs off the table. She didn’t want to breathe. It hurt too much. Swirls of pain gripped her head like clamps with extra-deep probes. She remained …

Silence (Scene 2)

Scene 1 here The old shack retained some warmth if she huddled in close to the corner. It was timber, and even though old, it wasn’t yet rotted. Timber meant there must be trees somewhere, and people to cut them, shape them, build places like this cottage. What could she do to distract her mind, …

List-ing

Clothes. Protection. Hat. That’s what she needed. And shoes, comfortable and strong hiking shoes that would get her across the desert without killing every nerve in her legs and back. What else did she need? It would take a list, of course, but she had plenty of time, plenty of time indeed. It was a …

A Candle

Never go back! Isn’t that the rule? Keep moving forward, you can’t go home, things are never the same as remembered. What did I do? Of course, I went back. I’m here now, standing in front of the first home I remember. Okay, it’s true – the only home. Even had a few siblings related …

Silence

The cold and lumpy cobbles hurt her arms. Lyra held the moan inside, hoped the punishment was over, that someone would come and pick her up, comfort her, let her go home again. She wanted only to get warm, find proper clothes to don, and shoes – good warm socks inside thick leather boots to …

I See, You See, Not the Same

https://helenevaillant.com/2019/02/26/10678/ A journey's end is nigh, but ever beyond the reach of mere life. "I come, Pythonissa," Barosa called, "lay out the bridge for me." Picture Challenge 26/02/2019 by helenevaillant.com If the bridge did not draw for him, he'd wait. The Moon Mother watched for Pythonissa. He would be easy to see if they but …

The Price

Each day on the way home from school, Carlie stopped at the bakery. She waited at the end of the shop where all the dust accumulated until the baker called her forward. He wouldn't let her come too close to the loaves and buns and glass-fronted cabinets until every customer was out of sight. Only …

The World Beyond the Window …

What follows comes from here; it is a story, a simple story ... That's his desk, so neat and clean, a perfect example of the 'clean desk' policy he demands of his staff. But on his screen? Well, that's his escape. He thinks. Every day I come here and clean under his desk, under his …

I’m Late, I’m Late … Again

Let me tell you why it's taken so long to get back to you ... it has to do with spiders, so if that bothers you, look away, look away now. Gone? Good. Let me tell you what it takes to keep spiders in your house. What? You don't? Why not? They do a good …