FSF: Home

Five Sentence Fiction – Home

Waking up in the hospital, she had no memory of what brought her to this place or who the man was standing next to her tearfully holding her hand. The doctor explained she had been in a serious car accident and had suffered a head injury; hopefully the amnesia would be temporary.

She was taken by the stranger who had been very nice to her showing her photos of the two of them together dating, at their wedding, and their house, to the place in the photograph.  She wandered through every room finally going out into the beautiful English rose garden. With the sun on her face and the scent of the roses, she inhaled deeply and smiled. Turning to her husband, she said, "I'm home."

Polyvore by Grace2244

Trifecta: Fate of the World

Trifecta: Week Eighty-One

This week's challenge is to write 33 to 333 words using the word LIGHT and particularly this definition of the word: a source of light: as a : a celestial body; b : candle;  c : an electric light.


Crystal, intentionally named for the energy evoked by its many forms, was surrounded by people steeped in worshiping earth energies and celestial bodies. Crystal's parents had settled in Sedona, Arizona, years before her birth, having been called there, as many have claimed. Some came and left having fulfilled their purpose for coming to the healing earth energy vortexes, while others could not think of leaving such a beautiful, uplifting, spiritual place.
 
Raised learning of the spiritual realm, she was most focused on the foretelling that Sirians, beings real or simply a consciousness, living on "The Dog Star", Sirius, have relayed to others whose minds have been trained to receive such messages.

Sirius claimed to be a friend and protector of the earth, knowing how there would be a conscious shift in the universe after the ending of the Mayan calendar. Acknowledging that the scales were tipping in the favor of evil and destruction of earth as well as a chaotic government, Sirians instructed those who believed to focus each day on the positive of earth's healing and tuning out the evil and chaos, thus creating the light needed to create the needed shift.

Crystal worked hard each day to incorporate such thoughts into her daily meditating and spoke to her fellow worshipers of the earth to broaden the spectrum of focus for the shift in universal consciousness that would save us all. After all, what else could be done at this time…this place…this chaos that is our home? Perhaps the time for light of outside intelligent intervention had come.


Words: 248

FF: Safari Gone Awry

Friday Fictioneers

Copyright – EL Appleby

Five-year-old Katie was so excited about her summer vacation on safari with her parents. She loved all kinds of animals and even liked to hold the snakes at the petting zoo. Two weeks prior to the trip, her father broke his leg and had to be in a cast for two months. 

To make up for having to wait another year for her safari, Katie’s father had a specially made stuffed animal representing as many safari animals as possible ordered as a gift. Katie was thrilled with her present and looked forward to the real vacation when she was six. 

Words: 100

Trifextra: In Tandem

Trifextra: Week Seventy

Write 33 words using the following photo prompt:

Photo Source

“I can’t get a cell signal. Can’t call for help.”

“I just can’t.”

“If you don’t, you’ll die. You’re having a heart attack. Tandem jump or death.”

“The fear might kill me anyway.”


 

FSF: Crashing Down

Five Sentence Fiction: Desolate

Polyvore by grace2244

Happy in her amnesia, not knowing the reality of her life, was not a choice made willingly. When the walls of amnesia began to crumble, the overwhelming memories, flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and knowledge of her fragmented mind threw her into such a desolate state. Death must certainly be a better place than the living hell that so swiftly changed her life sending her spiraling into an unfathomable depression.

From a happy marriage and successful career to constant panic and search for the truth along with a need for intense therapy and support. Who knew her 18 year marriage would disintegrate when she most needed his love and understanding.

Trifecta: Close Encounters (5)

Trifecta: Week Seventy-Nine

Write 33 to 333 words using the following definition of the word APPEAR: to have an outward aspect : seem .

Photo Source

 
The sound of rollerbladers laughing and whizzing by jolted Libby from her internal close encounter with a man…a hallucination…a spirit guide…claiming to be her inner wisdom. She jogged staring into the deep pink sunset until she reached her door. Safely at home, she could meander into her mind without interruption. “He” seemed to feel there was some urgency to her discovering him. The language swirling in her mind for what had happened felt odd and familiar at the same time. That weekly group she had joined for understanding intuition back in Maryland had used language she really couldn’t relate to until now. Did everyone have a tuxedo-ed man inside their head?

Libby called her instructor from that group hoping for some answers. Elise felt assured everyone had an inner wisdom but not all chose to find theirs. Each person experienced their inner wisdom differently. Sometimes they might appear as human but others had objects present such as trees or angels or whatever the mind revealed to them. Perhaps not everyone would respond well to the presence of another person inside. At least Libby felt not so crazy after hanging up.

Before falling asleep that night, Libby allowed herself to climb the hill again where she saw the bench covered in cherry blossoms. “His” voice suggested she be seated which she did, noticing the tall flowers around her and the pretty sky. As she took in the view she began to feel the bench rise. The reassuring voice inside told her to remain calm and just watch. When the bench stopped in mid-air, she was asked what she saw. Libby described the distant hills she could now see as well as the village below. It was all such a peaceful setting.

“What does it mean?” Libby asked.

“It means, you now have the ability to see from a new perspective,” he said wisely.

Words: 312

 (The entire story of Libby to date can be found here.)

 

The Merge: Le Cirque (3)

Write At The Merge: Week 22

Write up to 500 words using the lyrics to the song Gold On The Ceiling sung by The Black Keys as inspiration.
 

Photo Source

Phoebe sauntered past the entrance to Le Cirque to the bench further down the block knowing Nate would be wondering if she would show up for dinner. But she had to think things through carefully before she committed to sitting down with him, face to face, having a conversation that would surely lead to the reasons behind their break up two years earlier. 

Taking a deep breath, she let her mind wander back in time to their last conversation. Nate was confident and career-focused and living his dream. Had she always felt so insecure? Maybe it was a matter of trust. She trusted Nate but not herself to make the right decisions. Obviously she still had trust issues because of her wake of failed relationships. Nate was perfect. He still cared for her. She sensed that in his eyes and in his words. Mostly she hid from the world by delving into her own career. So little time for therapy, or at least she made it so. Did she really want to dig into why she avoided returning another’s love? 

“I thought that was you racing past the windows outside. Always on the run…still?” 

Phoebe looked up sheepishly. “Hello,” she whispered. 

He offered her his hand and she accepted. Together they entered the restaurant and sat at their table that was next to the window. She sighed at her failure to ask the cab to drop her off beyond the entrance. 

“You look well…happy,” she said as cheerfully as she could. 

“I am,” he said. “The investment world has been good to me.” 

“Obviously,” she remarked. “I can’t tell you how overwhelming it is for me to be in this restaurant with you. I feel like Cinderella at the ball. Or something like that.” 

“You? Part of your life is to wine and dine clients in upscale surroundings.” 

“That’s in my comfort zone,” she snapped. 

“Ah. I guess that’s what I was most curious to know when I saw you earlier today. I was hoping your insecurities might have lessened. At least that’s what I had assumed was why you had pushed me away.” He reached across the table for her hand to offer reassurance but not before she withdrew her hand into her lap. 

“Maybe dinner wasn’t such a good idea. We haven’t ordered. I could just slip out now. I don’t know why I came.” She spoke to her napkin in her lap never making eye contact. 

“No. Please stay. I’m sorry for saying that. I never stopped caring about you. I hear you and will respect your feelings. Just two friends then. Let’s have a nice dinner with no expectations. Afterwards, we go back to our lives as usual. Deal?” 

Phoebe found herself nodding as she swallowed down the tears. Damned tears. What did they mean? Maybe seeing Nate again was a sign.  A sign to look past her professional façade to the vulnerable little girl who seemed take over when she let her guard down?

Words: 500

(Previous segments of this story can be found in blog listings. All named Le Cirque with consecutive numbers, although written for various writing challenges.)

FSF: Le Cirque (2)

Five Sentence Fiction: Charmed

Photo Source

Was it synchronicity or an ill-fated meeting on the street earlier that resulted in her reunion with her first and only love Nate? Why had she agreed to dinner knowing how uncomfortable she would be? Exiting the cab to the landmark restaurant she realized his career was on course and suddenly felt "less than".

Nate waited patiently at Le Cirque for Phoebe's arrival while reminiscing of their relationship and trying to analyze why it had failed. He felt charmed in her presence and eagerly longed to see her again.

The Merge: Le Cirque

Write at the Merge: Week 21

Write up to 500 words using the prompt "petrichor".

Photo Source

Bustling through the crowded streets on a hot summer day trying not to look too wilted, Phoebe, noticed a scent reminding her of petrichor. Her mind immediately shifted to her time in the Arizona desert when she and Nate were caught in the brief sun shower. The red clay beneath their feet pooled like fingerpaint, and they drew designs on each other's arms. She had drawn a heart on his.

Jolted out of her daydream by a blaring horn, she felt pressure on her arm and heard a familiar voice, "Whoa, not so fast!" The hand pulled her back from harm's way. Was she still daydreaming? Slowly turning her head, she confirmed her suspicion.

"Nate! Ummm...thank you. What are you doing here?" She tried not to sound too stunned or awkward. Their break up had been odd, but she had moved on with her life. She quickly pushed down any lingering feelings of love she held for him to guard her fragile emotions.

"I'm in town for a meeting. What a surprise to see you rushing past me! How are you?"

Why was he so at ease speaking to her knowing he must be stirring up her emotions. Was he that over her? It hurt to think that their love had vanished from his being so completely. "Fine," she smiled meekly. "I'm late for a meeting, but it was good to see you." She was turning to walk away when once again he held her back.

"Catch up for dinner tonight? Two friends?" Nate’s hypnotic eyes gazed at her. “Le Cirque at 8?”

“Sure,” Phoebe mumbled. She smiled at him and quickly darted across the street with the mass of strangers. How could he be so relaxed and aloof when she was now like a tightly wound ball of string about to unravel at any moment? How would she make it through dinner pretending not to care? She didn’t even have his phone number to call and make an excuse, although she could leave a message with the restaurant.

In the elevator on her way up to the 22nd floor, she was able to compose herself sufficiently for her presentation.

“Good morning, Ms. Sinclair. The conference room at the end of the hall.”

“Thank you, Charlotte,” answered Phoebe, her transformation to professional advertising executive now complete.


Words: 388

Trifextra: Danger Zone

Trifextra: Week Sixty-Seven

With 33 words, give an example of onomatopoeia.

Hearing the whirring of skateboards behind her and the overly loud cackling laughter of teenaged boys, she moved toward the edge of the road. The next sound was the gunning of an engine. 

Words: 33 

 

FSF: Mindshadows (5)

Five Sentence Fiction – Goggles

Photo Source

Since learning she'd had amnesia until her recent flashbacks at age 35, MacKenzie's world felt like constant sensory overload; her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder surfaced fully and her startle response was so much faster than normal reaction time she often frightened herself with her own screams.

Her memories came in pieces and not always in order and not always one piece going with the next piece.

It was enough to make one go insane if not for her therapist reassuring her that the way her memories leaked through her broken amnesia was to be expected.

Since seeing the steampunk goggles on a passerby, she realized she was highly agitated, foretelling the coming of a memory--a sign she learned to recognize rather quickly,  a feeling of dread knowing she would see more details in her now predictably fitful sleep.

In her dream state, her mind floated from the innocent steampunk but triggering goggles to the the face of a surgeon wearing goggle-like glasses as she, feeling so small, lay down restrained on a metal table, her heart pounding out of her chest.


(The full story to date of Mind Shadows can be found here.)

Serial Dreaming

VisDare 19: Mirror

Use the following visual prompt to write a story of 

150 words or less:

Photo Source

His dreams kept leading him along a very strange path. All he knew from googling was that such dreams might be trying to reveal an aspect of the self. Drew didn’t find that helpful.

He began on a glacier sliding his way across almost to land when he fell through a hole. Falling what felt like forever in nothingness and waking before landing. Next was a dark tunnel with a speck of light in the distance. He made his way to the light where again he fell dramatically into the center of an ocean. The water was only ankle-deep and made him feel constantly uncomfortable with his wet shoes and socks. Last night a mirror showing him a new realm arose from the water. Was he supposed to step into it?

It suddenly dawned on him. The career offer he’d been considering. Leap of faith or stay in the discomfort?

Words: 150