Category: Microfiction

He came into the world, not kicking and screaming, but with a sense of bewilderment. As she felt his weight in her arms rather than across her back and in her stomach, she thought of the multiple journeys his life might take. Every decision he would make would mean a different path, a butterfly effect…

The pitch of the scream was enough to turn her heart to ice. She flew down the stairs, feeling her centre of gravity threatening to spill over with each step, fleeting images of her body tumbling to the ground shattering her thoughts. Running into the kitchen, she saw her daughter sat on the cold tiles,…

“I’ve got the WORST ear worm.” “Ooh can I guess what it is?” “Erm, ok?” “Is it Don’t Stop Me Now?” “No.” “Is it Take On Me?” “No.” “Something more recent then. Call Me Maybe?” “No.” “Hmm. How about Watermelon Sugar?” “What the hell is that?” “Never mind.” “Why are you listing songs anyway?” “You…

“Wait. What are YOU doing here?” “This is my land. I’m allowed to be here.” “No, no, no, no, no. We talked about this. I was here first. This is my land. You need to leave now.” “Get lost! I actually live here!” “No you don’t, you’re just a bloody lodger.” “So are you! You’re…

The app told them that the ISS was passing overhead. He raised his hand to the sky. “What are you waving for?” He shrugged. “I dunno. It just felt like the right thing to do.” “You get that they can’t see you, right?” He rolled his eyes even though they were still pointed skywards. “I…

“Do you remember that house when we were younger?” “The one mum and dad used to tell us was where they would send us when we were bad? Of course I remember.” She shuddered as she pictured it. “It had the windows with the curtains that never moved so they were covered with dust. And…

She could tell from the way the door opened that he was in a bad mood. She heard kicked off shoes hit the skirting boards. Heard bags drop from frustrated shoulders. “What’s happened kiddo?” He sat down heavily at the table, arms crossed in teenage defiance. “You know I’ll find out eventually..” He exhaled through…

She had a magic trick that no one else could see. Whenever she needed to, she could conjure the aurora borealis. She couldn’t remember the first time she had tried breath work, filling her lungs until the skin of her chest stretched, holding it to the point of discomfort, and finally breathing out until it…

“How was that?” She made her smile encouraging rather than amused. “You sounded like a proper Italian.” He sighed with relief and took a sip of Pecorino as he looked out over the river Arno. They had paid a tourist’s premium for the table, but he didn’t care. “I wonder what the fish of the…

“That’s it. I’m not gardening any more.” She looked up from her crossword. “Why on earth not?” She was under no illusion that he loved gardening more than he loved her. “Because the foliage is furious.” She lowered the newspaper. Peered over her glasses. “What do you mean the foliage Is furious?” “Exactly what I…