Category: Microfiction

She smiled at everyone. Sometimes people smiled back and carried that joy with them for the rest of their day. Sometimes they looked a bit confused and shook their heads in either bemusement or straight up confusion. Sometimes they responded with anger, and one man even pointed a finger and called her the devil. What…

“Would you like an advent calendar this year?” “Absolutely not.” “What? Why?” “Because I don’t like countdowns.” “What on earth are you talking about?” “Think about it. When are countdowns good? You get counted down to start a race and that’s frankly terrifying. You get counted down to a new year and that just reminds…

The stars were going out. They didn’t notice at first. There were too many in the sky to miss them, too far away to notice the gentle dimming in the universe. But then Orion lost the centre of his belt, and the panic set in. People watched the constellations fall, saw the archer’s bow tumble…

“What are you doing?” A sigh. One eye lazily opens. “Having a bath.” The eye closes. “Why?” Another sigh. Both eyes open. “To relax.” Emphasis on the second word. Both eyes close. “Not to get clean?” She sits up and looks into the small face. “Well, yes it does that too.” “Can I get in?”…

“Do you want to see a magic trick?” A shrug, impassive shoulders. He sighed, the makeup on his face tight across his cheeks. He pulled a rope from his pocket with a smile that made the child instinctively take a step back. Fear of clowns was ruining his life. Coulrophobia was a pretty funny word…

He was older than the river that had forged a path from the sea, curving through the landscape and inspiring painters and writers for more years than he could count. He was older than the clocktower that the townsfolk lived their lives by, and older than the cathedral that they had built with callused hands.…

“Dance with me.” “Absolutely not.” “Why?” “I can’t dance.” “Who says you can’t dance? Of course you can. It’s easy. Watch.” He moved in a way that was a cross between a shuffle and a hop. It bore no resemblance to any dance she had ever seen. “You look like you’re trying to scratch an…

People bewail the changing of clocks and the lost light. They mourn lazy evening walks to the sound of outdoor play and breakfast on the patio accompanied by birdsong. Winter brings me home. No longer do I have to hide pale skin under stifling layers. No longer do I have to pretend to enjoy picnics…

The seamstress sewed magic. She sewed bravery into the gown she made for prom for the shy young girl with the fringe she had grown to hide behind. That girl ended up on the stage. She sewed hope into the wedding dress of the woman whose parents didn’t approve of her fiance. That woman went…

“The moons are dancing.” “What was that sweetheart?” “Look.” Her daughter, with her impossibly dark hair and eyes spilled from ink, pointed to the sky. “Can’t you see them?” She squinted. “I’m sorry, but I can only see the clouds.” Those dark eyes looked into hers, swimming with a mixture of concern and what felt…