It's time for the First Campaigner Challenge! Here are the rules:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. (✔) These five words will be included in the word count.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
- end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count) ✔
- include the word "orange" in the story ✔
- write in the same genre you normally write ✔
(romance, though it's kind of diluted here)
- make your story 200 words exactly! ✔
Shadows crept across the wall, weaving darkness into the eighteenth
hour.
 |
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Image by Mr. Greenjeans |
Beyond my window, the sun had begun its descent into the
horizon, bathing the world in a hazy, orange glow. Unlike the cards littering
my sill, it promised no warmth, no hope for tomorrow—only a safe passage into
the night. One last time.
My eyelids followed the waning light and lowered of their
own accord. If I could just drift off for a second…
It was the trembling against my back that kept me grounded, still
bound to the man who clung to me with every fiber of his being. His breath
hitched as he swallowed a half-formed sob, but he didn’t say a word. He just rocked
back and forth with his arms around me, burying his tears in my hair.
With a shaking hand, I brushed my fingertips across the back
of his neck, imprinting the goodbye I didn’t have the strength to say or the
heart to believe. Vows were meant to last longer than this. It wasn’t fair...
The baby awoke with a cry in the background, innocent and
oblivious.
No, it wasn’t fair at all.
I drew my last breath, and everything faded.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...Well, crap. That was depressing. Last time I write a challenge entry in the middle of the night!
Anyhoo, if you liked it, feel free to vote (I'm #5). While you're there, check out the other entries. It's always cool to see how differently everyone interprets the flash prompt. :)
Have a great week, guys! ♥
209 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 209 of 209WOW you got 200 replies here!! Awesome! I loved this. I am here from the Platform Building Campaign. I also graduated with a Business and Marketing degree. Great minds, huh? Nice to meet you here. ~Cheers
Thank you, Gilliard! I'll be over to check it out. :)
Thank you, Christopher! I'm overwhelmed by the encouragement everyone has shown me. It just shows you what a great, supportive community we have! :)
Oo, great minds, indeed. Do you find your degree comes in handy, when it comes to your writing career? Nice to meet you, too!
Very good. Great imagery. I was so busy last week that I totally missed the challenge. I wrote one anyway of which I will post tomorrow. It is way depressing too. We must have been in sad moods. haha
Good luck!
Thank you, Julia! Aww... well, I look forward to reading it, anyway! (Sadness and all.) :)
How very, very sad. It's tough to wring such powerful emotions with so few words, so kudos!
Thank you, Jocelyn! I appreciate that. :)
Well, now I'm good and depressed...but it was so beautiful, and I loved it!
Aww, don't be depressed! Watch this happy penguin, instead. :D
Thank you, Stephanie!
Post a Comment