If it was Different

Flash Fiction: Under 100 words

The first time it happened we didn’t know until much later. The second time it happened we were shattered. And the third time it happened we were exhausted.

The day was riddled with a razor sharp tension that sliced through the doleful clouds, and an expectation of loss was a gnawing anesthetic. We watched her pack her bag and hugged her goodbye, the hug expressing repressed fury. We watched them enter the car, uncertain of her return, hoping she’d come back different. They drove away and we closed the garage door, sat at the table, and fiddled.

Reviews

[Kaliope]

In my opinion a great piece of flash fiction does two things: transport the emotion of the scene at hand and tell a story beyond the words. Many stories accomplish either one or the other, but rarely both. You, however, mastered both tasks brilliantly, the atmosphere is tense and gripping and even though I don't know for sure what happened between those people, there is a whole family drama with complex dynamics hidden behind these few words.

Great job!