Monday Flash Fic: Bright Lights

Bright Lights

I wasn’t sure why I still insisted on lighting the lamp and allowing it to shine into the night. If anybody was still around to see it, they would have found me by now. Not for the first time over the past ten days I questioned the wisdom of my decision.

I’d fled the city as soon as the thread of impending doom had been made public. I’d had no intention of sitting around and waiting to see if we would indeed be annihilated by the forces approaching Earth through space. I still couldn’t believe my friends had refused to come with me. Their remarks had made no sense to me.

“Don’t be a coward. Stay and face it with the rest of us.” Not surprisingly that had been Oliver’s reaction. His military background meant he was always ready to face anything but I’d no intention of facing a threat I couldn’t name or imagine.

Paul had been more practical in his objections. “I can’t imagine a species travelling halfway across the universe only to destroy the planet they find.” While I agreed it would be a stupid thing to do, I hadn’t been willing to take the risk.

“If we’re all going to be killed I want us to be together when we die.”Connor had been last to open his mouth and as always his opinion was the one to make me stop and think. But, after twenty-four hours of mulling it over I’d decided I didn’t want to die, alone or together with the best friends I’d ever had.

I’d sent them an email outlining my plans. Then I drove my car into the desert until it ran out of petrol and hitched my tent here. Two days later I saw the bright flashes of light on the horizon. Whatever had caused the eruptions hadn’t been powerful enough to reach me here. I’d feverishly checked myself for any signs of illness since, but as far as I could tell, I was as healthy as I’d ever been.

Healthy and miserable. I stared at the vast expanse of sand surrounding me and wondered, not for the first time, why I hadn’t listened to Connor. Because he’d been right; I saw that now. Being alive lost its charm if you had to do it on your own. Dying a slow - and more than likely painful - death wouldn’t be any easier. But if Paul, Martin and Connor were still alive they would have come for me by now, wouldn’t they?

I turned to my tent and dismantled it. I couldn’t stay here. I had water and food for another week or so and no idea if I’d be able to walk back to where I’d come from in only seven days.

I saw the bright lights coming in my direction when I glanced over my shoulder. I’d no idea whether they’d bring friend or foe and I no longer cared – either way my isolation would end tonight. 

****

As always more stories based on the same picture can be found on Facebook in the Monday Flash Fic Group. Don’t forget to check them out; there are some beauties there waiting for you.

Monday Flash Fic: Blisters

Blisters

Casper cursed under his breath. How could he have been this stupid? Why had he allowed his vanity to spoil what might well have been a perfect evening. He put his hand on the shoe resting on his knee and stroked the leather with his fingers.

When saw the pair of shoes in his favourite secondhand store this morning he’d had no doubts. For once he’d look like everybody else. For the first time since he’d met Zach he wouldn’t feel like a charity case. Not that Zach made him feel like that – far from it. Zach had told him time and again that he’d fallen for Casper not because of or despite the clothes he wore or the money he didn’t have but because he was Casper. Of course, Casper knew better. Once the novelty of having a dirt-poor boyfriend had worn off, Zach would see him for the worthless piece of shit he was and that would be the end of it.

Zach had asked Casper to come to this wedding as his date six weeks ago. It had taken him a month to find the trousers and shirt in secondhand shops. He’d resigned himself to having to wear them with his old and falling apart sneakers,when he’d spotted the posh shoes. When they turned out to be his size he’d been sure fate was on his side for once.

He’d been wrong. The shoes were his size alright, and since they were second hand, they should have been worn in, but clearly this pair hadn’t been made for him. His feet felt as if they were on fire and he could feel blisters erupting where the edges of the shoes cut into his flesh.

“I didn’t know it was possible, but you’re even more standoffish tonight than you normally are. Are you just going to sit here and mope?” Zach tried to sound upbeat but Casper heard the pain beneath his words.

A barrage of clever as well as nasty remarks flashed through Casper’s head but he bit them back. Zach had never asked him to change who he was or the clothes he wore. As much as he wanted to blame someone else for the pain in his feet, Casper knew he couldn’t.

“I’m sorry. It’s my feet – they’re killing me.”

“That’s all?” Relief flashed across Zach’s face as he knelt on the floor in front of Casper. Zach removed first one and then the other shoe from Casper’s feet. “Better?”

“God, yes.”

Zach got up with the shoes in his hand and walked across the hall before dumping the sadistic footwear in a bin and returning.

“One of these days you’re going to believe me when I tell you I don’t care what you look like.” Zach stroked the tattoo on Casper’s arm.

For the first time since he’d met Zach, Casper believed that day might indeed come. 

****

I hope you enjoyed my story. For more wonderful flashes inspired by the same picture visit the Monday Flash Fics group on Facebook.

Monday Flash Fic: Late

Well fuck it all to the high heavens.

Marc glanced at his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes and saw he was still late. He sped up until he all but ran down the street, the pedal of the bike he pushed along with him, almost making him trip. Of all the days to get a flat tyre.

He’d met Sam a month ago and hadn’t invited Sam to his house yet because Marc wasn’t sure how his lover would react to his housemate.

Two days ago Sam had called and mentioned a new restaurant he’d like to try out. Before he’d thought about it Marc had uttered the words he’d regretted ever since.

“I haven’t been there yet but it’s just around the corner from where I live.”

“Really?” Sam had sounded delighted. “That’s great. I’ll meet you at your place and we’ll head over together.”

Marc had swallowed the ‘no’ on his lips, and they’d agreed to meet at his place at five. He checked the time again and saw he was now thirty minutes late. Sam wouldn’t have waited outside this long. It no longer mattered how Sam might have felt about his little secret. Sam was probably pissed off enough never to want to see Marc again, which would mean he’d never find out about Brutus either.

He parked his bike in its allotted space in the hall and slowly made his way up the stairs, no longer in a hurry to get home now he faced a lonely evening and probably equally lonely future.

“Marc!”

He cursed under his breath as Caroline, his elderly neighbour, called his name before he could open his door, and turned to face her.

“I hope you don’t mind but when I came home with my shopping I met this charming young man outside. He told me he was waiting for you and helped me with my bags. I used my key to let him in to your apartment. That’s okay, isn’t it?

Hope and fear battled for dominance in Marc. Sam hadn’t left. But if he was here, inside, he would have met Brutus, the dog Caroline minded for Marc while he worked.

 “It’s fine Caroline, thank you.”

He sighed and opened the door, mentally preparing himself to face ridicule. He got sniggers and double takes from strangers when he walked Brutus. What would Sam think of Marc owning the least manly dog known to mankind?

“See, I told you he wouldn’t let us down.” Sam’s voice was filled with tenderness. Relief flooded Marc as he walked towards the man he’d fallen for, holding the dog Mark had rescued a year ago.

“This little man,” Sam smiled at Marc, “is almost as cute as his owner.”

Marc rested his head against Sam’s shoulder and closed his eyes. They would be okay. He hadn’t been wrong. Sam was exactly the man Marc had hoped he would be.

****

This picture was selected by Brigham Vaughn and, as always, more flashes based on the same photo can be found in the Monday Flash Fic Group on Facebook.

Monday Flash Fic: A Taste Like Hope

A Taste like Hope

“We made it.”

Sara smiled at the wonder in Caroline’s voice.

“Oh ye of little faith.” She loved teasing Caroline, and it was so easy to get a reaction out of her.

Sure enough, Caroline didn’t allow her to get away with it and lightly slapped her shoulder. “Yes, because you, of course, knew all along it would all work out as it did...for the best.”

The temptation was there to pretend she had known all along, that she hadn’t been worried and had trusted faith, or luck or whatever you wanted to call it, to be on their side, but while Sara had been more optimistic than Caroline, she’d never been completely certain.

“So, we’re good to go?” Suddenly Sara needed the reassurance. She’d waited for this moment. The closer they’d gotten to it, the more her doubts had grown.

“Yes.” Caroline pressed her lips against Sara’s and everything – the worries, the long wait, the ever-present insecurity – faded into the background until only Caroline and their love for each other remained in Sara’s universe.

“So, tell me what happened.”

“They kept their word. It really is that simple.” The expression on Caroline’s face showed she couldn’t quite believe it.

“We had a meeting this morning and dad asked me if I still felt the same. And you know what...?” A bright smile lit up Caroline’s face and caused a flutter in Sara’s stomach. “He wasn’t surprised when I told him my...our feelings hadn’t changed.”

“So?” Sara held her breath.

When Caroline had first told her parents she’d fallen in love with Sara and they wanted to move away together, her mother especially had been very negative. After a long and painful fight they’d compromised. If Sara and Caroline still felt the same after six months during which they’d only see each other occasionally, Caroline’s parents would accept it was not just a phase they were going through.

“I don’t think mam will ever be completely happy about the fact I won’t be bringing a husband home, but even she accepts it now. I...we have their blessing. Caroline’s eyes filled with tears. “I can have it all – my life with you and a relationship with my parents. And oh, I nearly forgot...” Caroline squeezed Sara’s hand and gave her another soft kiss. “See the car. It’s ours; a present from my father, so we can travel in comfort and safety.”

The next kiss was long and deep and hot and to Sara it tasted like hope.

****

I found this picture on the Life Gets Better Together group on Facebook. If you have the time, check them out and like them; they're well worth it. More wonderful stories based on this picture can be found in the Monday Flash Fic group, also on Facebook. 

Monday Flash Fic: Snowmen

Snowmen

I stared at the tableau in front of me, unable to believe my eyes. What the fuck...?

“Take the dog for a walk.”

Caroline smiled at me when she said the words. I glanced at the snow and back at her, wondering if she could possibly be serious. I mean, it’s not as if I make a secret of my dislike of the cold.

“Go on. He’ll burst if he doesn’t get his walk soon and I don’t have time to do it right now.” As if to prove her point she turned to the kitchen and opened the freezer.

I sighed and made a huge show of putting on my snow boots and securing the leash to Bastian’s collar. It didn’t make a difference; Caroline didn’t pay any attention to me or my antics. After stalling for as long as I possibly could I opened the door and stepped into the snow.

 I had every intention of making this the shortest walk in the history of dog-walks, but apparently the animal had different ideas. In fact, for a dog who was supposed to be bursting he took his time before raising his paw for the first time. As for taking care of other business; he didn’t seem to have any need.

Unfortunately he wasn’t inclined to go back home either. For the first time since we got Bastian as a cute puppy I regretted getting a German Shepherd as a pet. He pulled on the leash and I’d no choice but to follow along. Trying to stand my ground – never mind walk in the opposite direction – would have ended with me on my ass in the snow and I wanted to avoid that, if at all possible. I was cold enough as it was.

Bastian led me to the clearing as if he knew what we would find here. About five yards away from the three snowmen in their cosy set-up, he stopped walking and sat down. He tilted his head and looked up at me. If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn he had a grin on his face.

I couldn’t take my eyes of the display. Caroline and I had made a snowman each the first winter we were together. The next time it snowed I’d told her how much I hated the cold and we’d never done it again.

Bastian followed me as I approached the table and sat down again when I reached it. I studied the snow family before looking at the table and picking up the note, secured underneath a bottle.

And then there were three. You better learn to enjoy it; our child may like snow as much as I do. Congratulations dad-to-be. Love, C.

I was only barely aware of Bastian licking my hand as tears sprang to my eyes.

****

This picture was, once again, provided by Theo Fenraven who turns out to be a true treasure-trove when it comes to inspirational photos. As always links to more flashes, based on the same picture, can be found in the Monday Flash Fic Facebook group.