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
- make your story 200 words exactly!
Shadows crept across the wall of their bedroom. Emily lay in bed glowing, wearing an involuntary grin. The echos of the chemical symphony Josh had played in her mind the night before and the comforter kept her warm. She could smell warm cinnamon and hear the coffee brewing.
By any standards Josh was an awful cook. That had never stopped him cooking for her. He was just wearing boxers when he walked in carrying an orange vase containing a pair of daffodils.
“How much trouble would it be to find daffodils in their Chicago suburb in February?” was the thought going through her mind as he walked over to her, handed her the vase, kissed her on the forehead, and left without a word. “What a cute ass he has,” replaced the previous thought.
She smelled the flowers. They reminded her of San Francisco and “The Braised Unicorn.” He brought in the same breakfast of cinnamon french toast and fresh strawberries they had enjoyed that morning on the bay and climbed in bed next to her.
They spent all day in bed reminiscing about that weekend until the smells from the kitchen, the light from the window, everything, had faded.
