Flash Fiction
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Blessed Be the Bolognese
Foofaraw: My roommate Chad—wearing nothing but soggy lasagna sheets and red sauce—thrust a ladle at two dozen glassy-eyed strangers sprawled on the floor of our two-bedroom apartment. Continue reading
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The Last Time I Saw Carl Naked
Neon & Smoke: The first time I saw Carl naked, he was watering his wife’s heirloom tomatoes. I was next door, sprawled on my patio lounger, laptop open, prepared for my first work-from-home day after years in an office. Continue reading
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A House Divided
Flash Fiction Magazine: The flickering television casts midnight shadows across my wainscoting. I squeeze disintegrating insulation, desperate to make my walls thin enough for Paul to hear Cheryl’s sobs. He sighs, turns off the TV, and stares at my popcorn… Continue reading
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The Other Side of Town
Dishsoap Quarterly: My blue-collar husband hates this side of town because he thinks hipsters are contagious and he’s afraid he’ll spontaneously grow a moustache proselytizing to strangers about mung-bean milk and old-growth forests—but I lived here once, in a basement… Continue reading
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Wisteria
Sunlight Press: “The first vine appeared in her avocado-green fridge, grazing Muriel’s palm as she reached for the eggs. It snaked through cooling coils and electric fans, past a limp, forgotten carrot, and a plate of leftover meatloaf.” Continue reading
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Consequences of Being My Husband’s Wingman
Micromance: I hover above their candle-lit dinner: his medium-rare filet, her wedge salad. Hope drains from my husband as his date says she’s ready to leave. Austin holds her Uber door open, always a gentleman. The two part ways with… Continue reading
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And The Oscar Goes To…
The hairs flash like a beacon on the bathroom’s white marble tiles. I wrap them in a square of toilet paper and slide them into my uniform pocket. Continue reading
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Reflections on Luminous Days
Steam Ticket – Third Coast Journal Vol 28 Mom painted my bedroom Benjamin Moore 0300 Luminous Days, on my twelfth birthday. I hadn’t thought about changing my soft pink walls until Shannon Marie Falcone slept over. Continue reading
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Musings of a Polka-Dot Bikini:
The saleswoman convinced me that women my age could wear a two-piece. Retro-style, black with white polka dots. “You’ve earned those curves, wear them with pride.” Continue reading
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The Thawing
Moonlit Getaway May 2025: “Neither Andy nor I like berries.” Isabelle eyed the pink and white confection on the plate. She laid a small forkful on her tongue, grimacing as the vanilla sponge slid down her throat. Frost climbed up… Continue reading
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Mist of Cinnamon and Cloves
The Hoolet’s Nook: I grate a teaspoon of nutmeg into the bowl; preparing Finn’s favourite cake is a rare reprieve from my burden. Winter-fever picks off more villagers daily, snuffing them like Mass candles after the Saints are beseeched. Continue reading
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Try Again, Again
2024 Bath Flash Fiction Anthology: Try Again, Again Yesterday my sister stopped by under the guise of cheering me up. Without pausing for breath, she dug her nails into my pain, borrowing crumbs of my grief to fuel her stagnant… Continue reading
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Let’s Misbehave
Micromance Magazine: Ruth’s tush had barely touched the seat when a tall, mustachioed man slid into the open chair. “Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?” Continue reading
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6:59
Neither Fish Nor Foul: The nightmares started after Jenn drowned. A waterlogged hand stretched through the dark, one familiar chipped-polish fingertip caressed my lips. Her valley-girl vocal fry, that I once thought sexy, filled the room. Continue reading
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Every Fibre
Frazzled Literature: Wisps of soft yellow cotton tickle my nose, my eyes, my ears. I sit behind your chestnut hair in homeroom. The desire to crawl into those lavender and mint scented curls is overwhelming. You hold court over our… Continue reading
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Buon Appetito
Frazzled Lit: I’m sure you hear my heart pounding as we settle onto the benches. For thirty years, a five-course meal at Antonio’s has been the backdrop for all our big news. Always this back corner booth, away from the… Continue reading
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A Caged Bird Is Never Free
Sci-Fi Shorts: Addam tells me this circle of palm trees is my favourite place. I lay under them for hours, willing myself to love the leather-skinned trunks and spiky fronds. This section of our bio-dome, far from the tiny house,… Continue reading
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I Watch Your Life In Pictures
Bright Flash Literary Review: Mae spotted Leah in the produce section, lightly squeezing an avocado to test for ripeness. She would have known her older sister anywhere, despite her being dressed in the suburban mommy uniform, messy bun, black leggings… Continue reading
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Home Sweet Home
Furious Fiction – AWC: They were my first. My white walls a blank slate to create their perfect nest. They’d hung dusty rose and forest green wallpaper. My style is more contemporary, but their joy was infectious, so I absorbed… Continue reading
Christy Hartman 