Flash Fiction Magazine

By Iryna Klishch

It happened like this.

Two immigrants were walking under the sky the color of tree bark when suddenly hot rain—without grace, without hesitation—ate at them like an animal. The first immigrant opened her mouth to scream, but only white smoke erupted from between her peach lips.

It happened like this.

A mother dancing the streets through southern Kiev, through the bazaar, through the heavy alleyways dusted in fruit, sour cream, in tree’s the color of fire when she felt hot rain on her wrists. Her daughter could not scream when struck by the red car on Fifth.

It happened like this.

[Read more…] about Voiceless

By Sherri Cook Woosley

You watched this ‘reality’ show about extreme couponing where the people collect piles of newspapers and sort and research and then buy sixteen boxes of spaghetti noodles to save $5. They are doing it all wrong. First of all, anyone who eats sixteen boxes of spaghetti before the expiration date is going to have the kind of problems that $5 won’t fix.

More important, though, the way to save money is not to stock up but to pare down. This struck you the first time someone said you look like you live in your car. Back then you were commuting over an hour to college. Then you went straight to your lame job. Anything you needed for the day had to be packed. So, yeah. You kept snacks and drinks in your car for between classes, took your laptop everywhere, had a sweatshirt, extra shoes, and a couple changes of clothes.

Why, you thought, should I pay rent on a third of an apartment? Yours was the smallest room anyway. Not much bigger than a car. BAM! Now you live in a mobile unit. You can drive close to the college and park under the welcoming parking lot lights of a Walmart. Miss all the morning traffic. Wake up, use the store bathroom to change clothes, brush your teeth, and you are on your way.

[Read more…] about Saving Money

By Bonny Westmore

The train whirred and buckled gently, swaying rhythmically as it crossed several tracks. Whilst the movement was entirely unremarkable, its inconstancy was enough to jolt Chris from his state of vague oblivion. He lifted his eyes from his lap, which had apparently entertained his sightless gaze for some time, and peered out the rain-stained window. He had not noticed the rain, had not heard it or even foreseen its arrival; he wondered how long he had relinquished his sensibilities. Now it seemed that the clouds were parting, making way for the last vestiges of weak winter sunshine before dusk set in.

Good luck, thought Chris cynically, directing his comment to the late afternoon sun. It seemed to peep over the cloud timidly as if asking permission to shine through. The cloud in question was large and grey, almost muscular looking; its shape long yet intertwined, both heavy and purposeful. Yet there was beauty in the sky; in this remarkably horizontal line of cloud that seemed to take full possession of the horizon, and of the streak of sunlight shyly peeking through. The light, faint yet somewhat iridescent, reminded Chris of an apologetic farewell or perhaps a reminder of the sun’s imminent return as if it were saying diffidently, bye for now .

[Read more…] about From Dark to Grey

By The Dinger

There was no way he’d get the position of Lead Human Resources, not now! With clenched fists and a swing in the air to an imaginary jaw, “What is it they do, provide cottony soft toilet paper?”

Set aside not having a clue to what their mission statement was, he never expected to be drilled on the multitude of different types of disposable fabrics used today. The function of toilet paper had gone through many different morphed changes over the last 50 years. From the roughness of sheets to the highly skill crafted manufacturing process it took to ensure maximum roll sizes.

[Read more…] about Restroom

By C. L. Blevins

It happened in the middle of the night. There was a bright flash to the north. Brighter than the light of day, followed by a sonic boom; a rumble that shook the whole house. I jumped out of bed and ran frantically to the children’s bedroom. I knew this day was coming. The signs had been all over the news for weeks. Mass shootings, governments shutting down, countries at war. Not to mention, my employer knew it was coming. They’d warned me a decade ago that we were close to a global change on an unimaginable scale. They even gave me everything they said we’d need to get through it, though, specifically instructed me to tell no one of its existence and to never use it unless I was positive it was time. Somehow I just knew, this was that time.

[Read more…] about 15 Minutes Before Hell