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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 5)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021. Week #33.

Today I’m featuring a contribution by Harmony Kent.

��I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Harmony’s Contribution.

Ocean of Existence

I always thought that death by drowning would be peaceful. I don’t know why. Perhaps all those depictions in movies where the victim drifts serenely down into the dark depths, arms suspended in the water above, and wrists and fingers limp, led me into the lie.

My death didn’t happen like that. Not in the slightest.

The tangerine sky, susurration of the surf, and waves lapping and caressing the protruding rocks awed me and lulled me into a false sense of security and wellbeing.

If you ever get the silly notion to go for a midnight swim after you’ve had a few, my advice to you is DON’T DO IT.

Near paralytic, I could barely stand and stumble-staggered through the sand. The cold dampness of it made my toes curl. My head spun and nausea lurched and roiled. I thought, vaguely, that the shock of the icy water would clear my head. Sober me up. I suppose it did, in a way. Eventually. But by then it was too late. By then my number was up.

I wasn’t stupid enough to go to the beach alone, you understand. But my mates thought I was messing about. They didn’t realise I was drowning, you see. Just ditzy Daisy having a lark.

At first it felt great. Bloody freezing, but I’d forgotten my dizziness. And I no longer felt like throwing up or passing out. The trouble came when I tried to wade back to the shore. The beach lay so close that I could feel the rough scratch and sting of pebbles beneath my feet. Another misconception �� that you need to get out of your depth to drown.

The sea didn’t want to let go of me. Each time I stumbled forward through the increasingly rough surf, the undertow yanked me back. I lost my footing. The tide took me. Salt water and sand scoured my skin and burned my throat. Half blinded, and coughing and retching, I struggled to lift my head through the surface and drag in air. Over and over, the waves crashed on top of me. Tossed and tumbled me. Pummelled and ripped my scanty dress from my body. My bra went. It all went. Even layers of skin in places I’d rather not mention.

Once more, I broke the surface, sucked in blissful breath, and then I screamed. My drunk friends hollered and whistled and whooped. But I wasn’t playing, I was drowning. And then I lost the lung power to shout.

Get out. Get out. Get out get out get out. The urgent imperative did me no good. The tangy seaweed-taste of the salt water, the impossible weight of the waves, the crushing pressure in my chest, and the abject terror—I remember it all. Even then, it hadn’t dawned on me that I was dying. I was fighting. I was afraid to die, certainly, but had not comprehended the direness of my situation. The nearness of my imminent peril.

All I knew was that I had to get out of the sea and gain firm ground beneath my feet. But the ocean maintained its wave rhythm mercilessly. In the vast unutterable power of Mother Nature, a mere slip of a girl is nothing. An insignificant dew drop slipping into the�� night-dark sea �� unremarked. The lack of malice, the inexorability of the thing, is what struck the terror into my heart. My mind. It was then I understood I was going to die. Was dying already.

As soon as that devastating realisation sank in, I lost my mind. Cast off any sense of humanity. Became a panicked beast �� fighting, fighting, fighting. The inevitability of my death left room for nothing else. The spectre of my demise became my whole reality. And the pressure of that awful certainty destroyed me. I gave up. Accepted the futility.

And still, I can’t label the ease of acceptance as peace. Nor the blanket of euphoria as joy. The closest I can come is to tell you that I disappeared. The individual who was me dissolved. The whole universe became one �� back to that dewdrop slipping into the sea. And there was such relief in that.

Then came absence. No bright light or spiritual presence heralded my arrival at the other side.

Image by from

Days later, I woke up. A ventilator breathed for me. An hour more and they would have switched it off, convinced of my brain death. The universe had other ideas. Medics and nurses patted one another on the back and rejoiced.

Not I.

Never again shall I presume to assume that a mere mortal has any control over life or death. Nor power over this great and wondrous Earth. We can rant and rave and choose sides. Pretend grave division. However, like it or not, even alone we are all one. The same life animates these argumentative hearts and minds. The same drive to thrive and survive. It doesn’t matter what affiliations or beliefs you have, nor your colour—be that black, brown, yellow, pink, white, blue, or red, or even green. And when the final reckoning comes, the ocean of existence will not discriminate. Sooner or later, the sun goes down, and we sink back into the waters of life from whence we came.

© Harmony Kent 2021

CONTACT HARMONY HERE ��

Website: �����Ի� (Co-authored)

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be posting further entries as they are received.

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 4)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.”�� Week #33.

Today I’m featuring a contribution by�� Gwen Plano.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here’s the image prompt and the contribution by Gwen Plano.

This week’s image is a rocky shoreline (image on the lower left sode). My response is a simple Tanka poem of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.

When I saw this prompt, I immediately thought of lovers separated by tragedy. I envisioned them bridging time by visits to a familiar rocky shoreline. I’ve entitled my poem, Forever.

Gwen Plano can be reached here ��

Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I may be contacted here ��

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Entry PART 3) for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.�� Week #33.

Today I’m featuring a contribution from by Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and the contribution.

Sunrise, I stand alone with my blue ocean
The land beyond
I am King of all I survey, at least for another hour
Before the human ants
come crawling out of the woodwork.
I enjoy this hour, I bathe in it
It will sustain me through the day.
Those sullen voices, grumpy faces
It rolls off my back,
I have become a duck for the day.
To hold back the nightmares
I will watch the sun set
Bathe in the peace of it at the end of my day
Armour against the night terrors
I shall sleep peacefully,
knowing all is well with the world��

© Anita Dawes 2021

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Contact Anita Dawes and Jaye Marie Here .

Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ll be posting more entries as I receive them.

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 2) of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.�� Week #33.Today I’m featuring a contribution By D L Finn.Last week I set the following Challenge:Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.Here is the image prompt and D.L.Finns contribution.

This is a which a prose paragraph finished off by a Haiku/Senyru.

��

A DAY BY THE SEA

I sat on my pink beach towel lathered in sunscreen, perched atop the warm black sand. The waves crashed against the rocks, making entry into the inviting sea difficult, yet people still swam and snorkeled. The day was uneventful as I sipped water and nibbled on sandy snacks while reading the latest romance novel. As the sky turned orange and the sun disappeared into the horizon, I shivered and tugged on my yellow floral dress. Then, I stood where the water met land, taking in the tropical splendor that reminded me of my innocent childhood days. I allowed the waves to wash over my feet as it tried to pull the sand from under them. The few people who were left at the beach were focused on the golden orb’s departure. Now was the promised time for departure. I scanned the incoming water, hoping nothing would prevent its arrival again. A scarlet glow caught my eye. I smiled deeply as tears of joy filled my eyes. Finally, it was here!

The red orb found me
Transporting me to the ship
I was going home.

~~~~~~~~~

D.L.Finn can be reached here ��

Thanks so much for stopping by! I look forward to reading your comments.

I can be reached here ��

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 1)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.�� Week #33,Today I’m featuring contributions from entry 1)By John Howell and Entry 2) My own contribution.Last week I set the following Challenge:Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

This one-line contribution by John Howell.

“Drop the blind, will ya, Shela. After last night, I need to stay where the sun don’t shine.��

John Howell can be reached here ��

Visit at Amazon.

��

Here is my own contribution.

Allie Patterson pulled the purple shawl up around her shoulders as the sweet salt scented air cooled and caressed her body. She dug her toes into the swirling sand as the waves rushed forward and danced around her ankles.

Allie drew in a deep lungful of air to steady herself as she looked across the ocean to where the sun was kissing the new dawn into wakefulness. She marveled at the myriad of colors nature had granted permission for the sky to share, and then smiled at her own flights of fancy. It had been ten years to the day since she’d last been here.

Allie felt her soul weeping within her, she cried out with the pain of it. “Am I a damned fool to have come back here? Will this bring me closure?��

The aching, burning, need to see Lance just one more time had gnawed at her guts like a ravenous cancer for the last ten years. But this place? Dear God, this place was the most difficult of all to revisit. It was here, right here on this spot where Lance had laughed with pleasure at the astonished look on her face when he first told her that he loved her beyond reason. Could a kiss ever be sweeter than the one following their mutual declaration of insanity?

They’d spent every anniversary of that day here. Rejoicing in the rightness of their being together, they’d walked hand in hand along the beach and snuggled down together to watch the kaleidoscope of sound and color explode around them. They’d sipped on hot coffee and Lance had moved and seated himself just behind her, Allie had leaned back into his arms, not needing conversation to intrude on the moment.

Ten years ago, it had changed forever.

Allie had turned forty-five and begun questioning everything she’d ever done in her life. What had she done to bring her to this moment? She lived in a great apartment in a good location and excelled at her job. She was in love with a man who loved her back. She told herself that over and over again as the guilt she was feeling about their affair weighed ever heavily on her.

She’d lived the lie for so long she’d forgotten what it was like to have someone in her life who was available to share time with her spontaneously. Someone who’d ring her at work and invite her over for something simple like Pizza and a movie. Her affair with Lance saw her spend every holiday alone. She attended friend’s weddings and their children’s christenings without a plus one, and her friends had long since given up trying to pair her off with anyone. She couldn’t share Lance with them. The only day of the year she was certain to spend with him was the anniversary of the first day they’d spent together here on the edge of the ocean. ��Apart from that date she never knew when she’d hear from him, and like a damned fool she was so grateful when he did finally call, she’d never admonished him, she’d simply agreed to his sudden urgent need to be with her. Until the bitter taste of her own disenchantment permeated their relationship. She’d watched her pride in her accomplishments drown in the acid of the deception she had been living for far too long.

Ten years ago, right here, she had ended their affair. Lance had seen it coming and done nothing to prevent it. It hadn’t ended with an argument. He’d made no promises. He seemed to take pride in that knowledge. “I did tell you I was married,�� he said as if that completely absolved him of any wrongdoing. Allie looked at him clearly perhaps for the first time, then she turned and walked away forever.

Allie felt the tears on her face and used her shawl to wipe them away. She turned and smiled up at the man who had now joined her. “Have you put him to rest now, my love?�� He asked.

Allie glanced at the wedding ring on her finger and reached her hand out to her husband. “Yes, darling. I have.��

“Good. Then let’s leave here now. After all we have our own memories to keep making, don’t we?��

Allie kissed his cheek and grinned happily, “Oh, yes. It’s so wonderful to have memories I’m able to share.�� She caught the wicked gleam in his eyes as he responded. “Well, we can share some of them.��

They laughed together and walked hand in hand into their future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for joining me here today. I look forward to seeing your comments. I will as always featuring each new contribution as I receive them.

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Hello everyone and welcome to my weekly “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021″�� WEEK #33.

Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Please put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at My email address. by ,DEADLINE: 4pm EDT on Thursday, January 28th.�� Subject: Fiction in a Flash Challenge. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be much appreciated.

I’ll be sharing all entries received, and, my own contribution here AS I RECEIVE THEM.

Here is the image prompt for this week.

Photo by from

I hope the image inspires you! Come and join in the fun.

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 10) of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021”�� Week #32.

Today I’m featuring a contribution by Mark Bierman.

��I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Mark’s contribution.

Sophie hated these woods at night. During the day, they were cheerful. Cicadas played their endless rattle songs in the trees, while black-capped chickadees fed from your hand.

This trail was usually lit by sunlight, its rays marked the path ahead with the promise of a refreshing dip in Potters Lake, or, if you went the other way, the back door of Nanny and Pappy’s cottage. On most afternoons, the smell of fresh baked cookies would reach your nose before the brown walls of the cottage could be seen.

Yes, the daytime was safe time, but not now, out here, in the dark, and with only an old lantern that Pappy had used as a kid . . . now that was old.

Her teacher, Mr. Palmer, had said darkness was just the absence of light, that everything was the same. She’d love to have that man here, now. If only he could here the thumps, the rustle of branches as they were parted by the claws of who knows what. Sophie tried to ignore them, to keep the lantern pointed only at the path ahead. She was weirdly mad at the lantern for lighting up the edges of path. It showed a pair of glowing eyes that stared at her very soul, before disappearing back into the woods.

Every ounce of her wanted to run back to the cottage. Her desire was increased when she heard the crazy call of something on the lake to her right, just beyond the bushes. Sophie had jumped then . . . had almost dropped the lantern, and then what? Complete darkness!

She felt the gross things squirm at her side; disgusting, slimy, and terrifying. She tried to imagine they were not there. But they were, and the sooner she got to the lake, the sooner she’d be rid of them. Sophie shuddered at the thought of what was to come.

Something grabbed her right sneaker, and she was pulled towards the bush. ��A scream was caught in her throat, it wouldn’t do her terror justice, anyways, and who knows what blood thirsty monsters it would attract.

Claws tore at her jacket and snatched her hair. In her panic, she dropped the lantern and it smashed as she fought for her life.

Trees are good for the environment. Not these ones, Palmer, not all trees were good! Some were evil and would grab you . . . these trees kill you! Find that in your stupid Life Science book, Palmer.

Then she was free of them. She raced towards the lake. Scared to death, running like a crazy person down a trail that was almost as dark as her closet. But there was a weird satisfaction that she’d at least ripped off some of their spiny fingers They were still freakishly stuck in her hair, though.

Their angry brothers and sisters tried to stop her, by grabbing at her feet, but she was ready for them, this time. She was an expert dodgeball player. Nimble as a mountain goat, her gym teacher had said. Well, all those games had certainly paid off.

She didn’t have the nerve to get the broken lantern, but the slimy things were still with her. She hated her luck.

A monster screeched in the trees and her feet seemed to float over the path. Up ahead, was the last corner before the lake. Another screech, this time directly overhead, was answered by a bone chilling yodel!

There was nothing for it, no turning back for Sophie. She had a job to do and no self-respecting girl would let it go undone.

Sophie put her head down, to avoid it being torn off by the screechy thing and raced to the lake. The slimy creatures bounced off her right side, and it felt like every monster from all the horror films she’d ever heard about were after her.

The lake appeared. The job was finished!

“Sophie! What on earth happened to your hair? Are you alright?�� Pappy’s worried face looked at her from his boat, that was still tied to the dock.

Sophie ran onto the dock, nearly of breath. It was difficult to speak, but she managed, “I-I’m okay, now.��

She reached into her coat pocket and cringed. Her hand grabbed the carton of those slimy devils. “Here’s the worms we forgot.��

“Thanks, Sweetie, that was brave of you to go back in the dark. Especially with all of those roots on the trail. Now, let’s get those twigs out of your hair.��

~~~~~~~

Mark can be reached here ��

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 9)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021. �� Week #32. Today I’m featuring a contribution from Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Roberta’s Contribution.

This short extract is from Roberta’s new supernatural short story entitled “Hide-and-Seek.��

Hidden behind the heavy, velvet curtains covering the window on the upstairs landing, the listener gazed at the fabric with flat, empty eyes. Moments later, she gave a shudder and thought, she’ll come upstairs. She’ll go to the secret room in the attic; it’s a great hiding place.

The stairs creaked.

Behind her screen, the listener’s thick lips twisted into a pleased smile, as the graceful bride stepped onto the landing, looked around briefly, and slipped soundlessly in the direction of the smaller staircase leading to the attic.

Moving stealthily, despite her bulk, the listener followed Anne up the stairs, and disappeared into the deep shadows just inside the attic door.

Unaware of the listener’s scrutiny, Anne moved towards a large chest on the other side of the attic. Reaching out, she pushed on the paneling.

Click!

A piece of the wall slid back, exposing a doorway.

Anne stepped through into darkness.

Click!

The hole slid closed.

The listener approached the concealed door and stood outside it, her eyes blank. Thoughts, like dark moths, flew randomly around her mind. The casket, I’m sure she’ll hide in the casket. ��

Like a bright lamp, this idea attracted the moths until, a little at a time, a plan formed��

~~~~~~~~~~

Contact Roberta Here ��

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Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 8)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.�� Week #32.Today I’m featuring a contribution from Karen IngallsLast week I set the following Challenge:Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.Here is the image prompt and Karen’s Contribution.

��

And here is Karen’s Tanka poem based on the above:

There is a wonderful poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, titled “The Sands of Time.�� It is a poem that left a large impact on me when I was in high school. Its influence is obviously still with me.

Karen may be reached here ��

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I’ll be featuring further contributions as I receive them.

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 7)�� of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.”�� Week #32.

Today I’m featuring a contribution by�� Gwen Plano.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!�� Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.�� Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here’s the image prompt and the contribution by Gwen Plano.

I’ve situated the image within a larger picture of a cabin in the woods. My haiku poem (5-7-5 syllables) is called Home.

Gwen Plano can be reached here ��

Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I may be contacted here ��

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