Week 421 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our ninth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for sticking with us. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Mary Decker for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Mark A. Morris
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Nellie Batz | @solimond
- Joel Sandersen | @jsandersen76
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- Denise Callaway | @DenRhea1
- Torn MacAlester | @Torn_MacAlester
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Mary says: One of the things I love about ThursThreads is the fact that I get to read interesting stories that are outside what I normally read and you all took me so many different places – from the edge of a farmer’s table to the edge of the world between the sealie courts. You all make it interesting, and you never make it easy. Thank you for another wonderful adventure. Please, always remember to have the prompt in your story – I had to disqualify one because it wasn’t there.
Honorable Mentions
Mark A. Morris
Mary says: The imagery was fascinating and you did a beautiful job engaging the senses. You evoked a sense of wonder and surreality that reminds me of dreams when you sleep too long. Bravo!
Silver James | @SilverJames_
Mary says: I loved how you engaged the senses in this piece. You drew me in and made me want to know more to see more. Well done!
winner announcement
Week 421 Winner
Mary says: This story is so bittersweet – The feeling of finding the right person at the wrong time and the need to be whole before you can move on – whole or at least not missing the missing parts – Your story haunted me.
“Everyone you ever worked with. Everyone for 29 years. Gone. You burned every bridge. You alienated them all. You walked away from everyone.”
There was nothing to say. Every word she’d said was true. I had. I knew it.
“Tell me. Please. What’s really going on?”
God, those eyes of hers. It always came down to them. Against them I had no defense. No protection. Her eyes had a straight path to my soul. One she could use anyway she wanted, any times she wished, and I couldn’t stop her.
“I changed.”
“That doesn’t answer anything.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth! That’s all I want. The truth.”
“What? That parts of me are gone? That’s the truth. Parts are gone. They’re not coming back.” I couldn’t hide the fire in me. The rage. Not from her. Not from her eyes. “What happened tore my heart out. It’s gone. I don’t feel anything for them anymore. For anyone, anymore.”
“That’s not true!”
I didn’t answer, instead, I looked away, as if to say I didn’t want to talk anymore.
When her hand touched my shoulder, my world came crashing down, and I crashed with it, into silence. “I’m here, you know. And I’m not leaving.”
I hoped someday I could find a way to tell her, to answer her question, but I didn’t know if I’d ever find a way past the missing parts of me. “I don’t want you to go away.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Nine Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mentions Mark and Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
