#ThursThreads – Week 399 – Winners

Week 399 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Katheryn Avila 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:

  • Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Silver James | @SilverJames_
  • Mark A. Morris
  • David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
  • Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball
  • Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • M.T. Decker | @mishmhem

Honorable Mentions

Mark A. Morris

Katheryn says: The tension between the characters is interesting – I can’t quite tell if they’re in an established, though strained, relationship or if they don’t know each other all that well yet. Either way, I want to know more about how they found themselves stranded, and if they eventually give in and use each other as radiators – a trusted romance trope I really enjoy!

winner announcement

Week 399 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Katheryn says: There was a real sweetness and longing about this scene that pulled at my heartstrings – from the imagery to Taye’s thoughts. His longing and desperation for human connection really come through, and makes it easy to feel for him. It was a really easy scene to picture fully, and that’s difficult to do with so few words. Great job!

Hope stood by the balcony, gaze on the misty river below. The rising sun cast her in a halo of muted gold and pink, and his heart ached. His body wanted.

“It’s okay, you know.” Hope cradled a cup of coffee in her hands, sipping as she turned, soft eyes steady on him. “If there’s something you want, just ask.”

“And if I want you?”

She set her mug down, lips curling up.

“Do you think I’ll say no?” she mused. “Barring certain hard limits, I’m fairly comfortable with a provisional yes as my answer.”

For almost a week straight, the morning had given him Hope. He was starting to believe she’d be with him every morning, and that was dangerous. Maybe he needed to go. Maybe he didn’t want to be used to this. The friendship. The comfort. The belonging. The attraction. They overwhelmed him, filling his empty soul. They surrounded him, tempting him to believe. To trust.

When it all left him, he’d be right back to where he started.

The freak in the shadows.

But he’d be so much lonelier knowing for sure what was he missing.

“I’m not going anywhere, love,” Hope said.

“Reading minds is my superpower.”

“I’m not reading your mind.” She chuckled, stepping closer. “Your fight-or-flight body language is telling me your worries.”

Her soft sigh teased his lips as she leaned in.

“I mean to keep you in my life, Taye.”

She tasted of coffee and cream, and he drank her deep.
~~~~~~~

Congratulations THIRTY-THREE TIME WINNER Cara, and Honorable Mention Mark! 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! 🙂

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