Week 453 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we head toward the end of 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 Silver James 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:
- Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Joe Hesch | @JAHesch
- Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor
- Mark A. Morris
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
- Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
Silver says: I had to read, reread, reread, and again because every blasted tale is awesome, each in it’s own way. My choices finally came down to the ones that resonated just a little bit more to my inner reader.
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Silver says: Cliches are cliches for a reason and I love it when they are used cleverly. This was a whale of a tale and despite the subject matter, it made me smile.
Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites
Silver says: This tale had all the goods–setting, characterizations, and a sense of emotional urgency in the action. Also, fae for the win!
winner announcement
Week 453 Winner
Silver says: All the feels to this tale. It was emotional, heart-wrenching, filled with a sense of desperate loss. Plus, I’m a sucker for metaphysical conversations. Very well done, Joe!
In the conversation we never had, you didn’t say, “Life’s subjective. One person’s joy could trigger another’s despair. Like someone else’s woe could bring another cheer.”
“We’ve lived each,” I would’ve said. “You, often, the latter,” my eyes would blink in code.
But we weren’t really talking about Life (like I said, we weren’t really talking at all), unless you consider just getting out of bed Life. Really about living, opening those eyes, taking that big inhale, letting it go, sometimes with words strung thereto, just to get to the next gulp of existence.
“You know, there was a time I didn’t care if my last exhalation, whether preceded by a sob or a snore, was indeed my last. Go to sleep. Wake not. I wouldn’t have considered that failure. THAT might’ve brought someone solace.” I could’ve revealed.
“That’s what I’m saying,” you didn’t say.
“I wish you would’ve talked to me about it,” I wish I’d said.
“There was no point. I wanted to talk to very few people and you weren’t one of them.”
Ergo, the non-conversation we’re not having.
“Would you like to come talk now?” I might say.
“No. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Yeah (or is it ‘No’), we’ve each made that clear,” I could whisper.
“What didn’t you say?” You’d probably ask.
There was so much.
“I’m not going anywhere with you, either,” I’d say.
It’d always been a one-step-toward-and-one-back thing with us, symbiotically going nowhere.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Seven Time Winner Joe, and Honorable Mentions Bill and Stacy! 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! 🙂
