Flash 500
  • Home
  • Enter Now
  • Flash Fiction
    • Flash Fiction: Overview
    • Flash Fiction: Competition Rules
    • Flash Fiction: Winners
    • Current Flash Fiction Judge: Kevlin Henney
  • Short Stories
    • Short Stories: Overview
    • Short Stories: Competition Rules
    • Short Stories: Winners
    • Short Stories Judge: Wendy Clarke
  • Novels
    • Novels: Overview
    • Novels: Competition Rules
    • Novels: Winners
    • Novels Judge: Headline
  • FAQs
  • Announcements
  • Critique Service
  • Contact Us

Flash Fiction 1st Place: The 91½ Reasons Why It Can’t Be True by Dreena Collins

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

You held my hand in the bar on our first date. I felt a pulse within your palm, steady and firm. For 5 minutes at a time we sat in hot, prickling silence. We didn’t need to speak. We waited, pulsating, shaking. I was giddy, alive.

We drank 2 bottles of wine the next night; I tried an olive at your insistence – swallowed ½. I can still recall the taste: sour, salty, wet. We inched closer with each glass, knees knocking tables knocking knees, until you held my chin between finger and thumb, and kissed me with tears in your eyes.

You once drove 7 miles, just to be with me for 20 minutes. We stared at the clock on your phone, your arm around my shoulder, both of my hands on your knee.

When we stayed at the Bed and Breakfast, you drank 3 cups of coffee – bitter, lukewarm – and we kissed for 11 minutes before we made love for the first time.

16 grey hairs. Afterwards, you told me you had counted sixteen grey hairs, as you ran awkward fingers through the knots and kissed my forehead. You were tender. Cheeky. Curious. I laughed; planned a trip to the hairdresser.

You went away for 9 days: called me 11 times. I carried my mobile everywhere I went. I lost 4 pounds that month, floating in Merlot and a sickly, aching loss.

I bought 1 new set of bedding. It was crisp and white and optimistic.  You never stayed the night.

0 lies. You told me 0 lies. You meant every word. I know it. I know it.

I know.

Because you told me that you loved me.

Twice.  

Related Posts

Flash Fiction Winners: 2020 Q1

Flash Fiction 2nd Place: Jupiter Rising by Anita Bowden

Flash Fiction Winners: 2020 Q1

Flash Fiction 3rd Place: An Absence of Defensive Injuries by Chloe Banks

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
All content © Flash 500. All rights reserved. Website designed and hosted by Gandy-Draper Web Design

Privacy Policy | Critique Service | Lorraine Mace

Flash Fiction competition | Short Story competition | Novels competition
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.ACCEPTReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.