The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place
A Realistic Fiction

Her favorite author once wrote, “Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once.” This day, she believes, happens to be one of those awful tests. And she is on the edge of failing.

Maya always strives to be a better person— to be a better version of herself at least. She wants to learn kindness and patience, and give humanity a chance. But one glance at the corner, a woman snickers at an old homeless man. Apathetic of his shaking empty hands. On a bus ride home, men talk about war and how this world is better off without Syria. Unthinking that those people, too, are victims. And to add to her outburst, someone just carelessly wrote all over the sketch she’s been working on for days!

With all the patience she could muster and all the kindness she could hold, Maya took a deep breath and hike to her hiding place. “Now this is what peace looks like.”

Word Count: 175

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Pamela S. Canepa. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt. ❤

It’s been a month of hiatus and glad to be back (hopefully for good this time). So… someone just carelessly wrote all over the sketch that I’ve been working on in the office and I badly need a peaceful place like this. Sigh. How could some people be inconsiderate?

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Unceasing

Unceasing
A Realistic Fiction

A piano sits in the empty room where Amy used to play with her heart poured in every key, her fingers tapping to the tune of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Debussy. But one accident and, in the blink of an eye, those days were gone.

“Do you know the first thing I did after I find out I have ALS?” A voice came from behind and she turned to find her mother’s weak smile. “I started swimming. I lived my life doing the thing I love the most. I swum rivers, beaches, and pools until this disease finally took away my strength. That morning, I felt like I died a thousand times and all those years of fight were pointless.””

Her mother paused, catching her breath. “But there are things that even death cannot take.” She walked slowly towards Amy, with eyes brimming with tears. “Love. My love for water never ceased… And so should your love for music, my child.”

Word Count: 162

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt was taken from a hidden paradise near our place. It was not until last year that the locals discovered how beautiful this river was.

P.S. My deepest condolences to PJ and her family. You have my prayers and love. Please take care and stay strong PJ. ❤

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Not Again!

Not Again!

I am back at Pemberly—again. This time, I am playing the piano with Lady Catherine de Bourgh watching from behind. I cringe to the shadow of her majesty. Her regal grace is creeping on my spine like a snake.

Wait… what am I doing here in the first place?

As if to answer my query, Mr. Darcy came barging into the hall with his eyes fixed on Lady Catherine. “Your highness, I am baffled and enraged”, his voice raised. “Why do you have to take her here?”

“My nephew, you astonished me.” Lady Catherine, with all her arrogance and flair, walked towards Mr. Darcy. “I expected to find a more reasonable woman. But heaven and earth! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”

“Leave me and my choice be, please!” He retorted and snatched me out of the mansion.

“Ria…” Mr. Darcy stopped, his breaths catching up to mine.

“Riaaaaa!” a loud voice came out of nowhere, “RIA. Wake up!” mom yelled, shaking my senses.

“MOM! Not again!” I wailed

“What again?!”

Word Count: 175

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt by Louise of The Storyteller’s Abode which surprisingly reminds me of my favorite classic, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It was January 2016 when I first wrote the fiction, Daydreams, which fantasizes Fitzwilliam Darcy and I believe it’s about time that I write a follow-up. Sorry Lizzie! ❤

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a weekly writing challenge where a photo is used as a prompt for a piece of fiction using 150 (+/- 25 words). Thanks for another fun prompt, PJ! 😀

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The Soloist

The Soloist

Deeper than the ocean
Higher than the sky
Fighting laws of motion
When there was you and I

You’re the force to my inertia
Heartbeats accelerate
Our actions and reactions
Are signed and sealed by fate

Alice couldn’t help but smile at the sound of the man’s voice. She knew that soulful tone for as long as she could remember. How could she not when she calls her ‘dad’?

They are not homeless nor do they live a pitiable life. But her dad has always been a great man. He would rise early in the morning and take out his guitar ensemble out to the center of the town.

“This world could use some music”, he would say.

Looking at the audience gathered around the soloist, she does agree.

Word Count: 130

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Sunayana MoiPensieve. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.

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The Tale of the Mad Cow

The Mad Cow

It was a perfect time for rocking chair and morning coffee when suddenly his grandson came barging in from the backyard.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!” Nathan yelled, his face flushed from the sun.

John let a sigh and spoke sternly, “Kid. I told you… No running inside the house.”

“Grandpa, you would be proud.” Nathan said abruptly as if not listening. “I found a mad cow in your herd and I set the cows free! You should have seen them. They were running so fast. I knew they were so scared of—

“Wait, what? What mad?” John knew his grandson is too hyperactive for a seven year old but he must have heard wrong.

Nathan, his eyes brimming with pride, led him towards the backyard. “Remember? The one you and Uncle Jerry were talking about—mad cow disease! I found one who never stopped staring at me. He was totally mad.”

And then John was at lost.

Word Count: 155

© 2017 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by MajesticGoldenRose. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.

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Cheating Death

Cheating Death

“Will you take it, child?” The old woman held out a crystal, her eyes shifted from shades of the blue sky into a deep sea.

Does she really want this? Is she really willing to give up her youth, her beauty, her future and half of her life for good? Beads of sweat trickled down Lisa’s forehead as her fingers touched the stone. Her eyes closed and images of the past swirled in her mind. She remembered his dark eyes, his laughter and his voice and the way he say her name. His touch.

Eyes flew open and she was filled with panic, fear and resolve. She wanted him back—alive and breathing by her side.

A while ago, it was her blood that dripped on a clear crystal and stained it pink. A while ago, her skin was beautifully fair. A while ago, the love of her life was dead.

But not anymore.

“It is done.” The old woman said and the last thing she saw was her malevolent smile.

Word Count: 170

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by my awesome friend, Jade. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt. 😀

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Memories and Smoke

Adam settled into his favorite bench, took out his pipe and lit it, and then filled the afternoon with recollection of memories and stories, of smiles and tears.

Autumn has come around and the world is bathed into a crisp ocher and golden brown again. She had always loved this season, he thought. His mind wandered back to the time when he came home to find Eve nestled in the heap of tawny leaves like a bird curled at the core of its nest; her lips arched into a smile. He kissed her the way a prince would have kissed sleeping beauty—only that she never woke up. Eve lay cold and lifeless as he broke into tears and disbelief.

He’d never seen autumn that dreadful. Since then, part of him died each day when the leaves fell from the trees. Lost in memories and smoke, he waited for winter.

Word Count: 150

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Phylor. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.

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Madame Tesdale’s Teahouse

A huge crowd gathered across the strange-looking building in 12^th street. It’s only six o’clock in the morning yet the street was already swarming with people. He could hear consecutive gasps, curses and laughter as he towered behind the onlookers and eavesdroppers.

“Who would do such thing to Madame Tesdale’s teahouse?”

“Genius—whoever those people are!”

“Did she ran out of tea and decided to sell booze instead?”

“Hello Kitty goes Funky Munky, huh?”

“FUNKY MUNKY, that’s a helluva name. Isn’t that supposed to be Funky Monkey?”

Still smiling from ear to ear, his eyes caught a glimpse of the teahouse owner. There goes poor Madame Tesdale who looked like she just raided her daughter’s closet with her pink dress, platform heels, plastic bangles and banana clips. The look on her face as she saw the once cutesy teahouse turned into a funky-looking bar was priceless. She then collapsed.

Unable to contain his amusement, he let out a laugh.

“Hey… You’re the new guy, right?” a neighbor asked. “Is that paint on your face?”

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by TJ Paris. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.

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Soccer Ball

Soccer Ball

From the corner of his eyes, Liam saw that Andrew was wide open so he scuffled and kicked the ball aiming at his direction. The ball cut through the players but flew straight into Mr. Gardiner’s window and the next thing they heard was a loud, smashing sound.

“Liam, dude, you’re dead!” Dennis came rushing to the house and the rest followed.

“Go on, Liam. Talk to Mr. Gardiner.” Andrew whispered.

Liam, sweating and face flushed, stared at the shattered glass in disbelief. He went inside the house with a heart beating like a drum. His mom would kill him later but would be much willing to pay for the damage. What worried him was talking to the grumpy, old man. Mr. Gardiner never liked kids— or people in general.

A few moments later, Mr. Gardiner appeared from the broken window and threw the ball. Out of fear, Dennis kicked the ball towards Andrew who was suddenly on his feet. The ball, they realized, was not a soccer ball after all. It was Liam’s head.

Word Count: 175

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Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Yinglan. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.

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