Posted by Lindsay Bayes (Marketing & Advertising Coordinator/Events) in #FlashFictionFriday
Here it is, our inaugural Flash Fiction day!

It’s simple, I’ll post a prompt every Friday and everyone chimes in with their piece. Ten Forward will have a longer one and both Facebook and Twitter will have mini ones. You don’t have to reply on a Friday to participate. I don’t even care if you join in on one after I’ve posted the next. All participation as welcome, just follow the normal posting rules and keep to the prompt and word/line/page count.

~Linds

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Friday, Aug.17th:

Imagine you are in a crowded location (busy bar, street, market etc). A woman walks past you, handing you a letter. She walks on, saying nothing. The letter is from her late husband. What are the contents of the letter? Who is the woman? Who was her husband? How does the letter relate to you?

Write a story in a max of 500 words.

[Prompt source: The Very Short Story Starter for Creative Writing by John Gillard]

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Tarence had been walking the noisy New York Broadway streets on patrol for hours. The lights were almost blending together in his vision as he sipped his coffee, tired and ready to get off his feet. It was nearly time for him and his partner Karen to head back to do their paperwork to end their shift. Midnights were the worst but at least it let him spend time with his niece Bria. Compared to losing his sister and husband in car accident last year, raising their 5 year old was easier and yet sometimes harder. The questions didn’t stop. He explained the best he could but it was always the same, “Is mommy and daddy coming back soon…why not..” Terance didn’t blame her, after all ho could kid really understand something like that?
“Hey T you aright, spacing out on me like is how cops get shot you know that right,” Karen said and then lightly punched his vest.
“I’m good, just been…a lot lately, you know,” Terance replied and then a woman came and knocked into his shoulder.
“Excuse me officer,” she said earnestly and then slipped a note into Terrance’s hand before walking away.
“Hey, what’s this,” he called after her but she didn’t even turn around and it was too crowded to chase her over a note. He picked it up and read it. His face went pale the letter loose his hands as if he couldn’t keep hold of it.
“T, you’re white as a ghost. What the hell does it say,” Karen asked with concern in a deep hushed tone. Terrance looked at the note written with perfect black ink and in neat cursive.
“My sister. She could still be alive,” Terrance replied and then looked back down at the note.
My husband doesn’t want you knowing this. But his department is deep in the government and has your sister for protection. I don’t think that’s the whole story and I fear for her. I felt it heartless not to tell you and her little girl. I only know because I found it on his computer that hadn’t shut down correctly. She’s in Washington D.C. Good luck.
Terrance stuffed the paper back into his coat pocket and then wordlessly headed back to the station. He had work to do and his people were going to help him.

Mary O’Donnell