Steven Paul Watson, Author

Blog Flash Day #14: Children

Before she had realized it Miranda had traveled miles, she could hear the running water and immediately knew where she was. Through the small clearing to see the waterfall her uncle had brought her here to swim, and jump from the small cliff when she was a kid. She even smiled when she thought how she had promised one day to bring her own children here. She walked until the cool water came to her knees, thoughts of having children of her own was something she had not had in a long time. Now she only thought it irresponsible.

(99 Words)

Visual Dare: Table For One

Visual Dare: Table for One

Derek made no attempt to sit quietly as he attracted looks from the other patrons. The freshly bandaged hand on the table, the other fiddled with his last paycheck not near enough to cover the overdue bill in his back.

He glanced at his phone, the text she had left him in the early morning ending the year long engagement. He grumbled as he deleted the photo that had been his wallpaper for just as long.

He felt something on his shoulder and quickly looked as the bird took flight to another table and smiled at the gift it left.

(100 Words)

Blog Flash Day #13: Forest

Miranda left Blue behind, she had not even realized she was weaponless until high up the trail behind her uncle’s cabin. Book in hand, she looked up at the sun and though the weatherman had called for cloudy skies but it was clear now and she smiled feeling the cool breeze brush across her face. For half a moment she thought about turning back, before she realized she had traveled further up the trail into the vast Virginiawilderness. She smiled as she listened to the birds and squirrels play over head, everything was at peace.

(96 Words)

Blog Flash Day #12: Celebration

The shower washed away the guilt and the smile with it as Miranda began to dress in slacks and a simple white t-shirt. Blue watched her from the open door as she pulled the dark long sleeve shirt over her the white one. She tied her still wet hair back into a ponytail as she turned to the door.

“What say we celebrate Blue?”

The dog sat up starting to growl and yelp. “I’m thinking some butter pecan ice-cream.” She rushed past with the puppy at her ankles all the way to the kitchen, leaving the katana behind.

(98 Words)

Blog Flash Day #11: Greed

Miranda stood flicking the glass from her exposed knees and paid little attention to the fresh cuts they left behind. A wave of guilt washed over her even though she continued to smile. She almost felt greedy; her entire life was built on the death of her father and the people he was involved with. Her mother and uncle had spent their lives teaching her, keeping her safe from the threats that now hunted her. Sacrificing any chance they had at normalcy. But still she smiled, Blue close behind her as she went to wash off the morning’s relaxation.

(99 Words)

Blog Flash Day #10: Success

The glass cut deep into her palm, but Miranda continued to squeeze tightly through the pain. Fighting the growing anxiety in her stomach, she needed a release. She wanted a normal life. Though she hardly knew what normal even was, she just knew this was not even close to it.

She fiercely screamed. Dropping the glass from her hand, falling to her knees with her hands crossed against her stomach. Broken glass dug into her exposed knees but she paid little attention to the new cuts. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she smiled.

(95 Words)

Blog Flash Day #9: Journey

Miranda walked over to the shattered glass, she could see her jagged and distorted reflection in the pieces. With a deep breath, she crouched down to pick the biggest shard from the debris; she was just a couple months from her twenty fifth birthday. The reflection looking back at her was not one of youth, the supposed prime of her life but of one much older. She forced a smile looking at the tired eyes. The last five years had been an exhausting journey, and she could see it had not been kind to the young woman she saw.

(99 Words)

Blog Flash Day #8: Relaxing

Miranda tumbled across the mat lifting the knife from the floor and twirled it through the air for a near fatal hit on the dummy hanging from the exposed beam. Daylight had come and the skies were clear even though her mind was just as foggy as before.

She always found a fierce workout a better way to relax and clear her thoughts than a spa retreat could ever do. She approached the bench, clearing her forehead with a towel and looked at the busted glass still on the floor with a smile.

Five Sentence Fiction – Victory

He had been smiling for nearly ten minutes and yet neither of them had said a word for almost thirty; he knew he was gong to win. He had more patience than her and could see the frustration grow on her forced blank expression, then a grin of her own as she looked away from his eyes. He could even see her begin to blush even in the dimly lit room and it caused his smile to grow even bigger.

“Shut up.”

Before he could claim his prize, she was there, lips to his and both were again smiling.

——–

For more Five Sentence Fiction check out Lillie McFerrin’s blog!

Blog Flash Day #7: Sunset

Miranda sat on the deck with her weapon at her side, and Blue sleeping at her feet. She had more than the scenery on her mind. Her uncle had hobbled away, which always made her smile. He could move as swift as her unless he knew he was being watched, and then he seemed as if he would break with each step. Ashley who had gotten her in so much trouble when the two of them were younger, but she knew her laughter was now lost. And her father, the reason for the life she had been forced to lead.

(100 Words)