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Ending and Beginning

by Amy Smith

Flash fiction Poignant, Sad

Breathe in, breathe out. Step into the cramped, crowded waiting room. Take a seat; take another breath.  Look at the clock, look at the receptionist, look at the screaming child throwing a tantrum two seats over. Try to stay calm. Get up quietly when the nurse calls you back; keep your eyes to the floor. Follow the nurse to the examination room; thank her quietly. Sit on the examination table; try not to make the paper covering crinkle too much. Wait. Greet the doctor; lie back. Don’t flinch when the cool jelly hits your stomach. Make small talk with the doctor.  Do not look at the screen. Wait. Try to stay calm. Listen for the heartbeat; watch the doctor’s face. Notice his concern, the hurried movements as he tinkers with the monitor. Feel the eerie silence of the room as it covers you, moulds around you, takes your heart and holds it hostage. Remember to breathe. Accept the doctor’s condolences; take the card the nurse gives you for an appointment next week. Leave quietly; speak to no one, make your way home. Let yourself into the house; let the silence of its rooms comfort you. Walk into the nursery; take the “It’s a Girl!” banner off the wall; throw it in the wastebasket. Breathe.

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About Amy Smith

Amy is an English major currently attending East Carolina University, in her senior year. This is her first attempt at writing flash fiction.

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Sending

4 responses to “Ending and Beginning”

  • Ross says:
    November 20, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    A really effective piece; it’s well paced and builds the tension really well to its conclusion.

    Reply
    • Joanna Sterling says:
      November 20, 2015 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you for your supportive comments Ross.

      Reply
  • Elizabeth Scott says:
    November 21, 2015 at 12:34 am

    Loved it it grabbed me and the descriptions brilliant

    Reply
  • Elizabeth Scott says:
    November 21, 2015 at 12:36 am

    loved it and the describtions it grabbed me

    Reply

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News

New Flash Fiction for March

Coming in March a new flash fiction by Fanni Suto  ‘Night Wait’ a restless and melancholic little tale.  In the meantime why not check out  some of Fanni's earlier Flash Fiction published on The Casket of Fictional Delights ‘Fires of Autumn', ' The Girl with Pearls in her Eyes', 'Rain of Thought', 'Summers End' and 'Darkest before Dawn'.

Fanni Suto's Flash Fiction stories

Competition

2018 Competition Winners Announced

The 2018 Flash Fiction Competition - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This year’s winner is Rosie Garland with her story ‘Speaking in Tongues’  ** CONGRATULATIONS**

2nd Sync by Mark Farley; 3rd Floating by Mark Farley; 4th 1-2-5 by Gina Headden

Bikini by Sherri Turner; The Plughole Picker by Susan Carey; Serendipity by Sandra Purdy; Bombs, Lilies by Jason Jackson

Competition Results

Tweetings

  • New #FlashFiction for Friday by #Writer @rebeccapeyton 'The Unbiddable Hand' an optimistic and reflective tale #reading https://t.co/Hh6aXIy36D https://t.co/t8uAGN21M9, 20 hours ago
  • Arrived today from America ~ exhibition catalogue from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Chanel exhibition in 2005 by the late great Karl Lagerfeld #Chanel #karllagerfeld… https://t.co/rdhDc1Zqgn, Feb 20
  • Song Bird brooch/pendant by Carlo Giuliano after Burne Jones #beautiful #brooch #art #jewellery #wanttoown @ Tate Britain https://t.co/EqntgqCgEV, Feb 19
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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2019
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Maintained by Brighton WebTech
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton