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The Tightrope Walker

by Donna Brown

Flash Fiction Curious, Philosophical

Below in the valley the trees barely move, but here the wind tugs the purple heather and salt spray fills the air. My hair whips my face, stinging my eyes. This will be the longest walk I have ever done. Out in the bay, the island – humpbacked and barren – is clad with its own heather.

The line is taut.

I look down at my feet, arching them, watching the wrinkles form, ready to begin. I have practised all my life for this, although I cannot recall setting the game in motion. I just followed the kerb stones and then walked on the cracks in the pavement. After these the line was easy. Tugged in both directions, how easily I spun.

This rope is fastened to a ring. The ring is set fast in the rock and guarded by a weathered giant; she will hold my line. I set out, feeling nothing but the smooth silk of the rope beneath my feet – cool, like the salt-laden air. The island is a thousand steps away. I stretch out my arms, mimicking the gulls crying across my path, diving to the sea, then arcing upwards, sky bound.

Half way. I am still walking. The sea churns beneath me. I quiver like an arrow in flight. The rope vibrates, and its song blends with the voice of the wind. I spin, and my feet dance on the silk. Which way is the island now?

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About Donna Brown

Donna lives in Cheshire, England. She writes short stories and flash fiction and is currently working on a novel. Donna’s work has been published in several places. She won the Winchester Writers’ Festival Short Story Prize in 2018 and has a short story forthcoming in the Fish Anthology 2020.

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Everyone at The Casket is hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020.  We have some great short stories and flash fiction lined up for your delight.  We kick of the year with a story by Lydia Unsworth “The Smallest Boxes” and then for Valentine's we have a story by Dylan Brethour which will also be available as a podcast. Later in the summer we have a new Flash Fiction Summer Collection which will be published online and as podcasts read by Menna Bonsels and Richard Hodder.  We hope you enjoy the stories we have for you and look forward to welcoming you back regularly.

Joanna & The Casket of Fictional Delights Team

 

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Please consider making a donation to The Casket of Fictional Delights.  All content on the website is free and widely available to audiences worldwide.  We do not receive any grants and all our content is Ad free.  The Casket of Fictional Delights specialises in producing high-quality podcasts which are recorded by professional actors/voiceover artists from around the world. We hope you enjoy reading and listening to the stories and finding out about Joanna’s varied brooch collection.

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Prefer to listen? - from the beginning The Casket of Fictional Delights has specialised in producing high quality podcasts of short stories and flash fiction compilations. The podcasts are recorded by actors and voiceover artists and produced by a professional studio manager ensuring we maintain a consistent high standard. I’ve chosen three to highlight the variety and quality of work we have to offer - visit our Podcast page for more. I hope you enjoy listening to them.

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2021
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton
Other photography by Rosie Marks
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