A Breath of Fiction

A 200 word flash fiction story every Sunday by Gregory M. Fox

[200story]

Late

There you were. Your back was to me, but I would have recognized you anywhere. Something about the set of your shoulders, the texture of your hair, the shade of green you always wear. It all added up to you. The store was busy. Someone bumped into me from behind, apologized, and moved on. Even before spotting you, I had been distracted; groceries had taken too long, and I was late for my…

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[200story]

Communion

“Excuse me,” Father Pete called out, waving nervously to the passing clerk. “Why is there a . . . a cage here?” The clerk’s eyes drifted down to Father Pete’s collar then over to the caged off alcohol aisle. “It’s a Sunday morning,” the kid said flatly. “Yes,” Father Pete said, nodding rapidly. “The thing is, I just need to buy some wine. Is it possible for you to open this or . . .” he seemed…

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[200story]

Notions

While she was filling up the tank, Monica had heard the other car door slam, but she assumed Fatima was just heading into the gas station to pee. So, she was very perplexed to see her friend tromping out of the ditch by the highway instead. “What were you doing down there?” Fatima’s face was all summer breeze and sunshine. “Picking wildflowers,” she answered. But she had done more than that.…

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[200story]

The Sword and the Sorceress

Estrilda woke to the sound of argument from outside the cottage. Was that Nathyn’s voice? Her son sounded panicked. As the fog of sleep lifted, she heard a stranger’s voice, low and gruff” “Put that thing down before you hurt yourself, boy.” “Not until you leave, villain.” Nathyn’s voice sounded shrill and thin in the night. His courage warmed Estrilda’s heart. She threw on a cloak and stepped…

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[200story]

Blunder

Wally was walking into the kitchen with an empty cup just as Carrie was walking out with a grin. “Hey, what are you drinking?” he asked, eyeing her full beverage. Carrie’s smile went coy as she answered, “Oh ya know, a bit of this, a bit of that.” He scanned the assortment of bottles and mixers their friends had brought, then cocked an eyebrow. “You improvised?” She winked. “You want to…

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[200story]

Crown

“You broke the crown?” Domh asked, incredulous. Tirwyn pursed her lips. “I didn’t break it,” she told her fellow attendant. “One of the gemstones fell off that’s all.” “What’s going on?” a severe voice asked from behind them. Hanag, the master servant of the hall, was the last person Tirwyn wanted getting involved. Domh didn’t want to be involved at all. “Tirwyn broke the crown,” he said…

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[200story]

Setup

She collapsed into the booth like a hunted beast, dirty, feral, skittish, and dangerous. “You promised an explanation,” he said. Instead of answering, she picked up the by now lukewarm coffee he’d ordered for her and drained the whole thing. “Well?” he continued. “Can you tell me why I’m sitting in this crappy diner instead of booking James Moore up at county?” She shook her head. “It was a…

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[200story]

Invasive

Qitzo drifted into the depot and took form at the counter. “I need to order an asteroid,” they said. Xarm, the attendant phased a hospitable color. “Are you looking for any special materials or are you more interested in spectacle?” Qitzo sighed. “I need something cataclysmic.” Xarm phased a murky red. “That’s a serious order.” “I’ve got a pest problem on one of my planets,” Qitzo explained.…

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[200story]

Position

Ben’s leg bounced nervously as he waited for the bad news. He knew he didn’t belong here, and now they surely knew it too. Finally the facilitator entered with her artificial smile. But she sat across from him and said, “Congratulations, Mr. Holban! You’ve tested in the highest aptitude.” “I did?” Ben gaped, all his anxiety evaporating. “Really?” “Yes!” the facilitator replied, her smile…

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[200story]

Instant

The snow was falling. Jess stood in the yard, breath a fog in the cold night air. “Why?” she muttered. “Why why why why why.” Rocky looked up at Jess, cocked his head, and barked. He wasn’t moving. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Jess declared. “We were supposed to get a cat.” The dog just barked, unmoving. What could she do? Jess got out a bag of treats, fumbled with gloved fingers…

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[200story]

“It sounded good tonight,” Matt called. The figure loading gear into van froze. An over the shoulder glare. Foster hopped out of the back and hefted another speaker. “Yeah, I know.” “Good crowd too.” Foster set the speaker down roughly. “Look,” he said, “if you’re trying to rub it in, you’ve made your point.” “I’m not,” Matt insisted, bending down to pick up the amp. “I mean it. It was a good…

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[200story]

Underwear (XII.i)

“This could get ugly,” Sam cautioned as they climbed out of the squad car. “Don’t need to tell me twice,” Kit replied, hand on her belt, near her taser but distinctly not touching it. They walked with a practiced stride, calm and confident, slow and steady, hopefully both authoritative and nonthreatening. It was a fine line, especially given the reason they were here. These sorts of…

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[200story]

Mac

Noodles swirled and squelched as the yellow powder dissolved into something resembling cheese. Nathan stirred, barely paying attention to the task as he stared into that mac and cheese abyss. His sister was asleep on the basement couch after another messy breakup. She had arrived late last night, full of rage and tears and tequila, and had shattered on their kitchen floor. Once again it was his…

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[200story]

Pouring

The screaming of panic in Javi’s ears was almost as loud as the roar of the pouring rain. He hadn’t been able to beat the rain to the laundromat, and he hadn’t been able to wait out the storm either. “You need a lift?” Javi barely noticed the words as the blurred and warped in the falling sheets of water. What was he going to do? “Hey 5G!” Javi started, suddenly able to focus on the truck…

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[200story]

Cheek

Music, lights, a warm smile: the moment was right, he was certain. Felix cupped Madison’s cheek, leaned forward, and— She jumped, eyes wide, and squawked like a chicken. “Uh . . . what?” “Sorry,” she said, forcing a chuckle. “Er . . . what were you just doing?” “I thought . . .” He hesitated, wondering how he had misread things so badly, “I was going to kiss you?” “Oh, that makes…

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[200story]

Dream

I stand in a long dark shadow, giant novelty scissors clutched in my hand. The fake gold plating is cold in my grip. I’m pretending to be happy. “What do you see?” my father asked. “A . . . hole?” I was used to these sorts of visual lessons and knew he would get to the point eventually. For his part, my father barely seemed to register the sarcasm. “It’s a beginning,” he declared proudly.…

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[200story]

Escape

“Cait is coming into town this weekend,” Aria said, hoping she sounded casual. “So, I was going to get dinner with her Friday or Saturday.” “That’s short notice,” Erik said. “What about the kids?” Aria felt a pressure in her chest, heard a ringing in her ears. She swallowed, and the sensations receded. “I think they’d be alright for one night,” she said. Erik grunted. “It’s been such a long…

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