Happy Monday everyone (and Labor day for my US friends). Today I am participating in my first ever Campaigner challenge (and the first one for this particular campaign). Here's the scoop from Rachel Harrie's blog:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)
For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!
Yikes! Flash Fiction? Short Stories? Definitely not my strong suit. I'm more of a novel kind of girl. But, never one to back away from a challenge, I thought I'd give it a try.
Oh! And yes, it is EXACTLY 200 words. And yes, it starts and ends with the required statements. WOOT!
The door swung open.
Lorelei stood, shocked. She’d spent all of her fifteen years looking for this
door. Lost in the murk of her life, she had almost given up. But now she literally
stood at the gateway to her dreams.
“Well, don’t just stand
there. Go in.” Lorelei’s unconscious was relentless, always pushing her
forward.
“I can’t,” she said,
slowly backing away from the door. She knew what awaited her on the other side.
She knew about the monsters, each more horrific than the last. She knew of the
anguish and pain.
She knew all of it.
“Come on, Lorelei. You
know you can’t become a grown-up until you do this. You want to grow up, right?
You’d prefer a future and not death? Yes?”
“Um…I guess.” Lorelei
hesitated.
“I know you do! And to
get there, you must go through that door.” Her unconscious stared at her,
reflecting all of her hopes and desires, her fears and shame.
Lorelei dropped her
gaze, unable to bear the scrutiny. “Okay, okay. I’ll go in.” She took a step
forward, smacking into an invisible barrier. “What happened?”
“I guess you aren’t
ready after all.”
Lorelei watched as the
door swung shut.
So, what do you think??? If you want to get in on the fun, just check out Rachel's post! I'll be back Wednesday with an update on my current fiction project.
What are you guys up too??
