Fiction – Year VII – Number 52 – December 2021

    THE CONFINEMENT OF CHOICE by Aisha O’Neil

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    The Confinement of Choice “Authorized personnel!” Our Afghan guide pushed through the crowds. “Make way! Authorized personnel!” “Vvvv-vvv…” The plane was hardly audible, and so, so far away… “Authorized persons! Please make way!” The crowd grew thicker,...

    DAVE, THE COMPLIMENT MACHINE by Eleni Stephanides

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    DAVE, THE COMPLIMENT MACHINE             Tucked into the corner of the break room at Shuman Bask Office, the compliment machine doled out shiny pieces of paper containing individualized affirmations on a continuous basis. Businessmen, secretaries,...

    THE LAUNDROMAT by Riven Wren

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    Lilith stood folding her laundry, ignoring the dampness in favor of saving herself another five dollars. A thickness hung in the air, muggy with humidity. She’d barely noticed it by then, having grown accustomed...

    SAKURA by Anthony Musca

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                Visiting Tokyo has always been a dream of mine. I’m a foreigner, but this place doesn’t feel foreign at all. Even though I’m jet-lagged with baggy eyes and two hours of sleep, seeing...

    SIXTY MINUTES TO SUNDOWN by Daniel Rothman

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    The Thompson gang gathered upon a hill overlooking the desert valley beneath them. Monroe, the hardened leader of the gang, was polishing his revolver and reviewing his plans for their big score. He looked...

    THE HOLE by George D. Lopdrup

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    A screech sliced the sultry night silence.  Human, monkey, or bird?  “Get off me!” Steve cried as he strained to clench his ankle.  Yup, definitely human. “If only you had landed on your big butt, your stupid...

    UNFAIR EXCHANGE by Skyler Thornberry

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    He walks away to prep. Coming back with the stenciled tattoo. “It looks awesome!” He places it on my right side. The rose surrounded by thorns was an awesome idea. The tattoo looks more...

    FLASH FICTION TWO by Alex Brabston

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    The smell of a strong cup of jo lingers in the air, permeating my nostrils and filling the room like a noxious gas; a reminder of the mornings I’d wake up to breakfast in...