Category Archives: Flash Fiction

How do I Tell Them?

Posted on by

1

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ~ William Wordsworth


I see your face

I hear your words

My heart is filled

with emotions not my own

yet still familiar

a part of me.

Who are you?

What do you want from me?

How do I trust

what is not my own?

How do I convey

what I understand as love

hate

sadness

longing

joy

so that others understand

the depth of who you are

and believe?

©2017 Heidi Barnes

This poem was inspired by a writing prompt from the website Writing Outside the Lines. It made me think about my characters and trying to put into words what they are telling and showing me so that my readers see and feel it too.


Sometimes Only the Paper Listens

Posted on by

6

img_0824

Source Unknown

 

 

When the words won’t stop pestering me, or they are words no one else will listen to or can be said out loud, paper becomes my best friend. My confident. The words must come out in some form or nothing else will get done, let alone with any kind of  efficiency or quality. The only thing one must be wary of are those who cannot keep thier mittens to themselves. The ones who must know everything, cannot stand it when something is kept from them, never heard the phrase, “Curiosity killed the cat.” Then the paper you trusted so well becomes the betrayer. Yes the paper maybe be the only one who listens, but it can also speak, and once words are spoken they can never be taken back.

© 2017 Heidi Barnes

This was inspired by a prompt on Writing Outside the Lines by Annie.

Just a Tea Party

Posted on by

5

It was an everyday tea party. Nothing seemed amiss with the world, or at least our little corner of it. The sun was shining. The blue of the sky so brilliant that it dazzled the eye. Large white fluffy clouds intermittently drifted across looking like large cotton balls, yet never seemed to float across the face of the sun. The light breeze was warm, stirring the bogavia and large white mums that climbed the trellises around us. Large hats in different pastels to match expensive sheath dresses and matching patent heals. Laughter, small talk, red lipstick smiles, the eyes obscured by large rimmed hats.

Just an everyday tea party in an empty life where nothing goes wrong, yet anything can happen.

A spark in the darkness. Such a little thing. Almost unnoticeable, unless you know where to look. Time moves on, the spark grows into a flame. Coaxed to life by winds of change. Some change is good, some bad. Only time can tell as the emptiness fills whether the flame will light the way, or burn into chaos and ruin.

Feed the flame. Embrace it. Let it burn the emptiness away. What do you have to lose when you have nothing to begin with anyways?

Just an everyday tea party. Large rimmed pastel hats, small talk and laughter.

Blood red lips curve into a smile. The time is right, the pieces in place. The inspecting mass naively compliant. The hat slowly lifts, the smile smug, knowing what is to come and relishing the outcome. Finally eyes come into view. The deepest blue of sapphire flash in the light of the sun. In a nothing life where everything is possible, chaos begins tonight.

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

This in answer to a prompt of mine. Word Bank Prompt. Please, take some time, take a look, and see what tale the words spin for you.

Word Bank Prompt

Posted on by

2

A word bank. I love to write to word banks. One came to me just now. No prompting, just appeared. I know they are usually only four or five words, but I have seven.

tea, spark, wind, time, anything, nothing, empty

Use them all or only a few. I am interested to see what you may come up with. I will see what comes to me and post.

Have a wonderful day.

Heidi

Agree to Disagree – Daily Prompt: Disagree

Posted on by

1

via Daily Prompt: Disagree

“You’re an idiot.”

“What do you mean? I did everything I was suppose to do. Why is that wrong?”

“Because you don’t agree with the procedure. You think it’s wrong, so why do it that way? Why not do it the way you know is right?”

“Just because I disagree with what I’m being told to do, doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way. It just means I don’t necessarily my way.”

“It’s not right.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We should be free to do things the way we want to do them.”

“Who says we can’t?”

…..

“Look. Right now, this project is not mine. It’s the company’s. My boss told me he wanted it done in a certain way. Do I think there is a better way? Sure! Is what I am doing morally wrong or going to hurt someone? No. So we do it my boss’s way. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. If it doesn’t then the higher-ups will be more acceptable to trying my idea. Either way, it has to be done.”

“If you ask me it’s a waste of time.”

“Maybe. We’ll see. I have to get back to work. Let’s just agree to degree and leave it at that. Okay?”

*sigh* Okay. But mark my words. Your way is better.

Go!

I’m going, I’m going.

 

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

When I thought of the word ‘disagree’ this is the conversation that came to my head. It’s one we’ve probably all had at one time or another.

 

Daily Prompt: Mistake

Posted on by

2

via Daily Prompt: Mistake

“Well that was a mistake.”

“Ya think?”

Pinching the bridge of my nose and closing my eyes, I prayed for patience. I really did not need help in reminding me that my brilliant plan wasn’t so brilliant.

“Don’t you have something else to do?” I sighed.

“Not anymore since you blew that up,” Sid snarled. “It took me three weeks to put together what took you two seconds to blow up. What were you thinking?” The exasperation in Sid’s voice had it higher than normal, not to mention louder. We were starting to draw a crowd.

“Apparently I wasn’t,” I grumbled.

“Apparently not,” Sid spat glaring at the wreckage in front of us. Then she sighed. A deep from your toes sigh, and from someone that was only five foot two that was a feat. In a much calmer voice that spoke of how much our relationship that had spanned a lifetime meant to her, she said, “Well. There’s nothing to do about it now except clean up the mess and start over again.” Turning towards me, she put a finger in my face and growled with narrow eyes, “No more bright ideas without my consent. Understand!”

“Yes ma’am,” I intoned quickly.

“Good. Now get your ass in there and help me,” she barked. Turning to the crowd she waved her hands in a shooing motion and yelled, “Nothing to see here folks. Just a young kid with more browns than brains. Move along.”

Groaning in embarrassment I whined, “Sid!” The only answer I got from the old bat was a cheeky grin as she waded into the pile of rubble that was once a speeder. Shoulders slumped, arms hanging at my side, the best five-year-old pout a twenty-one-year-old could muster, I shuffled in behind her.

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

Love’s Sacrifice – part 13 Hold On

Posted on by

12

Cheza and Kiba reaching for each other

Desktop Nexus: Cheza and Kiba reaching for each other

Love’s sacrifice,
never forgotten
always in my heart.
My promise,
my vow
to you I recite.
I will find what was lost
defeat endless night.
Darkness will retreat
to the light.
All I ask
through eternities might
is that you fight for life,
that you hold on to hope
with both hands tight.

The Light in the Darkness

Desktop Nexus: The Light in the Darkness

*Laughter
maniacal
chilling.
Accepting the challenge
so boldly declared.
Confident in victory
Darkness waits, unaware
the strength in love
as pure as light,
will conquer
even the darkest
of night.
If you only
hold on tight*

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

This is the end of out story. I hope you have enjoyed it. I may, in a time not today (okay, been rhyming to much!) flesh these poems out into a full fledged story. We will see.

If you have missed the beginning click here: Part 1

Part 12

Love’s Sacrifice – part 11

Posted on by

6

Shaiya Light & Darkness

Desktop Nexus: Shaiya Light & Darkness

Foolish child
you play a game
you have no hope
of winning.
I will own you.
Your mind,
your body,
your soul.
You have given me
everything,
and received
nothing.
And for what?
Love perceived
from demon spawned?
How pathetic.
How splendidly
naive.

Darkness

Desktop Nexus: Darkness

As for you
my faithless pawn,
freedom is yours.
Though earned it
you have not.
Do not waste
what you once discarded
so carelessly.
Take one more look
at the price
that was paid,
for true love
will never again
come your way.

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

This is a poem/story that came to me while driving and listening to Phil Collin’s, In the Air Tonight. Where it has seemed to take on a mind of it’s own, as with all stories, that first initial push to write furiously has slowed down. So I will post as soon as my stewing and listening to the song repeatedly give me inspiration. If you have just found this story, here is the link to Part 1. I hope you enjoy.:)

Part 10  <—>  Part 12

Love’s Sacrifice – part 10

Posted on by

6

Shape of my heart

Desktop Nexus: Shape of my heart

I do not care
his sins.
They have no hold
over me,
nor will they
have any hold
over him.
I choose him.
To hold him,
love him,
free him.
Take your token,
keep your promise.
I chose to embrace darkness
so he can see the light
within.

Copyright 2016 Heidi Barnes

This is a poem/story that came to me while driving and listening to Phil Collin’s, In the Air Tonight. Where it has seemed to take on a mind of it’s own, as with all stories, that firs initial push to write furiously has slowed down. So I will post as soon as my stewing and listening to the song repeatedly give me inspiration. If you have just found this story, here is the link to Part 1. I hope you enjoy.:)

Part 9  <—>  Part 11