Flash Fiction: The Final

A thickness clung to the air; dampening the windows and making the couples steady breaths visible.  The room had a chill to it, forcing the two into a tight embrace.  They lay on a simple twin bed, crammed against the unadorned white walls, in their pathetically small apartment. A single overstuffed gray suitcase was pushed up against the wall next to the door.

Izi awoke first, blinking away her drowsiness, and shivering as she took in the cold air. An urge to unplug the clock on the opposite side of the bed was overwhelming; She just wanted to go back to bed. But as soon as her bare feet hit the floor Whit’s eyes fluttered open. Still only semi-conscious, he rolled to his other side, coming face to face with that unflippable hourglass.  Sadness overcame the joy he had felt at falling asleep in Izi’s arms the previous night. Maintaining composure, Whit twisted his body once more; yet found himself greeted by the stare of those pitiful white walls.

Hiding her head between her arms, Izi found herself weeping upon bitter linoleum floor of the bathroom. How selfish of me, she thought over and over, praying her sobs wouldn’t escape the thin walls. There it was though, another timepiece on the counter, ticking away her happiness.

Then she had a strange epiphany on that bathroom floor. She pulled herself up by the towel rack and hurried back to the bedroom. The bed was empty, sheets scattered about the room, and Whit was nowhere in sight. She searched frantically about the modest apartment, wishing to share her new resolution, the cure to their coming pain. Then it dawned on her, it was March 9, and she had lost an hour.

You are Here

Here we go again, it’s mass delusion. I find myself running in incessant circles. The sole of my shoes slip on this featureless surface.  A clear, sweet liquid floods the bottle, the grating horrors of truth tormenting my ignorance. The glass shatters, falling from its pedestal. Forward, anywhere but this place, away from this queer twilight zone. Footfalls are treacherous; I don’t belong here. Yet eventually I find purchase. Forward movement and gathering speed. The future is my savior; consciousness is my companion.  Somewhere along the way I falter, and find myself falling to the ground, cradled in earths embrace. Resting my head on a clump of moss, I attempt to quell my rapid breaths. A hand extends towards me from the canopy above. My feet are beneath me, though I can’t see them.  Numbness begins to overcome them, a thick creeping weight, heavier than anything that’s burdened them before. A midnight sky enveloped me, a black sheet devoid of any worldly comfort. My right hand began to burn” You are here”.  A hinge squeaked shut, or open, I couldn’t tell, they both sound so alike.  The smell of stagnant water stung my nose. The darkness began to choke me. It’s long fingers curled around my ankles, locking me into place, preventing any forward motion. My hand burned for a second time “You are here”.  I gazed at the fiery characters burnt a crossed my palm. The script was plain yet powerful. The deep recesses of the water began churning. While the darkness hid the water’s actions from me I could still hear its sinister plotting.  Refusing to be extinguished, I kicked off the now twig like claws, rushed towards the sound and dove through. Voices buzzed in my ears; yet I marched on. I kept my head down, and forged my way, keeping my eyes locked on that hopeful message, “You are Here.”