“The Long Road Home” – A Flash Fiction

“The Long Road Home” by Avalon Media available here:
http://shrsl.com/?~8swh

Despite numerous diversions, I had followed through on my plans to make the trip to Santa Fe.
No matter what the Universe threw at me, I was determined to follow through, after all, I had made the promise to stand by my sisters side on her special day, even though I loathed weddings and knew it would mean I would have to encounter slimy old Uncle Thomas.
None of that mattered, nothing did, because I was happy for her, more importantly for the first time in her life, she was happy.
Diversions or not, I had to go in a hurry, and took a wrong turn that would end my life.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this weeks prompt “Diversions” by Lillie McFerrin. The above image “The Long Road Home” is available on RedBubble here.

The Tea – A Flash Fiction

 

“The Dreams In Which I’m Dyin'” by Samantha Aplin 

 

“Soon”, she said to the impatient child, stirring the tea, the clouds of steam rising above the slightly cracked cup, slowly allowing the brew of roots to cool to a consumable temperature.
She tried not to frown, her eyes filled with a sorrowful smile as she nodded reassuringly at the little one.
This would have to make due for now, no breakfast available to fill their empty stomachs, but at least, the heat the tea brought would allow them to move about in the bitter cold.
For a moment, a flicker of despair rushed across her face, but she caught herself, adjusting it back to the well-practiced facade she had worn now far too long.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The above image is by the talented Samantha Aplin and is available on RedBubble. Please support independent artists, thank you.

The flash fiction was inspired by Lillie McFerrin’s flash fiction prompt “Steam”, and the #1word blog hop prompt “Soon”.

Chocolate Cake – A Flash Fiction

“Chocolate Cake” by Avalon Media

I guess, it did not matter that we were the outcasts of the neighborhood, after all.
As I watched others lives fall apart, we all still had each other, no matter how many times people thought Mother was crazy for planting the garden by the cycles of the moon, or how Dad would allow us to put curlers in his hair, right before going to the grocery store, wearing them proudly.
The normal people, who looked down upon us, seemed to care more about our behaviour than their own lives. Divorce, arrests and suicides left us – unlike them – untouched.
But instead of returning their treatment with the same, my weird, flower-in-her-hair Mother, would bring them a smile and chocolate cake.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The above flash fiction is a part of the Five Sentence Friday Flash blog hop and was inspired by this week’s prompt: “Family”

The above image “Chocolate Cake” is available on RedBubble as throw pillows and posters, and on Zazzle as postcards. Thank you for supporting Avalon Media

Avalon – A Flash Fiction

“Avalon” by Avalon Media
http://goo.gl/I7ekCW

The memories of your presence in this space were almost too much to bear.
Every corner, every inch of this island held a piece of our togetherness, your hand touching mine, your kisses on my lips. Even through the scent of the exotic flowers, I could still smell you, feel your strength, envision your powerful stride. Losing you, so early in life, was just not fair. No matter how much I missed this place, our place, I should have never returned to Avalon.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This website and our company Avalon Media are named after the Island of Avalon, of the California Coast. The above image is a digitally altered photography of the island,  with the intent of giving it a vintage feel. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, the small Avalon holds the magic of the Mediterranean without ever having to leave the United States.

The above photograph is available on various applications, including Throw Pillows, Duvet Covers, Mugs and as a scarf, as well as framed art here.

Nobody – A Flash Fiction

Your departure was reminiscent of your arrival, filled with fanfare and grandiose moves, an orchestrated deliberate performance to the very end.
This was, after all, the main reason I could never quite understand you, the need for overacting, overwhelming everyone in your presence as if you needed their oxygen just to exist.
Little me, had no place in that world, there was no room left for anyone else, no matter how charming any fleeting moment spent in the embrace of your attention was.
And what really had I expected from the moment I met you – me, the nobody, you the powerful star.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The preceding story is a part of the blog hop by Miss Lillie McFerrin, and was inspired by this week’s prompt: “Departure”.

If you enjoyed this Flash Fiction, why not check out my book “Mixing Spices: A Flavorful Guide to Creating Awesome Herb and Spice Mixes” on Amazon Kindle

Morning Coffee – A Flash Fiction

Hands shaking, she knew she would never take another step for granted. Too many years, too many battles past through and won, did not leave her without scars, but they did not leave her broken. Not yet, not at this time, when she had one more thing left to do. Dropping the crushed pill into the cup of coffee, she placed a well rehearsed smile on her face, and a cheer in her voice, as she straightened her spine. “Honey, your coffee is ready!”

Fire – A Flash Fiction

Your heat engulfed me with such a force, that it became hard for me to breathe, but you weren’t even close.
The mere presence of you attracted an undeniable sensation, I could not ignore, and never had. But, until this moment, until your passionate dark blue eyes rested upon mine, I thought you had never even noticed me. With a smile, you whispered my name, and my heart bursted into flames.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post is a part of the Five Sentence Flash Series hosted here

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The Park – A Friday Flash Fiction

I always wondered how someone could say that they feel alone, in the middle of this wide open space. Not a day went by when this part of the park did not have visitors, even when the wind blew harder than usual, or the smoke of a nearby fire made it difficult to breath. Nothing kept people from coming back, not even rain. The hustle of this space was one of its appeals to me, because within it, I felt a part of it all, the world I sometimes shut out, when working at my computer, creating another part of the creative puzzle that would eventually make a coherent story.
I never understood, until this day, when you broke my heart.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The Crime Scene Cleaner – A Flash Fiction

It was not that Mr. Annar had forgotten to close his blinds as everyone had suspected, it was that he had dismantled the installation, making it impossible for anyone to block his view of the entire parking lot.
The central bay window was perfectly spaced, allowing him to take advantage of the lucky occurance of being the renter of P-91.
The friendly, lady with the three cats next door on the other hand was not so lucky.
Living next to someone shaken by paranoia, her gentle smile, directed toward him, cost her her life.
Watching both bodies leave in bags, Ben nodded at the detectives and officers, watching them leave one by one, until he was finally alone.
Sighing, he raised his head toward the ceiling at the bloody mess above, already regretting,that he gave his new employee the day off. Cleaning up here alone, would surely take all night.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The Forgotten

No one remembered The Forgotten, the outcasts, that were tossed from our society as if they were garbage, not human beings, who did nothing wrong.
Those people, hidden behind the deep walls that surrounded our cities, were simply different, not fitting in with the norm of prescribed standards of look or form.
Placed beyond the walls, to defend themselves, no one ever spoke of them again, no matter if they used to be friends, or where children.
Our fold had no place for them, but in the quiet, lonely hours just before dawn, comforted by the luxuries of our culture, I wept.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this week’s Flash Fiction prompt “Forgotten”.