A flash fiction after a while!
The FLY
It’s the first time in months, that I’ve ventured out today. The cafe is a far cry from the hopelessness that my life has reduced to.
For the past six months, I’ve been living a hand-to-mouth existence. The savings are dwindling and nobody has got any work for me. I’m redundant. Not needed anymore. All those encouraging words from my old contacts and friends came to nought. It’s difficult to believe that all those applications that I’ve been sending out since March last year have got me absolutely nowhere. I have been penniless before but this time I’m utterly broke. Life has wrung every ounce of hope out of my share. I no longer feel the urge to go on. Darkness has seeped into my soul. I’m running out of my last few hundreds. The only thing I’m waiting for is the final countdown, due tomorrow. Before the New Year dawns, my abysmal existence on this planet will be wiped off forever.
The waiter smiles, as he places the coffee mug on the table. I smile back.
“Enjoy your coffee, Sir“.
“Thank you.”
He rushes to meet the other customers who seem to be forming a queue by now.
I’ve been sitting here almost an hour, watching the crowd flowing in an endless procession.
“The last day of the year is a strange one”, I muse to myself. While, on the face of it, nothing will change over the next 24 hours, yet, for many, it will be a time for new beginnings, and a new chapter will usher in new promises.
“For me, this last day of the year will also be the last day of my life.” And then, oblivion. THE END.
I watch couples walking hand in hand, little children pleading for candies, everyone dressed in their best attires, walking past me, casting curious glances—my dishevelled look bears my story, but now, I’ve run out of reasons to pretend anymore. The lines from a poem flashed across my mind—
This flash fiction has been written for #FictionMonday, a blog hop hosted by Vinitha Dileep on her blog, ‘Reflections‘ based on the prompt, ‘FLY’.
Lovely! The emotions are raw and acute. Loved this narration. A tiny ray of hope is all that is required to survive this life.
How much I enjoyed this story of hope, Esha. And so beautifully crafted that at the beginning I thought the story was told by the fly! Clever and meaningful writing. Hugs.
Empowering story Esha on how a tiny fly can teach us so much when everything goes against us. The story set against the backdrop of reality we are in and impacting jobs, the desperation driving us and a tiny creature can teach us seamlessly. Hope you are well and keeping safe!
A tiny fly can teach you so much, perhaps a way of God to show him to never give up , come what may. This was a very endearing one Esha
This was so beautifully done, Esha. A hopeful lesson in the end! I am so glad you wrote it and shared with us. Thank you so much for always being an inspiration, dear Esha. 🤗
THAT was such an inspiring story, Esha! That quote on the coffee mug was just what i needed to remind me that I can win,too…we all can, IF we want. And, God knows how much we all are trying. 🙂
Superb narration,dear. You haven’t lost touch with fiction writing, babe!