Stacie Haas is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.)
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
Sunrise
by Stacie Haas
There was something about the morning air, cool and welcoming, that lured Sarah from the arms of her husband. She left the warm and comfort in favor of the crisp and chill for a moment of peace from the balcony of their vacation rental.
Sarah cupped her favorite coffee mug, a 40th birthday gift plastered with the smiling faces of her kids. Joey, Jacob, and Emily were her world and their father was her best friend.
The trip had been crazy, chaotic, and somehow, just what her family needed. It didn’t offer sun and sand, but with many things to do and see, it satisfied across the kids’ ages from twelve to three. Sarah enjoyed it, even though she needed an internal pep talk before every excursion into tourist-land.
The sky was painted pink and purple, the ridges made black by the rising sun. The trees would be revealed in due time, the details would come into focus, and her family would wake. But just now, Sarah could sit. She could dream.
She closed her eyes. If she had this view at home, her novel may not have taken five years to write. Instead of stealing fifteen minutes in a crammed office, between carpools and her nine to five, she imagined sitting here. Her laptop could actually rest in her lap….
The sliding door opened and sleepy-eyed Emily stumbled to her. Sarah pulled her into a hug and kissed her, both sad and content that her stolen moment was over.
congratulations!
Thanks so much. I appreciate it!