Mary Kay Bonfante 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 story:
Running
by Mary Kay Bonfante
Ellie ran along the road outside town. Strains of “America the Beautiful” ran through her mind. Ellie’s ponytail kept flopping up and down, keeping time with the song she silently heard. She was running against traffic on the “wrong” side of the road, because that’s just what you did to keep safe.
Purple mountain majesties! We have it all, out here in rural Oregon, thought Ellie. She thought she spied a truck on the wrong side of the road, but kept going.
As she ran, the road disappeared and was replaced by the finest grass in a color she’d never seen before. She found herself walking under new and different trees, beside a travel companion she found strangely familiar.
“Where is this place?” asked Ellie.
“Don’t you know?” asked the man.
“But how could it be — unless I”m — ”
“Dead? Do you feel dead?” asked the man.
“No, I feel absolutely, positively alive!” exclaimed Ellie, “It’s you, isn’t it?”
“You catch on quickly,” said the man, “So what do you want to do next?”
“I’m concerned about my baby. And my husband, who’s with her right now.”
“I feel deeply for them. Jenna isn’t with Mario now. She’s with your sister-in-law, Louise. Mario is with your parents at St. John’s.”
“So fast?”
“Time has no meaning here.”
“Can I go back?” asked Ellie.
“I thought you might want that.”
“I feel really torn. Will you be with me?”
“Always am,” he smiled.
Congratulations, Mary Kay.
Another excellent story.
Cheers
Thank you, Rutger. Always appreciate a good word! There were other enjoyable stories, including yours. Blessings and cheers 🙂
Congratulations, Mary Kay!
My entire family enyoed your story. It was expertly crafted.
Thank you very much for your lovely compliments, Pat. I enjoyed your story, too. It had an element of cuteness that I liked a lot. Animals are always fun. God bless you.