RUT by James Edwards (1st Place, Flash May26)

Long after the tears had dried, and hurtful words lost their sting, there was still work to do. The division of a coexistence was no easy task. They had already sorted through the majority, possessions they had shared, cherished, and now were destined to lose. Then they got to the box. They had bought it … Continue reading RUT by James Edwards (1st Place, Flash May26)

WHAT’S WRONG, MY LOVE? by Grant Wandle (2nd Place, Flash May26)

I woke. Everything was still, with only a dim streetlight glow creeping under the curtains. You had your back to me, but I sensed that you might be awake. You might even have woken me. I lifted my hand across and you shuffled backwards into my embrace, wrapping my arm tightly around you, interlacing your … Continue reading WHAT’S WRONG, MY LOVE? by Grant Wandle (2nd Place, Flash May26)

SPECIAL MENTIONS – Flash Fiction, May26

These three stories received a Special Mention in judging of the May26 quarter of our Flash Fiction Prize. Youth Custody by Peter Moody, The Museum of Extinct Emotions by Aarnav Nair, and Saved By A Sandwich by Hannah Retallick. Youth Custody by Peter Moody It was the second week of the Autumn term at School. … Continue reading SPECIAL MENTIONS – Flash Fiction, May26

A GUTTERING CANDLE by Dianne Bown-Wilson (1st Place, June25)

Mrs Mulhern's telephone rings at her bedside at 11.37 pm. She registers the time as she snaps on the light, glad she wasn't asleep. These days, it takes her a while to collect her thoughts when she wakes, and whoever's calling could ring off— although that might be no bad thing. 'Hello?' She speaks cautiously. … Continue reading A GUTTERING CANDLE by Dianne Bown-Wilson (1st Place, June25)

BEGINNERS PLEASE by B W Frimston (2nd Place, June25)

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your half-hour call. You have thirty minutes until curtain up, thank you.” As the announcement was made by the theatre manager over the tannoy, the company stage manager Gerry scoured backstage, just the slightest hint of concern starting to edge into her consciousness. “Has anybody seen Derek? Derek’s missing.” A … Continue reading BEGINNERS PLEASE by B W Frimston (2nd Place, June25)

LEAVE TO REMAIN by Ros Levenson (3rd Place, June25)

My first thought when I woke up was that I was cold. Freezing cold, colder than I had ever been before. You know how the mind tries to make sense of situations that you don’t understand? I spent a long time, or so it seemed, trying to figure out why I felt so bone-chillingly frozen … Continue reading LEAVE TO REMAIN by Ros Levenson (3rd Place, June25)

THE DARE by Kathy Goddard (2nd place, Flash May25)

‘You know the rules, Billy. If you want to be one of us, you’ve gotta go to the witch’s house.’ ‘Yeah, but you gotta go inside as well.’ I stared round at them. ‘Inside?’ ‘Yeah, like wot ‘e said. Properly inside. You’ve gotta wave at us through a window – an upstairs one.’ ‘Aye, that’s … Continue reading THE DARE by Kathy Goddard (2nd place, Flash May25)

RITE OF PASSAGE by Margaret Magee (1st place, Flash, Feb25)

The woman walked around the ruin of the house she had fled years back; its secrets sandwiched between the loose mortar of the old walls. It was a perfect June day, laced with the smell of cut grass and the five-note call of a wood pigeon. She slipped out of her court shoes and walked … Continue reading RITE OF PASSAGE by Margaret Magee (1st place, Flash, Feb25)