I’ve posted before about the great LiveJournal site picfor1000 which runs a challenge every year for authors to write a short story in EXACTLY 1,000 words, based on a random picture the Mods give out. I love this challenge LOL! Apart from the fact I like writing short, and thrive on restriction *heh*, I also love the chance to write something different from the rest of my year’s production.

This year’s challenge was based on a theme of “singular”. Many of the fics are written in popular fandoms, so hop on over and browse to your heart’s delight. It’s open to non-LJ account holders. All stories are due in by March 31, so there’ll be a rush of them in the next couple of days.

Don’t feel obliged to read and/or comment on mine, as I’ve had tremendous fun meeting this year’s challenge regardless. It’s not MM, it’s not romantic, though it is hopeful :). But if you do read it, I hope you enjoy it. Here’s the picture I was given this year, and my story in response.

FLY AWAY

“Come down from there,” Galen called up into the tree.

High above him, the skinny youth made no reply. Perched on the junction of bare branch and trunk, he hugged himself to the smallest he could.

“Best fucking mates?” Galen gave a snort intended to be heard. “You won’t even answer me. I’m freezing my bloody balls off here for you, y’hear? This ain’t my favourite pastime of a Sunday morning.”

No answer, though maybe there was a small rustle of movement.

“My tea’s getting cold indoors.” Galen darted a gaze around the base of the tree, wondering how hard the ground was, this time of a cold winter morning. “And Paula’s worried about you. She’s crying all over the breakfast table.” He gave a short, harsh laugh. “Never been keen on salty cereal, me.”

Yes. There was a soft sound from above. A snigger, maybe, then a creak from the branch as overwhelming misery resettled the boy’s body. Galen had been there, done that. But you didn’t stop trying, right?

READ ON HERE.

Pic courtesy of:  Alone, by Ghaith AL Ajmi