The Last to Fall - Flash Fiction Entry
Hey everyone, this is my entry into @rhondak's flash fiction contest. You can check out the contest and other entries here. Let me know what you think in the comments, I am still new to writing and looking for any feedback you have. Hope you enjoy!
The Last to Fall
The cold, sharp wind blows against him, stiffening his body. Gone are the days of warmth and sunshine. Weeks have passed since he has basked in the sun. Life is nothing but chilled air and long nights.
His body has grown frail and brittle with the seasons change. The color he once radiated has become dull and dark. His skin so dry, cracks have formed.
This was always going to be how it ended for him. In the same place he was born. It’s only fitting. This place doesn’t let anyone truly leave. Not that he would want to; it’s been home for so long. All he knows of the world is right here in this lot.
He thinks back to all the time spent here, hanging onto every detail, praying they don’t escape him. From the children playing tag, chasing fireflies, and building forts, to Mom and Dad gardening, barbecuing, and throwing parties, he clutches at each memory fearing any moment it could be gone forever, just as it has gone in the real world.
The wind blows harder. He can feel life slipping from him with each gust. It won’t be long now.
The same fate awaits him that has befallen his entire family. Each generation experiencing the same ending. His turn has finally come.
A gust of wind rattles his body. He holds tightly to the little life left. Another blast of the frigid air loosens his grip. Enough! He thinks to himself, accepting he can take no more.
A final volley of air rushes at him, striking his body, stripping him of the last bit of life. He floats slowly downward, drifting the ground, his final resting spot. He lands softly.
A young neighbor approaches him lying on the grass. She lifts him gently, carrying him into the alley behind the house.
Placing him on top of the pile, she smiles to herself, satisfied that every leaf has finally been cleared from her neighbor’s yard. She skips back to her house knowing she’ll be five dollars richer when her neighbors return home after Thanksgiving.
Woah that gave me chills your an amazing writer mk! Didn't expect that ending haha!
Thanks man. I just need to keep on plugging away at this writing stuff. Keep the words flowing.
Always interesting to read a piece from an odd perspective. Very creative. Good luck in the contest!
Thanks so much. It was a funny thought to try and write something from the perspective of a leaf. Glad you enjoyed it!
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wow...... what a twist. you need not worry mr. great story and you create a great picture.
Thanks so much! Glad it painted a good visual for you!
Once again you painted a nice picture and provided a ending that I had not suspected at all. While reading the post I tried to figure out the ending and what it could be but I was completely wrong! Very nice post!
Glad the ending was a nice surprise, this was definitely much harder to put together.
Nice and interesting story, all the best with the contest.
Thanks so much! Much appreciated!
Wow, that's awesomely written. You had me from the first line. Upvote and resteemed
Thank you so much! With this Flash Fiction stuff I feel like you need to get your hooks into the reader right off the bat...and then find a way to keep it going throughout the rest of the piece...somehow!
You did it well 👏 keep it up & welcome!
This post has received a 16.76 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @mk40.
Very nice story. Great imagery. Will follow you to get some more. Keep em coming.
Thanks so much. I am going to be trying to put out a piece or two every week. Stay tuned!
I will. Smiling. I try to write 500 words every day. Say would you be up to a friendly write-off? We could alternate topics and post a 500 word response to each other. If you're interested, hit me back. I'll give you the first topic. Grinning. No rules. Everything goes. Everything.
I would definitely be interested in this! Sorry took me so long to reply, this got lost in a sea of others when I woke up! Never done something like this before, then again, up until a week ago I hadn't written anything in years, let alone posted it online. So I am 100% in!
Cool. Smiling. Tag, you're it. You pick the topic and do a blog post. I'll reply with a blog of mine and reply you the link. Then we switch places. I'll pick the topic and post and you reply with a link to your post of the same topic. Just to make it interesting, DM me with the topic and I'll write my blog without looking at yours. Will be cool to see if we take the same topic in different directions....Sounds ok?
This works for me. I am going to DM you on Discord!
Lol. Will be fun. One post per week sounds ok or fewer? I know you have a million projects going on lol.
This one is great too! Good job!
I appreciate that! This one was a serious struggle to put together. Had the idea and loved it in my head...could not get it to just flow out onto the screen, but I think it came together better than I expected. Thanks again!
Yeah, I'm totally envious! Well done!
That makes me feel good. I have only been writing for about a week now...hadn't written anything in over a decade before that. So it feels good to get so much positive feedback.