Dreams Are Free – Flash Fiction

Dreams Are Free

She sat quietly in the small space she’d discovered on the top floor of her uncle’s house.  A box room, probably meant for storage, but there was a chair, some old boxes of books and small window overlooking the lake.  

She was reflecting on recent events that had brought her here.  The hectic comings and goings of visitors had given her an excuse to disappear for a while.

Grateful for the solace of the tiny room, she let her mind wander wherever it chose to go.  A sudden knock on the door made her jump.

“Ella. Are you in there?”, said her cousin Joel.

She wondered how long before someone came looking.

“What are you doing?” He demanded.  “We need to talk”

She replied reluctantly, “Joel, if you are a dreamer, come on in.  If not, then you can just let me be. OK?”

Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing

All Rights Reserved

Lillian is hosting Prosery Monday at D'Verse Poets tonight and has
prompted us with the line "If you are a dreamer, come on in".
The line is from Shel Silverstein’s poem, Invitation, as published
in his wonderful book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.
We are to write a piece of Flash Fiction no more that 144 words long,
excluding the title, and MUST use the prompt line as stated.

Image by Gaby Stein from Pixabay 

  22 comments for “Dreams Are Free – Flash Fiction

  1. May 4, 2021 at 9:06 am

    wonderful Christine, great flash fiction!

    • Christine Bolton
      May 4, 2021 at 9:29 am

      Thank you! ☺️

  2. April 15, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    Very captivating flash fiction. I wonder what are the recent events and why Joel “needed” to talk to her. So much mystery in few sentences. I love it.

    • Christine Bolton
      April 15, 2021 at 2:26 pm

      Thanks Justin! The beauty of Flash Fiction – you can always expand ☺️

  3. April 13, 2021 at 3:27 pm

    I think, that there are people who need a solace that others would see as loneliness.

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      I love “me” time ☺️

  4. April 13, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    We all need a place like this at one time or another. I like the way she drew the boundary and condition of entering her sacred space. This is such a good lure into the rest of a story.

    • Christine Bolton
      April 14, 2021 at 12:00 am

      Thank you Mish. Yes, there is more to the story – there has to be! ☺️

  5. April 13, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Love the natural flow of this….that special place away from everyone and the easy conversation between the two. I can just feel it as real. I wonder if he decided to go away?

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 12:34 pm

      Thanks Lillian. I think there a lot more going on than we can see in 144 words! ☺️

  6. April 13, 2021 at 8:34 am

    Discriminating on that ‘dreamer’ criteria ,was a great idea! Well done!

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks you Susan. I appreciate it ☺️

  7. April 13, 2021 at 5:23 am

    I enjoyed the sparse but very vivid scene-setting, Christine. It pulled me into the story. I am intrigued about the ‘hectic comings and goings’ which had ‘given her an excuse to disappear for a while’.

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 9:38 am

      Thank you Kim. I always appreciate your feedback. The story came into my head but the 144 words left a lot to be said! To be continued maybe? ☺️

      • April 13, 2021 at 1:05 pm

        That’s the good thing about flash fiction, you can develop it further.😊

  8. April 13, 2021 at 3:23 am

    Here’s to Ella for giving herself some space. We all need it once in a while!

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 9:39 am

      Thanks Ingrid! Agreed ☺️

  9. April 13, 2021 at 2:42 am

    This felt very natural and believable, Christine. Lovely.

    <3
    David

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 9:40 am

      Thanks David. I appreciate it 🥰

  10. April 12, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Excellent use of the prompt sentence.

    • Christine Bolton
      April 13, 2021 at 9:41 am

      Thank you dear Sadje 🥰

      • April 13, 2021 at 9:50 am

        You’re welcome 😉

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