VS Note: I’m not a fan of writing flash fiction actually but someone in this group keeps proposing it. (Glares suspiciously at all the other Days.) I grew up in Upstate New York, so I’m very familiar with snow and winter and coldness; however, having lived in sunny Southern California for a long time, it was a bit hard to get myself into the mood.
But I said to myself sternly, I am a WRITER so I can WRITE. Here’s my story:
She and her sister snowflakes drifted in the wind, to and
fro, sparkling as they spun and twirled. This was her favorite part of being a
snowflake – the ride through the sky, so far about everything, dancing
carefree.
fro, sparkling as they spun and twirled. This was her favorite part of being a
snowflake – the ride through the sky, so far about everything, dancing
carefree.
The swirling winds began to subside and she drifted lower
and lower, but still enjoying the sensation of flying.
and lower, but still enjoying the sensation of flying.
Music wafted from below, seeming to surround her. It was a
lovely tune, repeating over and over. She saw flashes of color beneath her, where
the snow had failed to settle or been brushed aside. There was a castle, with
stone turrets and gallant banners waving in the same wind that cushioned her
descent. A small pond lay beside the castle, frozen over, and skaters moved
about in time to the music. She saw the handsome prince, heir to the kingdom,
waltzing with his lovely princess, her long blue skirts and blond hair flaring
out as he spun her in one giddy turn after another. Two other couples kept them
company, their clothing less sumptuous but still bright and cheery on this gray
afternoon.
lovely tune, repeating over and over. She saw flashes of color beneath her, where
the snow had failed to settle or been brushed aside. There was a castle, with
stone turrets and gallant banners waving in the same wind that cushioned her
descent. A small pond lay beside the castle, frozen over, and skaters moved
about in time to the music. She saw the handsome prince, heir to the kingdom,
waltzing with his lovely princess, her long blue skirts and blond hair flaring
out as he spun her in one giddy turn after another. Two other couples kept them
company, their clothing less sumptuous but still bright and cheery on this gray
afternoon.
Snowflake hoped they were warm enough but there was nothing
she could do about it. The nature of winter was to be cold outside, after all.
she could do about it. The nature of winter was to be cold outside, after all.
She received an unexpected lift from an eddy and sailed over the pond, almost
wishing she could have drifted onto the princess’s gloved hand, to receive the admiration
she knew she was owed, for being a unique, delicate crystalline beauty.
wishing she could have drifted onto the princess’s gloved hand, to receive the admiration
she knew she was owed, for being a unique, delicate crystalline beauty.
Apparently she was destined to land in a spiky evergreen
tree, there to nestle on the branches with her sisters until the wind or an
animal disturbed them. She put an extra spin into her forward motion, to make
the landing as spectacular as she possibly could. If one couldn’t fly forever,
one could at least demonstrate one’s superb abilities until the flight was over.
tree, there to nestle on the branches with her sisters until the wind or an
animal disturbed them. She put an extra spin into her forward motion, to make
the landing as spectacular as she possibly could. If one couldn’t fly forever,
one could at least demonstrate one’s superb abilities until the flight was over.
“Again, Daddy, again!”
The monstrous voice filled the air and the snowflake
shuddered. A moment later the wind blew from everywhere, the castle and the pond were above her for an impossible moment and then snowflake was flying
way up into the sky again.
shuddered. A moment later the wind blew from everywhere, the castle and the pond were above her for an impossible moment and then snowflake was flying
way up into the sky again.
Giddy with joy, she realized her journey was starting all
over. Maybe this time she could land on the princess’s hand as she waltzed to
the tune the musical snow globe played.
over. Maybe this time she could land on the princess’s hand as she waltzed to
the tune the musical snow globe played.
This article was originally posted on SFF Seven
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