Tag: life

Posted in flash fiction

The Day Maude Died

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

The day Maude died she expected it. The white daisies rambling across the mustard colored wallpaper had already begun mourning. Large drops of water appeared over them and rolled to the floor.

“Good.” She mumbled. “This living business is for the birds.”

Maude glowered from her 5th story window. 

At 11:59 she felt the air being sucked from the room as it began to spin. Her exhilaration dissipated when Gary appeared. 

“What are you doing here?” Gary shrugged and motioned to the room as if to ask why he wouldn’t be.

“This wallpaper is a crime to interior design. Christ Maude, is this where you’ve been hiding?”

“I’ve never known you to be a connoisseur of design.”

“Down to business; I’m a busy demon. You’re not dying today Maude.”

Rage rushed from her toes to the very tips of her hair.

“What?! Do you know how long I’ve been here?! 1,517 years Gary!”

“I know, but they like the work you’re doing down here.”

“No! No! No!” The smirk dancing across Gary’s lips was enough to send her into overdrive. “Go get the kerosene. We’re going to the council.”

Gary’s smirk turned to a deep frown.

Source: http://mrg.bz/n22FGA

Word Count: 198
For Sunday Photo Fiction

Posted in stream of consciousness

Becoming Better

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

I haven’t really written as much as normal (or what I view as normal) for a while and this is why. I wanted to get it out, put it down. I know its not a unique experience. I know others have experienced it, could be experiencing these same things.

Becoming.

How do you become?

“I am more than you wanted me to be.”

I was raised by an NPD parent and there are some things about that which never leave you. I have a lifelong sense of failure ingrained in me. I’ve consistently held myself back, not only because I just *knew* I was going to fail but also because I believed my successes were never really my own and *I* was never actually successful. 

When I was a child if I managed to do something correctly you could rest assured that it actually was not correct and I was every derogatory name in the book for failing to realize the rules had changed without notification.

I never had a safe place. I couldn’t run away from my bully, he was ever present in my home. 

That takes a toll with a price far higher than I think many realize. 

It’s only been recently, in my 30’s, that I’ve begun really exploring who exactly I am, pushing myself to embrace the things I succeed at and allowing myself to feel those successes for me.

And it’s hard!

My inner voice is less critical now than it used to be but it can still be excessively critical sometimes. 

The best way I’ve found to fight it is to intentionally take steps to move myself past these stages in my life. It could be easy to remain stuck, plenty of people do just that, but I know I can not. 

I let go of the things I’ve clung to, essentially spring cleaning my mind. I clear my home of things that, in my inner critical way, remind me of my place as a failure. 

Although I still find myself occasionally repeating the mantras of hate I developed, I have to admit I feel much better these days. 

Posted in stream of consciousness, Word Prompt

In The Garden

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

Verdant – RDP word of the day
Music – Dirty Three – Self titled

Luscious.
Fertile.
Sasha’s garden was everything Mari could never inspire in her own. Her belly too, round with verdant life in a way Mari would never know.

Obsession.
Jealousy.
Rage in Mari’s veins blossomed as she feigned excitement for Sasha’s burgeoning life. Sasha’s roses brought home awards. Her daffodils sailed into a spotlight all their own. The baby kicked while she laughed on.

Inspired.
Alone.
Mari took to a rusted axe in order to get the job done.

I forgot to time myself but I intended to aim for 5 minutes to start. This probably took about that long.

Posted in stream of consciousness

Subscription

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

I signed up for more but it seems they lost the paperwork.
I can reason it away.
What’s life but missed words?
I’d cancel early but the fee is too high.

Sorry for my lack of anything lately. I’ve been busy, stressed … insanely tired, etc.

Posted in Word Prompt

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

First, I want to check in on readers from Indonesia or with family/friends in Indonesia. Is everybody ok?

Second, it’s Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! I hope everyone has been enjoying the holiday season.

I’ve taken a longer break than I meant to but I’ve been working on my thesis which has taken over my mind for a bit.

Posted in stream of consciousness

Baby Spiders Before 7 AM

Posted on by Kelley Farrell

This is not at all what I would normally post but … I don’t know, I’ll call it a slice of life.

This morning I had to kill a spider.

It wasn’t just any spider. No. I didn’t realize this was some mutant momma spider.

I thought it looked weird … but what the hell do I know before 7 AM when my daughter is refusing to go in her bathroom because of said spider.

So I smashed it

And baby spiders scattered across the tile.

I … Just stared for a second … I had that “sweet baby Jesus what have I done” moment.

Of course, I can’t shut the bathroom door and leave them. No, they’ll regroup into some Cartoon Network mutant villainy crap if I do that.

So I start screaming at my daughter to get the bug spray from the garage.

I’m pretty sure this shit is outdoor only use. It’s probably straight up expired acid at this point.

I do not care. I douse those innocent babies like I’m going burn the whole place and never look back.

Then I shut the door and walk away because I’m officially out of time for this to be a problem.

The more I think about it, the more I think that this was hidden in the fine print when I signed the parent contract. I didn’t knowingly sign up for baby spiders before 7AM.