Ten Very Short Stories, vol. 3

Anachronism

The last thing H. remembered was getting in bed next to his wife, hoping to get enough sleep before his presentation in the morning. Now, he was being dragged in chains down a dirt road toward a bonfire. People were yelling. People were cheering. They threw rocks at him.

G. woke feeling pleased with himself. This was a new time, a new place. He would have to learn the language. In the meantime, there was a woman in bed with him, who was responding to his touch.

Clandestine

They had gotten out of the city. No cell service. No electricity. Not a single soul knew they were there. The view was absolutely breathtaking.

However, it was ten below, and the car wouldn’t start.

Penultimate Moment

The moment I realized he really was from another planet, was the moment I regretted everything I had just said.

Coming to

K. woke up on a plane and found himself tied up. Someone said he was a hijacker. This made no sense. Why was he even on a plane? But the more he thought about it, the more he supposed it was true. I need to get out of these ropes, he thought, and back to the situation at hand.

Last Words

The stage was set. Everyone was gathered around his bed. He knew he’d be gone before evening. Thankfully, he had rehearsed this moment in his head for months. He would relish this moment.

Later, at the very end, unable to speak, his last thought was: I will never learn.

“I was Told Not to Contact You… “

Inside the big box, was a much smaller box in the middle of all the packing plastic. He unwrapped it carefully. It was a family portrait. There was a thick coating of dust on top of the frame.

He examined the photo and recognized himself as a very young boy, but he did not recognize anyone else.

Rules?

“Santorini! . . . “Santorini! . . .  Please!”
“You and your safe words,” she said. “How adorable.”