Here’s Suzanne Burke’s ‘Fiction in a Flash Challenge 2021 Week #43.’
I went with a Haibun format this week to fit this image. It is a prose paragraph combined with a Haiku/Senryu.
Image by Iván Tamás from Pixabay
The red and orange sky covered everything in death. Three months ago, the world lost its beauty. We were celebrating my daughter’s fifth birthday the day a deadly Nano bioweapon escaped from a laboratory. Trees, crops, and fish died immediately. Food and water became scarce, and people turned on each other. Only a few of us survived, scattered throughout the world in our shelters. My family and I only had supplies to last us a few days when help arrived from another planet. These green people, who weren’t much different from us, gave us two options. Board one of the old pirate-type ships that would take us to live in our past or die here. What choice did we have? We got on the last departing boat, leaving our destruction behind. The sea breeze blew our ships forward, and then everything spun, making me dizzy until I passed out. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the boat under a blue sky with a message tucked into my hand: Try again. Change the past to prevent that future.
Help or just a game
Destiny’s cruel repeat
Can the outcome change?
Sounds like a good premise for a book, Denise. Well done.
Thank, John. Maybe it will keep at me to be written.
I hope so.
What an interesting story. I think I’d make the same choice.
I’d be nervous, but sure I’d make the same choice too.
That’s really cool.
Thanks, Craig:)
Was it a second chance or was it a game until the decision was made to according to the green people? What a dread?
Great response to the prompt, Denise!
It would be a crazy thing to be caught up in, Miriam, wouldn’t it?
Thank you:)
Yes, it would make me nervous, Denise!
I’m glad she was given a chance to re-do! Well done, Denise!
Until they get it right? Thanks, Linda 🙂
What a fantastic response to the prompt, Denise! Bravo!
Thank you, Gwen xo
Great stuff, Denise! Lots of dystopia happening right now, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. I sometimes think artists/writers/musicians are like antennas–we pick up the prevailing zeitgeist and put it into our work. : )
Thanks, Cathleen:) Good point that a lot of our work is a reflection of of world. It makes a great creative capture of history, and a reason why I liked my lit. classes so much because I love studying history.
Fabulous take on the prompt, Denise. This gave me goosebumps. I’ll love to see this extended further, and have just shared it on my blog. 😊
Thank you, Soooz. This was a wonderfully moody picture to dive into. This does offers some potential to continue, thanks:) xo
Hi, Denise! What a fascinating haibun. I would have chosen to go back in time too. At least they got a second chance.😘
Thanks, Vashti:) Right, I would have done the same thing with a lot of reservation. I’m all for second chances!
What a powerful message! We would all do well to take heed. Great job, Denise !
Thank you, Jan:) Yes, we certainly could learn some lessons from our past and think about the future as we go forward. Fingers crossed.
I agree with John. What a premise for a novel. Nice, Denise.
Thanks, Staci. This one is mulling around in my mind now. xo
A combination of Water World and the Butterfly Effect. Nicely done, Denise.
Thanks, Mark:) I liked Butterfly Effect, but have never seen Water World–always meant to though.