Flash Fiction Challenge 1 #stories4you from #OurAuthorGang

 Challenge accepted by Erika M Szabo

Flash fiction is a concise form of prose storytelling consisting of self-contained stories that may also be referred to as sudden fiction, short-short stories, micro-fiction, or micro-stories. This particular genre is highly regarded by renowned English writers for its ability to convey profound insights and timeless human emotions within a few short paragraphs.

Erika's challenge was to write a flash fiction story of less than 500 words, based on this picture:

One Small Step at a Time

By Erika M Szabo

After thirty-five years of a blissful marriage, Michael's heart was broken when he lost his beloved wife. They didn’t have children, and their relatives lived in different states. For two years, Michael felt lost and lonely without her. But then, he met Sara, a widow close to his age. He thought that maybe, just maybe, he had found someone to spend the rest of his life with.

The first few months after Sara moved in were like a trial period for their relationship. They both made small compromises and got used to living together. One thing Michael had always disliked was handling paperwork and bills, so he was relieved when Sara offered to take care of all their finances.

Then one day, after a daylong medical appointment, Michael found the house empty. Sara’s clothes, personal items, and all his valuable possessions were gone. All she left behind was her passport, driver’s license, and a short note: I can't live with you any longer, I'm moving to Europe. The next day he found out his bank account had been emptied. Michael felt devastated. He had lost everything, including his sense of self, which hurt the most. The police discovered that the woman he trusted had used a fake identity, the real Sara Gutfield passed away in 1902.

Then he went through the heart surgery that was already scheduled. It took a toll on his already shattered spirit. The recovery process was long and difficult, but amid his darkest moments, he found solace in something unexpected: gardening.

As he planted each seed and saw the first signs of green emerging, Michael felt a sense of rejuvenation, as if a flame inside him had been reignited. He dedicated countless hours to nurturing his small garden, meticulously watering and trimming each plant, finding solace in routine and tranquil isolation.

As he worked, Michael found himself lost in thought, his mind wandering to happier times. Memories of his childhood in the countryside, of long afternoons spent playing in the fields, flooded back to him. The memories brought tears in his eyes when he thought about the happy years he spent with his beloved wife.

In the garden, he found a connection to his past and a sense of purpose in the present. Even as his strength slowly returned, Michael continued to find refuge in his garden. He nursed a sickly-looking cherry tree back to health, and as he watched it bloom for the first time in years, he realized that not only the sickly tree, but he too was also healing. He was finding his way back to himself one small step at a time.

Erika M Szabo

https://authorerikamszabo.com

Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.

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