A Flash Challenge I Couldn't Refuse

Hi everybody! Thank you again SO MUCH for all the comments, Tweets, and FB posts the past two days. I am going to try to answer everybody back individually if at all possible- so thank you! Means more than I can possibly say.

Now then, today I am posting a little bit of on-the-fly flash, because I was challenged/invited to write 300 (title does not count) words for ruanne's Dancing With the Fairies writing contest.

Now you know I swore off contests long ago but I hate to turn down a flash challenge- especially an interesting one, so here we go.

She asked for 300 words about, quote: "...flash fiction (300 words or less) on your (fictional or not) first-person encounter with a faery, goblin, or fantastical being of your choice."

(Please note she added 'no undead' no vampires or zombies.) Head on over to her lovely blog Yearning for Wonderland to check out what she's giving away to the top three entries. For now, here's my response to the challenge. Hope you enjoy.

EDIT: I decided to record it as an audio blog too. You can click on the box to listen to me, or you can read it below (or both! :)



Air Mail by February Grace

Have you ever wondered what an angel’s handwriting would look like? Well I don’t wonder, ‘cause I’ve seen it. It’s angled and modest as it would have to be, after all, to pass as human for the benefit of the US Postal Service.

It had to be serendipity, a special guardian magic or whatever you want to call it that brought the angel into my life. The way he just arrived out of nowhere, at the time he did, too much to be coincidence. Just when I was most alone; just when I had given up.

He never came to me in person, no, only through the letters.

Letters in which the words seemed to automatically alter in size the worse my vision got, larger and larger so even though I’d struggle and squint I could read them, 'til the end. Until total darkness fell.

That’s when the audio recordings began to arrive.

Mysteriously dropping in through the letter slot. Appearing my computer, even my mobile devices. Revealing a voice both warm and soft that offered words to me of promise, of belief that I could survive, that I would survive, even the most difficult of all days.

He was right. I'm still here.

Angels write magnificent letters, you know. Not always tucked in linen envelopes or sealed with signet rings. They don’t look like you might expect letters from heaven to look, but they are that, just the same.

Maybe one day you'll realize you've received one. Maybe when we pass each other on the street you’ll share with me the most knowing of all glances- the one that can only be understood by those who have felt the brush of wings and fingertips both, wisping across the nape of our neck and the surface of ordinary paper.

~FG

(PS apparently the linky below in html has all the info you need if you want to join in the fun. So everything from here down is from ruanne. Thanks! ~bru)