Flash – Fever
For the Writing Adventure Group topic: Altered States as well as the #fridayflash group.
“I think I have a fever.” Genevieve gathered up her long hair in a twist to keep it from tugging if she rolled over in the night. The heat behind her eyes and the sweat down her back didn’t worry her though. No, it was the little girl standing beside her bed that gave her alarm. Dressed in a tutu and cowboy boots, she twirled and rocked in prima rodeo style.
“Want me to get you some Advil?” Her husband had just taken off his slippers, but slid them right back on again to go fetch the needed medicine. He couldn’t see the girl, because she obviously wasn’t there. Not really. She couldn’t be. Little girls in tutus and cowboy boots didn’t dance through stranger’s houses, not without people noticing. People like Genevieve’s husband.
Genevieve couldn’t take her eyes off the girl. She tried to act as though nothing was wrong, thinking the image would fade any second.
“Gen?”
“Oh, yes. I think that would be good. Thanks.” She blinked a few times, but the girl didn’t go away. When her husband’s footfalls had retreated down the hall toward the kitchen, she said, “What do you want?” It seemed a reasonable question.
No answer. Just dancing. If it had been a real little girl, Genevieve might have enjoyed the funny, lopsided movements, the pure joy of the moment. But one didn’t just enjoy hallucinations. Of that she was sure.
Her husband returned a few minutes later with two pills and a glass of water. She gulped them down, closing her eyes as she tilted her head back with a jerk, hoping beyond hope they would instantly dissolve the unwelcome spectre.
When she opened her eyes, the girl was gone. Genevieve sighed. “Thanks,” she said as her husband turned off the lights and climbed into bed. “Better already.”
In the darkness, a tiny trill of a voice giggled into her ear. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
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India, GREAT story. I love the imagery of the little girl in the tutu and cowboy boots. You did a wonderful job with your flash fiction. Good Job!
Ciao Bella,
Ardee-ann
[ Follow me on Twitter: ardee_sagemoon ]
Fun! That would make a great start for a novel
[ Follow me on Twitter: jemifraser ]
I love this. Great hook!
This was brilliant; I agree with Ann, ‘great hook!’
The little girl reminds me of one on our block long ago, who played in the street wearing a veil and wedding dress, pushing a doll’s pram with a nervous-looking gray cat peering over its side.
[ Follow me on Twitter: girlfrenkate ]
Oh good grief woman, I jumped out of my skin at that creepy last sentence!! Oh my word!!
Well done you!!! This is brilliant and extremely scary. Phew. I think I need to lie down now…
Take care
x
Was away so am catching up on reading #fridayflash.
Did enjoy the description throughout the piece. Quite vividly rendered. Could quite see the little girl twirling and rocking in her cowboy outfit.
Ending was spooky/scary. But, because little cowgirl was dancing with such joy, maybe she means no harm?
[ Follow me on Twitter: marisabirns ]
Nicely done. I’m not sure which would be worse, her being a hallucination, or an actual specter. Time to put the house on the market, I think.
~jon
[ Follow me on Twitter: jmstro ]
Nice one India, I love it. I feel the start of a Twilight short story or novel.