2023 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 7
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by Managing Editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today’s prompt is to write about misremembering.
Sometimes, a false memory or the mixing of details can cause natural tension in a story. For today’s prompt, write about misremembering.
Remember: These prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you.
(Note: If you happen to run into any issues posting, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue. Fingers crossed there are no tech hiccups!)
Here’s my attempt at a story about misremembering:
The Details
“We went to the Finger Lakes that year,” she insisted, “and your father fell off the dock after too many beers.”
“That wasn’t me,” I said. “It was Emma.”
“No, no, it was you. That was the year you got bangs and took out your nose ring for good.”
That was the year of bad haircuts, but I’d been too busy trying to keep my marriage together to go to the Finger Lakes. But when I opened my mouth, my mother leaned into me, her perfume a swirl of vanilla and cinnamon.
“I always love our time together,” she whispered, like we were sharing a secret.
Across the room, Emma is trying to get little Midge to eat some mushy peas, the baby’s face a kaleidoscope of discarded food and her husband is playfully arguing with our father about football.
“You girls grew up too fast for me, just a blink of an eye,” Mom continued.
The house is loud, full, just like it was when we were kids. And maybe it’s the wine or the nostalgia, but I just kiss her head and let her misremember.
“I agree,” I told her.
Since obtaining her MFA in fiction, Moriah Richard has worked with over 100 authors to help them achieve their publication dreams. As the managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, she spearheads the world-building column Building Better Worlds, a 2023 Eddie & Ozzie Award winner. She also runs the Flash Fiction February Challenge on the WD blog, encouraging writers to pen one microstory a day over the course of the month and share their work with other participants. As a reader, Moriah is most interested in horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook.
Learn more about Moriah on her personal website.
