My thumb traced an old dark stain, a memento left there the first time Jeffrey struck me, hard enough to send me careening across the room. No matter what I tried I could never get the bloodstain out, so I covered it with an artfully draped afghan.
It was just after that first blow that I heard the whispering. At first I couldn’t make out actual words, it just filled me with a sense of comfort. But each time I took refuge on my old sofa the words became clearer, words like escape, retribution, accidental.
– Whispers, by Carol R. Ward
When he left the first time he was twenty and angry and he knew it all. It was only an argument, just a little disagreement with his grandmother, stupid really, and he could not for the life of him remember now what it was about. Maybe his music had been too loud, or perhaps he had been caught smoking. His grandmother, tearful, white-lipped and red-eyed, had said he would be back. She had whispered it behind him as he stormed out of the door, his suitcase banging against his legs, bruising him as he tried not to flinch, not to care. It was the last time he heard her voice.
– Locking Up by Lisa Marie Lamb
The door creaked on its hinges as she gently pushed it open. Sunlight washed the dusty room and gave it a breath of fresh air. The living room of the cabin was simple, only containing a table and chairs, fireplace, bookcase, and an old couch. The cream-colored sofa was nothing to look at with ripped seams and faded upholstery, but it was incredibly comfortable and held a lot of memories. Sophie walked over towards the old piece of furniture and sat down, sinking into the cushion and allowing herself to relax for the first time in months.
– French Creek Cabin by Heather Horton
The Old Sofa is on sale for just 99 cents this month at Smashwords! Savor these stories and more – get your copy today!
Like flash fiction? Pick up a copy of all three Rattles anthologies at Smashwords this month. In A Dark Place is on sale for 99 cents, and At the Water’s Edge is free!
