Title: Bad Coffee
Word Count: 255
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "a good cup of coffee."

( Was it really too much to expect a good cup of coffee these days? )

Title: When Dreams Become...
Word Count: 243
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "when dreams become."

( When dreams become reality, it can be a funny thing. )

Title: The Deadline Approached
Word Count: 95
Note: In response to the prompt_a_day prompt, "the deadline approached."

The deadline approached and, yet, she couldn't bring herself to work on the project. One could have simply said she was unmotivated, but it was so much more than that.

It was a dissatisfaction with where her life was, disillusionment with what kind of work she did, and listlessness prompted by the humid and languid summer heat. It wasn't just hard to get work done right now, in her current state of mind; it was nearly impossible.

And so, the papers stacked as her mind ran farther and farther away from the tasks at hand.

Title: Living Someone Else's Life
Word Count: 330
Note: Written for all_unwritten prompt, "living someone else's life."

( It happened slowly, unexpectedly. )

Title: He Lied
Word Count: 121
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "he lied."

( The young woman sat there... )

Title: Forever is an Awfully Long Time
Word Count: 96
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "Forever is an awfully long time."

After watching the movie, one lone quote from the film stuck in Jeanne's mind:

"For-ev-er, for-ev-er, for-ev-er..."

It rang in her mind like a bad memory for the week thereafter, like a skipping CD or a stuck video. She'd find herself mouthing the words during especially powerful bouts of contemplation, like when she did her math homework, or when she was completing perfectly mindless tasks, like putting away the dishes. It was annoying really.

So, it was with much deliberation one day that she realized, out loud no less, that "Forever is an awfully long time."

Title: Nightmare Scenario
Word Count: 314
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "a pen with no ink." I just finished working with a local TV personality who repeatedly causes nightmares for me whenever I have to work with him...

( I need a pen! )

Title: Waiting
Word Count: 129
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "This time there was nothing to do but wait."

( She was never good at waiting... )

Title: Not Enough Time
Word Count: 179
Note: Written for a photo prompt at prompt_a_day.



( She noticed it at the train station... )

Title: The Crowd Was Dead
Word Count: 143
Note: Written for the prompt_a_day prompt, "the crowd was dead."

( She stood there, stock-still under the glare of the stage lights. )

Title: Candy Hearts
Word Count: 157
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "candy hearts." I think a little of my own cynicism about the heavily commercialized holiday snuck into my response to this prompt. Here's to eating "the good stuff"!

( Jeanette rolled her eyes at the stack of flimsy paper cards collecting on her desk. )

Title: Revolution
Word Count: 120
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "revolution."

( While other kids loved going on the carousel... )

Title: Stress
Word Count: 244
Note: This was written for an unusual prompt at all_unwritten: Alright for today's prompt let's try something a little different and do an exercise. Take an emotion, any emotion (ex: anger, sadness, happiness, lust, jealousy), and turn it into a fictional character. I'm having a stressful day, so this original fic came easily!

( First, there was the all-hands-on-deck meeting that morning. )