Round 1.1 prompt from Multigenre Mashup Flash Fiction Smackdown, July 2023: Write a story inspired by the images below. Genre: Military Fiction with Romance.
[Author's Note: Military Fiction is typically written from a soldier's point of view, but with no military experience, I felt unqualified to write in the genre. So, I wrote this story from a non-soldier character's perspective.]
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Story word count = 1375
For months, war rumbled like distant thunder, close enough to be unnerving, but never quite reaching our beautiful little town. Still, many fled, but this was my lifelong home and I was stubborn, so I stayed.
The invaders had swept into our little country like an infestation, leaving death and desolation in their wake. Why? I did not know. When other nations came to our defense, we became the epicenter of a global geopolitical conflict, but all that had little meaning for me.
The threat of war emboldened me to approach Ana, the friendly widow who managed the town's library. With shoulder-length silver hair never colored, laugh-lines unconcealed, placid amber eyes, and a cheerful, welcoming manner — everything about her was refreshingly genuine. She always lifted my spirit. Like her, I lost my long-time spouse years ago.
"Are you asking me on a date?" she replied to my fumbling request, loud enough for others to overhear.
"Well, umm..." I stammered as my cheeks reddened. "Yes. May I fix you dinner? I make a wonderful moussaka."
