Flash Fiction
She lay awake. Flickers of bright ideas in the dark hours; hot enough to melt the rest of her thoughts, as candle wax, out the ears. She was restlessly focused – vocally restless, she sat bolt upright with an uninvited gasp.
“Crucial to finding the way is this – there is no beginning or end!”
The words fell from her tongue, as gold bullion in her lap. Sheets lifting airborne, as ghostly whispers in the opaque room, frozen in the moons glare, as she slipped on tip toes to the cranky floorboards, which marked her arrival with a groan.
Unpinning her paper map, with all the continents of the world, she tore it in two, clinically, down the middle. Rearranging their order, she placed the two halves side by side.
“My word! There’s no East and West, and we aren’t the centre of the universe!”
Afterword
The divisions which define us, are only as powerful as you let them become. We made them; harboured and grew them, becoming embedded in our culture and history. Identity defines us, but, it doesn’t have to.
There’s no geographical East or West, and, once we look passed the boundaries that we have created – once we invert the map, open our minds, and abandon our tribal mindset, we can see the only thing which divides us, is us. Theres two halves of the brain, which work in synchronicity, for the healthy function of the body.
© Darius the Mate
Written for dVerse: Prosery.
Today, we use a line from Joy Harjo’s poem “A Map to the Next World”; “Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.”, to create a piece of prose 144 words in length, or fewer.
What is life without community? I would love to connect with other nicecissists out there. Reach out, let me know what you think in the comments, and of course, give me a follow for more – nice!
Wordplay Pathway
nicecissist 
How can anyone believe that there is any center on the surface of a sphere?
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Indeed!
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So true–all artificial constructions. We are so divided by these ridiculous things–like race. Thanks for your take on the prompt!
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Thank you Merril
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You’re welcome, Darius.
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“The words fell from her tongue, as gold bullion in her lap.” Love this right after the quote prompt. She gets it! Lovely message with the map at the end and the idea that divisions don’t have to exist. They are all manmade!
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Thank you Tricia 🙂 I’m warmed it resonated.
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Amazing flash fiction …. I enjoyed every word … my favorites ‘ clinically, down the middle … rearranging their order.’ Cheers!
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Thank you Helen 🥰
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We make the maps, we draw the boundaries, we cause the divisions. You are so right! And I love this clause ‘She was restlessly focused – vocally restless,’ wish I’d come up with that one 🙂
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Hehe, thanks mate 😋
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Ooooh. I love the end – the rearranging of the map. A very cool concept! And some great images!!
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Thank you worms
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Excellent!
-David
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Thank you David 🤩
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