Sheri Yutzy - Speculative Fiction Author

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THE KEY – #flashfictionmagic

November 16, 2021 by Sheri

I woke up this morning with my finger in the shape of a key. The kind with teeth and a notch at the end, except this one was still the same pale flesh as the rest of my hand.
I sat still in bed, my tea growing cold, a euphoric nausea swelling in me.
I’d been warned that I would feel this way. Ignore all feelings and follow your instructions, they’d said.
You see, I’ve always known the key was coming. You may be wondering what sort of person I am, and if you should be reading this story at all. Even if it’s not your sort of story, I ask that you see me to the end.
I live in the top story of a manor with a garden bigger than the sky. At least, I’ve never been to the end of it, and I’ve tried. The garden tumbles and twists around pools and fruit trees and bushes always laden with flowers. I follow a different path every day, but I never reach my goal: the gazebo.
But today, today, I thought I would find it. I wore my gloves (thank Heaven it’s chilly) and began to look at once. Miss Prism frowned in her gopher way—teeth out front—but she didn’t call me back.
I followed the path that first caught my eye, through a drooping orchard, past a tiny brook, and across a small meadow of blooming mums. Beyond them, shadowed by willows, I found it.
The windows were all blocked. I held my breath at the doorstep, too scared to look back in case Miss Prism was rushing my way. The keyhole held dark shadows, a familiar shape. I held up my finger, a sharp knife in the other hand. My final chance: obey my instructions and cut the key finger away (it would vanish, they said, and a stump would remain. A small sacrifice.), or slide the key into the hole and turn.
Unlock the door that had been sealed centuries ago.
I dropped the knife into my pocket with a sharp laugh. I’d always given the right answers, but from the beginning, I’d known what I would do.
My key slid into the shadowy hole, vibrating through my body. The lock clicked and the door burst open, tossing me aside. A cloud of gossamer wings burst forth, cries of joy flooding the air. My smile stretched wider.
I’d brought the fairies back.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to two toddlers who love to eat, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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Find some magic with me!

sheriyutzyauthor

One thing I love about Ohio yards: no matter where One thing I love about Ohio yards: no matter where I go, I can always find a little patch of whimsical greenery somewhere that whispers spring is here. My yard right now is strewn with little branches and dried plants from the flowerbeds and old, brown leaves. But soon the grass will grow tall and we’ll gather the branches and everything will be lush and green again.
Fairy tales always seem like a spring thing. The curses end in spring, the eggs hatch in spring, the weddings happen in spring. But I love to see the magic woven into each season, each so different, preparing the earth for the next phase.

What whimsically green corners have you found this week?

#whimsicalwednesday #sheriyutzy #whimsicalgreen #whimsicalcottage #whimsicalspring #whimsicalgarden #yafantasyauthor #hanschristianandersen #bestlovedfairytales #fairytales #springfairytale #magicalspring #magicalcottage #booksoutside #slowliving #changingseasons #marchgreens
🌿✨🌿 Enough words in the world Enough bulbs 🌿✨🌿
Enough words in the world
Enough bulbs budding 
And stretching their hearty arms
Like solid poems, fragrant poems
The world outside is living poetry.
🌿✨🌿

#twentywordtuesday #poetsofinstagram #springpoetry #ednastvincentmillay #springinthegarden #poetryoutside #moodycottage #sheriyutzy #shortpoems
Mondays do odd things for me as an introvert. (By Mondays do odd things for me as an introvert. (By introvert I mean I need solitude to recharge.) 
🌿🌿🌿
Here’s what I mean. By the end of every week I’m ready to see my people, engage in my church community. And by the end of Sunday? I’m ready to be alone again. My kids usually are too, so they spend Monday playing pretend together and I lurk around catching up on housework, reading a book, and gazing out the window, enjoying my own inner silence. (It’s not super silent outside of me, but that’s okay.)
Monday is just lovely, because I’m filled up and rich with community, and I have a whole day to be home and ponder that fullness.
Yes, sometimes I want to be with adults after hearing children chatter all day, but most of the time their conversation is refreshing.

How do you find Mondays? Do you like to get started on the week, or would you like to stay in the weekend?
The wisteria is budding, and will soon be spreadin The wisteria is budding, and will soon be spreading its sunshine across the yard. Our bush was here when we moved and I’ve been so grateful for it. It blooms so early, the brightest thing around.
This weekend was a bit crazy. I did some new things, like make meatballs for a crowd, and juggle three Airbnb guests’ requests at once, and change a car key battery while away from home (thank God for the extra battery in the glove box) but here I am at Sunday afternoon, my time to take a look at the week before, and everything worked out.
I know it doesn’t always, but for today, I am grateful.

What made you grateful this weekend?

#wisteria #buddingwisteria #sheriyutzy #gratefulsunday #kingdomofashandbriars #hannahwest #yafantasyauthor #booksoutside #slowliving #gratefulliving #moodycottage #cottagegarden #intentionalliving #gratefulthoughts #springtimeblooms #timeforspring
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