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ON A TRAIN – #flashfictionmagic

December 9, 2022 by Sheri

ON A TRAIN - #flashfictionmagic
ON A TRAIN – #flashfictionmagic

ON A TRAIN – #flashfictionmagic

🚂🚂 🚂
CHOOO!
The deep throated train whistle split the air and Marta clenched her teeth to keep from muttering a dark word.
“Bein’ cursed doesn’t need to keep you from keeping your manners.” She could hear Grandmam’s voice as if she stood by Marta’s shoulder.
But as the air warped for the fiftieth time and she reappeared back at the steps of the train, Marta remembered again that Grandmam was dead.
Marta stumbled out into the train station, weary to her bones. Ten seconds. Ten seconds was all she had until the whistle blew again and the curse put on her by an incensed witch zapped her back to the train’s entrance.
A year passed each time, she’d discovered.
CHOOO!
Back to the entrance. There was no point in running. She could never make it out of earshot in time. Plugging her ears didn’t help. Asking a stranger to knock her unconscious was useless. (One angry businesswoman had been about to try but the whistle blew before she could) As long as she could hear the whistle, she was trapped here forever.
“Excuse me.” A freckled lad with glorious chestnut hair stood looking at her. “Do you—“
CHOOO!
The zapping was in the background now. Instead of pondering escape, Marta started watching the people. Their clothing had gotten ridiculous. Half of them stared at shiny hand-sized packages, barely noticing the people around them. Had any of them returned exactly a year later? Would they ever remember her, a girl out of time?
“It’s you?” The voice was familiar.
She spun. The boy with the chestnut hair. His face was more angular, his shoulders wide.
“I—“
CHOOO!
Marta’s throat ached as she leapt to the platform. He stood staring at her, a white band around his neck.
“What takes you away?” he asked quickly.
“The whistle.” Her voice was breathless. His eyes were the clearest green—
CHOOO!
As she landed on the station floor, he was there, placing the white band over her head, covering her ears. He pressed a button and the world went silent.
The ground vibrated with the departing train and she finally let herself smile back at him.
🚂🚂🚂
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#flashfiction #freestory #fantasyflashfiction #sheriyutzy #yafantasyauthor

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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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I feel like I stumbled into this month and everyon I feel like I stumbled into this month and everyone else has a plan.😏 But that’s okay. The past few weeks have been marked by 3 hour editing sessions and 30 minute power cleans and intense conversations with friends. A lot of things happening, and they’re happening without my being all organized, so I’m grateful for that.
But while I love the progress and growth I’m seeing in myself and my book, I do need to stop and breathe.
Tea, poetry, strolling around the garden to find all the green buds coming up—these things help me breathe.
☕️☕️☕️🌿🌿🌿
What helps you breathe? Do you need to do it today?

#teaandpoetry #teaandpoets #wbyeats #whiteteacup #yafantasyauthor #sheriyutzy #slowliving #intentionalliving
This sweetie is turning five in a few days. I love This sweetie is turning five in a few days. I love being her mom so much. Our friendship keeps growing as we make more memories and learn to understand each other. Sometimes she says the most insightful things. I love having her in my life.♥️
A little bit of coming spring in great-grandma’s A little bit of coming spring in great-grandma’s pitcher.
A little pink and green promise of golden age to come.
🪴🪴🪴

#twentywordtuesday 
#poetsofinstagram #flowerpoetry #sheriyutzy

#slowliving #quietlife #antiquecreamer #cottageflowers
I never seem to find enough time to do what I want I never seem to find enough time to do what I want to do.
Sound familiar?
This month I’ve learned a few things about pursuing quiet.
For me, quiet feels slow.
I think I can still pursue it even while having bursts of activity, but in between the bursts, I have to slow.
That slowness can breed frustration, which isn’t quiet at all.
It’s not really about making time for it, more about letting time go. Let it pass, without making it perform.
I love it even though it makes me uncomfortable to begin.
I had a little extra writing time last week and in this picture I’m attempting to find quiet in the midst of it. Journaling helps me focus my thoughts on quiet things.

How do you find quiet in your daily life?

#sheriyutzy #livingquietly #quietliving #sojourncafe #yafantasyauthor #intentionalliving #writinglifestyle #amwritingyafantasy #writingcommunity #journalingcommunity #slowliving #cottagelife
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