Last updated on May 31, 2024
I submitted this to an anthology, but it wasn’t chosen. But that just means you all get a bonus flash fic!
Sunrise
“The sun rises every day, you know.”
There were soft rustling noises behind me as Grant walked over dried leaves and climbed up on the lakeside boulder next to me. Warm arms wrapped around me, pulling me back into a solid chest. I leaned into him, letting his presence make me feel more real.
“I know.”
“Then why have you, my lovely night owl of a man, been on this rock every dawn this week watching the sun rise like you think it’s a myth?”
“I had a dream.”
He went still, then leaned forward and kissed my hair. “A true dream?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I think so, but…” It had been so clear, crystalized in my memory when I woke up, but it didn’t have the same weight to it that the prophetic dreams usually had. And it had made no sense.
“Every time you say that it turns out to be prophecy, but symbolic instead of a clear message. Did you know that?”
I hadn’t realized. “Do I say it a lot?”
“Every few years or so.” He rubbed his cheek over my hair and held me tighter. “What did you dream, love?”
“It was dawn, the morning after a full moon,” I said quietly. “But when the sun should have risen and lightened the sky it got darker instead. Greys instead of oranges. And instead of the sun there was this huge black ball in the sky and then everything was dark.”
“You dreamed on the new moon.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, love, you should have told me.”
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“Fair. But whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. We should tell everyone, shore up the defenses.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No sorries.” He held me as we watched the sky turn orange.