September Stars

Thoughts nobody asked for, flash fiction, poetry, and micro news.

September stars wrap themselves in the veil of mist, the brides of autumn trembling in anticipation every night.

They shine until they fall. Countless dots of light, their heartbeat pulsing lightyears away from each other, separated by space and time.

I don’t wish upon falling stars anymore. How can the fallen ones grant wishes? I rather pray to the source of their light. The one who lit the first stars knows my every wish before I whisper it in the depths of my mind.

September stars cry cold tears of dew at dawn. Morning finds me unprepared to open my eyes, to wear that everyday-smile, that tired old rag I wrap my scared soul into.

Every day we build ourselves anew. Those around us will never know how many prayers, pills, courageous steps, or coffees it took for us to get up and live. And pretend to be normal and happy.

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Now a bit of flash fiction and poetry.

Vampire fun

“Scared?!” Pauley hissed baring his gruesome vampire fangs for the security guy to see.

The man laughed his socks off.

“Nice try bud, save it for Halloween, you’ll get whollota candy!” The guy kept laughing, until he got wacked over the head from behind.

“Shit!” Miro cursed, dropping the candlestick on the floor. “Why does everything in this place have to be silver-plated?!”

“I told you to wear gloves!” Pauley shrugged, stepping over the knocked-out guard.

“I told you, nobody believes in vampires anymore, Paul!” Miro grinned at Pauley. “Next time you try it in public, I’m making a video. It’d go viral, as they say nowadays!”

“Says a four-hundred-year-old vampire who still burns his hands touching silver. Dumbass, as they say nowadays!” Pauley retorted and they hurried down the hallway laughing.

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Umbrella

When the music submitted to the choking embrace of silence, she stood alone. The party was over forever. Mascara painted her eyes black, lipstick smudged from her lips to her chin. The attempt to fill in the blank form of her soul had failed. Another night looking for love in all the wrong places left her empty-handed, lost, and tired to death.  She stepped into the pale dawn, painting her silhouette in grey. Why couldn’t the night last forever? The broken queen of the night stood on the street near the closed nightclub. The rain washed away her crown along with the remains of her mascara. She crouched crying, only to discover a dark shelter of an umbrella covering her. She looked up. She had seen this face before.

“I’m not a stalker. I’ve noticed you in the club. You’re hanging around with all the wrong guys.”

“Oh yeah? How can you tell?”

“Cause, I’m the right guy.”

She gave into his shameless smile and went along to find shelter under his umbrella, in the warmth of his deep, brown eyes and the kindness of his words, shared over a very early morning coffee.

---

***

Stars pouring into September night.

Gone is the memory of light.

The autumn sun

Brought no warmth. A pale smile,

Brief hours separating dawn

From the night. A form of denial,

The bright morning fades,

A bride walks down that aisle

To find his love was a lie.

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A bit of information. As usual, I’ve received a couple of rejections this week. I’m getting used to it. Rejections are better than no answer at all.

About my publishing schedule this week:

• On Monday, September 23, I’m sharing part 3 of my short story Life.Guard. This story broke me. In a good way. And also in a painful way. I haven’t felt a writing-hangover so heavy in a long while.

• On Friday, September 27, I’m sharing the next flash fiction chapter from my Sci-fi story The Gravediggers of Orpheus.

• On Saturday, September 28, the next chapter of my dark fantasy The Last Daughter of Dragons goes live! I’ve missed writing fantasy!

• I might share a non-fiction piece/rant over the week.

• On Sundays I usually post some thoughts and short pieces, as a Thank You to the lovely people who read and subscribe to my Substack. Thank you so much!

Love,

Kathrine 🩶