When the Party’s Over by Dettra Rose

When the Party’s Over

Dettra Rose

You say you love me.
It was my birthday.
You forgot.
Invited you to my animal print party.
You didn’t come. Didn’t text.
We met at a masquerade ball; you gave me kisses and your mask.
Took a while, but I unpicked the gauze and sequins. Stitch by stitch.
Don’t show up now in your new costume.
Touching me. Following me.
Brandishing a limp flower under the darkening sun.
I won’t laugh this time.
Your superhero clothes and funny sky-high ears won’t beguile me.
Nor buffed, gushy words.
Go find a monster party.
There’s nothing real here. It’s all pretend.
***

About the author: Dettra Rose writes flash fiction, non-fiction articles, poetry and shopping lists. She wrote her first flash in 2018 and has become addicted. Dettra’s pieces have won and been shortlisted/longlisted in the Bath Flash Fiction Award, Reflex Fiction, The Fish Prize, TSS Publishing, Retreat West and the Australian Writers’ Centre. Currently, Dettra’s precious writing time swings between finishing her novel and flash fiction. A born and bred Londoner Dettra now lives in Australia; she calls both places home. Say hello at Dettrarose.com Twitter – @dettrarose Facebook – @dettrarose

 

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Falling In. Falling Out. by Dettra Rose

Falling In. Falling Out.

Dettra Rose

 

If I stay, will it change?

That question’s doing wheelies in my brain.

Tonight, every night, his snore keeps rhythm with our old dogs.

We don’t touch much anymore. Don’t reach out to each other in the long liquorice nights.

When we talk about it, words get stuck down my throat. His too, I hear them, then he puts the telly on.

If I leave, I’ll miss him. It’s not about love.

It’s morning. The kettle’s on. He pops bread in the toaster. He’ll spread one with marmite and one with jam.

What would it feel like to forget that?

 

About the author: Dettra Rose writes flash fiction, non-fiction articles, poetry and shopping lists. She wrote her first flash in 2018 and has become addicted. Dettra’s pieces have won and been shortlisted/longlisted in a number of international competitions, including the Bath Flash Fiction Award, Reflex, The Fish Prize, TSS publishing and the Australian Writers’ Centre. Currently, Dettra’s precious writing time swings between finishing her novel and flash fiction. A born and bred Londoner Dettra now lives in Australia; she calls both places home. Say hello at Dettrarose.com Facebook – @dettrarose Twitter – @dettrarose