Flash Fiction – Filling the Void

This was my second attempt at flash fiction, I think EVER! I’ve never really tried it before and I’m really enjoying it whilst I have a break from writing/editing my novel. This story is about domestic abuse, and I hope you can feel immersed in the scene because I wrote it to make the reader uncomfortable. Let me know what you think…

Filling the Void

It was my fault really. If only I’d kept my mouth shut. The kettle was on when it happened. The scream of the hot water boiling matched my scream.

I could smell the lasagne I’d made an hour before – it was starting to burn, its edges singed by the heat. I saw the corners curl and shrink as my face hit the door and I slid down the glass to the ground. I stayed there as the linoleum cooled my scorched cheek. I could hear the kettle soothing itself as he poured a single cup of tea. He stepped over me for the milk, catching my little finger with his steel toe capped boot. I didn’t dare flinch. He’d like that.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say. My voice is tiny, less than a whisper.

He shakes his head at me, his nose scrunched up. I feel like the bag of spinach long forgotten at the back of the fridge. Putrid and vile.

I push myself up to sitting but he’s already gone.

Once I’m on my feet I turn the oven off and remove the lasagne. I cut into the centre of it, deep down through the layers, and scoop the middle portion out onto a plate. The crisp black edges look dejected.

I fork chunks of the creamy tomato pasta strata into my mouth, filling the void. Maybe now I’ll think twice before I speak.