Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Collector

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.) 

Today’s prompt – The Collector

You inherit your uncle’s apartment and discover the walls are completely covered with photographs. Not hung or framed, but taped, pinned, and glued in overlapping layers that go back decades. Each photo shows a different person, none of whom you recognize.

On the kitchen table is a single notebook. The entries are cryptic:

March 14th – Found her at the café. Third time this month.

July 2nd – He didn’t notice. Good.

November 9th – They smiled at each other today. Almost ruined everything.

The dates span fifteen years. The handwriting changes subtly over time; becoming shakier, then more controlled, then frantic again.

Your uncle was a quiet man. He worked alone. He had no close friends that you knew of. But these photographs suggest an entire hidden life. It was one consumed by watching other people.

As you begin taking down the photos, you find something behind them: a mirror, untouched for so long it’s clouded with dust. And taped to its surface is a single note in your uncle’s handwriting:

“The only person I ever needed to watch was already watching me back.”

As usual, have fun.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.