Loveday Writing

The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—May 2018 short story competition was as follows:

• The story had to begin with the words “A long time ago”
• The story had to include the words “star”, “war” and “force” (or a plural of those words).
• The story had to feature something that flies.

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One day in an Alternate Universe

A long time ago, I found my way into an alternate universe.

I was sitting on my back deck with a glass of wine, looking at the stars when one of them fell into my hand. The star grew hot in my hand and brighter, blinding me. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a town that was in the crossfire of a war. I found a news stand and bought a newspaper, the date was an impossible one, February 30.

As I heard the shots, bombings and planes in the grey sky, I ran to find somewhere safe. I didn’t know what I was doing there, how I got there exactly, but I needed to get out.

While I was there, I put my medical skills as a doctor to work, assisting the townspeople injured in the crossfire, even saving a few lives. Everyone thanked me, but never told me the name of the town and why there was this war.

When night fell, I looked up to see if the stars had shown up. Despite the gunpowder, explosives and planes in the sky, I managed to see a few stars. Another star fell into my hand, this time with great force and blinded me again. Next thing I knew, I was back on my deck, my glass of wine waiting for me.

One impossible day in a world where its existence is impossible went by in a few minutes and gave me perspective. After two months of much needed mental health leave, I was ready to go back to work, and I did, eventually becoming Chief of Medicine at my local hospital, like I always wanted.