He Didn’t Have a Silver Spoon

Summary

A woman with a detached shadow unexpectedly enters a man's apartment through the bathroom window, leading to a surreal and terrifying encounter.

Abstract

In a brief flash fiction piece, a man's routine night is disrupted when a mysterious woman with a sentient shadow climbs through his bathroom window. Initially frightened by the shadow pursuing her, the woman reveals that it is hers and won't cause harm. Despite her assurances, the situation escalates as the woman's demeanor becomes increasingly menacing, culminating in a horrifying conclusion for the man. The story blends elements of suspense and horror, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and questions about the true nature of the woman and her shadow.

Opinions

The author effectively uses the element of surprise to engage the reader from the outset.
The protagonist's initial fear and confusion convey a sense of vulnerability and helplessness.
The woman's nonchalant attitude towards the bizarre situation suggests a deeper, possibly supernatural, backstory.
The shadow's autonomy and the woman's desire to be rid of it hint at a complex relationship between the two.
The story's disclaimer emphasizes its fictional nature, inviting the reader to suspend disbelief and enjoy the fantastical elements.
The inclusion of a referral link to join Medium suggests that the author values reader engagement and wants to encourage a broader audience to explore more of their work.

10 Minute Flash Fiction

She came in through the bathroom window. It kind of freaked me out. I was standing at the sink, brushing my teeth minding my own business. Suddenly, there she was. Long red hair, a black dress, long black nails, and some scratches on her arms.

“Can I help you?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, heh. I’m sorry, I was just trying to get away from that shadow over there.”

I spat out my toothpaste. “Shadow?” I looked out the window to where she was pointing. A solid shadow, a little shapeless but definitely human-shaped, with apparently no one attached to it, was ambling up the fire escape.

“Oh God, what is that thing?” I screamed, shutting the window. Crap, I’d forgotten it was open because the window sash was broken. My super had kept putting off fixing it. “Get away from the window, hide! Call 9-1-1!”

“I don’t think 9-1-1 is going to help.” She laughed. Why was she laughing?

“What? What is it then?” I yelled at her. “How do you know it won’t help?”

“Because it’s my shadow, and it definitely won’t hurt you.”

“What?! Then why are you running away from it?” I held my head trying to get myself together, trying not to panic.

“I just don’t want it anymore. It gives me away. Makes it hard to hide and… sneak around.”

“Why would you want to do that?”

The girl’s eyes suddenly started to darken as thick drool leaked uncontrolled from the corners of her mouth. Her grin, which had never left her face from the time she came in through the window, grew more sinister, and a low growl was audible from her throat.

I gasped but couldn’t even scream one last scream before my world went black.

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. The characters and events in this story are entirely fictional, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

He Didn’t Have a Silver Spoon

10 Minute Flash Fiction

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