Tag Archives: Laura Besley

LAURA BESLEY: Tomorrow

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

when the sky has been ripped apart by invisible hands, people will hide under beds, tables, each other.

But now, as dust shimmers down, commuters and shoppers and parents clutching children’s hands imagine it’s merely a smattering of spring rain. They open umbrellas in reds, yellows, and purples. Even cerulean.

Laura Besley (she/her) writes short and very short fiction and enjoys exploring big topics in small spaces. She has published four collections, most recently: Sum of her PARTS (V. Press). She is currently a Creative Writing PhD student at the University of Leicester, an editor with Flash Fiction Magazine and runs The NIFTY Book Club. Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea.

LAURA BESLEY: A season for healing

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

When you tell me you no longer love me, the late autumn sky is rose petal-red, and by winter solstice, you’re gone.

I retreat, wake only to eat. Hide away. Hibernate.

Spring trumpets its arrival, the days long and light like daffodils. I awake, I emerge, ready to live again.

Laura Besley is the author of (Un)Natural Elements, 100neHundred, and The Almost Mothers. She has been widely published in online journals, print journals and anthologies. Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley

LAURA BESLEY: More Than Sleep

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

Dan scans three packs of paracetamol and the self-service check-out flashes red. He knows he’s over the legal limit, but he needs some sleep.

A uniformed girl whips away a pack, presses buttons, then rushes off.

Dan realises what he actually needs is someone to ask him if he’s okay.

Laura Besley is the author of (Un)Natural Elements, 100neHundred, and The Almost Mothers. She is also an editor for Flash Fiction Magazine. Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: One More Minute

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

Moira glances at the clock—it’s 11:59.

“Let’s meet at noon,” the letter said. Eighteen years she waited for that invitation.

She scans every face, searching for traces of her own.

Her legs begin to ache, her back stiffens.

Until she moves, there’s still time for her daughter to arrive.

Laura Besley is the author of (Un)Natural Elements, 100neHundred, and The Almost Mothers. She is also an editor for Flash Fiction Magazine. Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Vernacular

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , ,

Minutes after arriving in a new place, my wife’s words start to warp, so much so that within the hour her accent sounds native.

Tonight, her dinner clingfilm-cold on the kitchen counter, she returns. I hear her reciting tongue twisters in the hallway, pretending she has not already left me.

Laura Besley is the author of micro fiction collection, (Un)Natural Elements (Beir Bua Press, 2021), 100neHundred (Arachne Press, 2021), and flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers (Dahlia Books, 2020). Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany, and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Quality Time

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“This is nice,” Sarah says, about the restaurant decor.

Gary’s phone rings. She orders.

They both eat one-handed: Gary’s other hand clasped round his phone, hers holding a book.

In the car, driving home, Gary says, “That was nice.”

Sarah pulls a loose thread on her scarf, watches it unravel.

Laura Besley is the author of micro fiction collection, (Un)Natural Elements (Beir Bua Press, 2021), 100neHundred (Arachne Press, 2021), and flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers (Dahlia Books, 2020). Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany, and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Life Through a Lens

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“Get out more,” his therapist said, so he goes to the local museum, takes snapshots of every piece of artwork. Oil on canvas. Click. Lithograph. Click. Woodcut. Click.

At home, he transfers them onto his hard drive, names the file: Museum Visit, November 2021.

Never looks at the pictures again.

Laura Besley is the author of micro fiction collection, (Un)Natural Elements (Beir Bua Press, 2021), 100neHundred (Arachne Press, 2021), and flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers (Dahlia Books, 2020). Having lived in the Netherlands, Germany, and Hong Kong, she now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Beats of Life

Artistic, Submissions, ,

To the beat of pre-dawn drums, we girls pretty ourselves, then form a circle, united yet apart.

The order in which the boys may choose is long-decided. They assess, appraise, make their final decisions.

Drums stop, silence echoes.

The first boy steps forward, chooses me.

My family will be happy.

Laura Besley writes short fiction and squeezes her writing into the bookends of her day. She has lived in Holland, Germany, and Hong Kong, but now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. Her flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers, was published in March 2020. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Pathways Underfoot Open Floodgates

Submissions, Touching, , ,

“Every evening after dinner we’ll do some exercise,” Richard says. “What do you like?”

Graham shrugs. “Nothing.”

Richard knows this is Graham’s fifth foster home in as many months. “Let’s start with jogging.”

It takes months, but stamina builds; endorphins are released, words too, and Richard never leaves Graham’s side.

Laura Besley writes short fiction and squeezes her writing into the bookends of her day. She has lived in Holland, Germany, and Hong Kong, but now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. Her flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers, was published in March 2020. She tweets at @laurabesley.

LAURA BESLEY: Separate(d)

Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

“June?”

I turn at the sound of her voice. Same height as me, same build, her face a reflection of my own.

We try to compress fifty years of missed hugs into that first one.

“Look,” she says. “Same coat.”

We laugh, twin snorts escaping at exactly the same time.

Laura Besley writes short fiction and squeezes her writing into the bookends of her day. She has lived in Holland, Germany, and Hong Kong, but now lives in land-locked central England and misses the sea. Her flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers, was published in March 2020. She tweets at @laurabesley.