Fiction | Drabble | Short Story | Lucid Dream | Mixed Prompt

The Rude Awakening

Angry birds rip into her dream.

Today’s opening sentence prompt is *If that damned bird would just shut up* and includes the random word, *married.*

The author created this AI image with Midjourney. S.I. James owns copyright and provenance, per Midjourney ToS.

“If that damned bird would just shut up!” Maddy mumbled.

But a persistent, shrill chirping was ruining the tranquility.

Her eyebrows knotted, and she concentrated on deliberately drifting back to her lucid dream.

She was chatting with an old friend she hadn’t seen in years. Blue eyes. They were laughing at some inside jokes from high school. “Are you married?”

His question interrupted the good times just as…TWEET TWEET!

Maddy’s eyes fluttered open.

With an angry exhale, she slapped the snooze button on her bird-shaped alarm clock.

Rolling onto her back, she glanced at the unruffled space beside her.

© Scarlet Ibis James, 2024: All Rights Reserved.

This 100-word story, a drabble, was written in response to Nancy Oglesby’s challenge. Thank you!