Micro fiction: Title: The Great Tanning

By SA_Sam1971 | samantha_smith | 22 May 2021

The Great Tanning

Thomas had come of age, and today was his reckoning. Focussed, unnerved, expressionless, silenced. His heart reluctant, conflicted, his humanity suppressed, he stepped forward to be tested. He had to prevail.

The whip cracked, recoiled, another notch on The Governing’s belt. Defiance lined Thomas’ body; his mind unwavering, undefeated. The blows were relentless; his eventual release, bittersweet.

For centuries the Great Tanning had sought to identify and eliminate the singular weakness; the presumptive cause of all human failing: emotion. Mistakes of the past must not be repeated, the Governing had argued.

That night, arms cradling his tear-soaked pillow… Thomas flinched.

The above was my submission for Round 1 of the NYC Midnight 100 word micro fiction challenge 2021.

Micro fiction ( remit: genre: sci fi, action: tanning, word: motion (or containing "motion")

http://www.nycmidnight.com/

Photo by Brandon Nickerson from Pexels

Resources

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-red-knit-cap-in-dark-room-395085/

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SA_Sam1971

Mountains are my happy place

samantha_smith

Travelling this journey we call life, striving to enjoy the moments, not sweating the small stuff. The mountains are my happy place; my family and friends, my rocks. My passions drive me and bring me joy: research, books, writing, hiking, vegan lifestyle, health & well being, cooking, philosophy, travel, crypto, blockchain, photography, technological advances, education, music, NFL, last but not least my children :-) Sharing my passions and helping others in the process keeps me humble.