Fiction, Short Stories

Take a Deep Breath

ryanhougardy / February 15, 2021
This post is part of Writer’s Digest February Flash Fiction Challenge.  Flash Fiction is a short, often under 1,000 words, style of writing.  I hope you enjoy my 28 contributions!
Day 15 Prompt: A Character That Needs to Take a Deep Breath

I got up at 6:13, two minutes before my alarm, like I somehow always managed to do. I sat up in bed, allowing my eyes to adjust for a couple seconds before telling my Alexa to cancel the alarm set to go off anytime now. I grabbed my phone and slowly dragged myself into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Toothbrush in one hand, I used my free hand to check any overnight emails – all spam – then navigate to the Writer’s Digest website. I read the new prompt: write about someone who needs to take a breath. I let my mind wander, the secret to my creative process, and start to formulate a story in my head. Except nothing is materializing.

I head out to the living room and plop on the couch, reading a couple chapters of Robert Galbraith’s Lethal White, finding myself revisiting paragraphs repeatedly while I struggle to spark the outline of a story. Somehow, my writer’s block translates into my inability to get comfortable, my arms and legs anxious and unsettled. I abandon the book and reread the prompt.

After an hour of virtually no inkling of a tale, I move into the kitchen and make large cup of coffee. Surely caffeine will induce some inspiration. I take a sip. Two sips. Three. The coffee is hot and strong, but my mind is empty. I start to forcefully map out ideas while I stare out the living room window at the accumulating snow. Snow. Winter. White. Ice. There has got to be something in those words. Take an icy breath? Snow shovelers taking deep breaths as they stare at their daunting task of clearing the sidewalks?

A few minutes later, my boyfriend emerges from the bathroom, steam still wafting off his skin from his shower. He notices me pacing. He can see my mind spinning. “Working on today’s story?”

I keep staring at my reflection in the blank television screen. “Trying…” I take another desperate sip of coffee, willing its chemicals to ignite some semblance of creativity.

While he shuffles through the closet, I hear his disembodied voice, “What’s the prompt today?”

I tell him. Then, exacerbated, I blurt out that I’ve been stuck for over an hour, verbally dispensing all my awful ideas.

He emerges from the closet and looks directly at me. Casually, and with the most flippantly genius tone, he says, “I can think of someone who needs to take a breath right now…”

Tagged ,

Related Posts

Ravenswood

October 20, 2021

Gravity Hill

March 30, 2021

“Can I See You in My Office?”

March 1, 2021

About ryanhougardy

View all posts by ryanhougardy →

71 thoughts on “Take a Deep Breath”

  1. I am also commenting to make you understand what a magnificent experience my girl enjoyed reading through your
    site. She came to understand many pieces, not to mention how it is like
    to have an ideal giving mindset to make other folks really easily have
    an understanding of certain advanced matters.
    You undoubtedly surpassed my desires. I appreciate
    you for supplying the helpful, healthy, revealing and easy guidance on that topic to Emily.

    My web page: Gentille Derma

  2. Having read this I believed it was extremely informative.
    I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this short article together.
    I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading
    and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!

    Stop by my blog post – marchegabonais.com

  6. Good day! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate!
    He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him.
    Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

    Here is my web-site – Leafy Living CBD Oil

  7. Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your
    website, how could i subscribe for a blog web
    site? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered brilliant transparent
    concept

    my web blog Coastal Hemp CBD

  8. My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find almost all
    of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Do you offer guest
    writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating
    on a lot of the subjects you write concerning here. Again,
    awesome website!

    Have a look at my site – Renown CBD Oil

  11. First off I want to say great blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to
    ask if you don’t mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head
    before writing. I’ve had trouble clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
    I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to
    15 minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
    Appreciate it!

    Look into my web-site; Apple Cider Vinegar Keto Review

  14. We are a group of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our
    community. Your website provided us with useful information to work
    on. You’ve performed a formidable activity and our entire neighborhood will likely
    be thankful to you.

    Feel free to surf to my site … Blosum CBD

  17. Thanks, I have just been looking for info approximately this topic for a long time and yours is the best I’ve
    came upon till now. But, what concerning the bottom line?
    Are you positive concerning the source?

    Here is my web-site: Declan

  18. I absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
    Do you offer guest writers to write content in your case?
    I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write with regards to here.
    Again, awesome weblog!

    Visit my homepage – http://www.koan.at

  19. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor
    were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a
    book from our area library but I think I learned more from
    this post. I’m very glad to see such excellent information being shared freely out there.

    Also visit my homepage … Botanical Farms CBD

  21. Great beat ! I would like to apprentice whilst you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a weblog site?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I have been a little bit familiar
    of this your broadcast provided vibrant transparent concept.

    Look into my website: Leonie

  27. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?

    Also visit my blog post – Yec Keto

  28. A lot of thanks for your whole hard work on this site. Ellie takes pleasure in carrying out research and it is simple to grasp why.
    A lot of people hear all regarding the dynamic medium you produce important
    tricks by means of your web blog and recommend response from the others on the topic
    and our favorite simple princess is now studying a lot of things.
    Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You’re carrying out a useful
    job.

    Feel free to surf to my blog Dorris

  29. I was just seeking this info for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site.
    I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank
    this type of informative websites in top of the list.
    Normally the top sites are full of garbage.

    Feel free to surf to my web blog :: Cruz

  30. Superb post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic?
    I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit
    further. Kudos!

    Stop by my blog post: Romeo

  31. Great ? I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website.
    I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related
    info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least.
    Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web
    site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate.

    Nice task.

    My web page … Christena

  35. I precisely needed to appreciate you again. I am not sure what I might have taken care of in the
    absence of the entire methods revealed by you on this subject.

    Entirely was a real horrifying concern for me, but spending
    time with the specialized style you handled it made me to cry over gladness.
    Now i am happier for this assistance and then wish you find out what a great job diets that work you are
    carrying out training people today using your web site.
    I am sure you haven’t come across all of us.

  40. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this,
    like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some
    pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that,
    this is great blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.

    Feel free to surf to my web-site: getting treatment

  41. Wonderful article! That is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the web.
    Disgrace on the search engines for no longer positioning this put up higher!
    Come on over and talk over with my website . Thank you =)

    Feel free to visit my website: low libido cures

  45. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog.
    I really hope to view the same high-grade content by you in the future as well.
    In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get
    my very own site now 😉

    Also visit my blog; marijuana seeds

  47. I blog frequently and I really thank you for your
    information. Your article has really peaked my interest.
    I will take a note of your site and keep checking for new details about once per week.

    I opted in for your RSS feed as well.

    Feel free to surf to my web page: Phillipp

  50. My wife and i felt ecstatic when Michael could complete his reports through your ideas he had in your blog.
    It’s not at all simplistic just to always be giving away ideas
    people today might have been making money from. We really do understand we’ve got you to give thanks
    to because of that. All the explanations you made,
    the easy web site menu, the friendships your site help to create – it is
    all awesome, and it’s making our son and the family imagine that the
    concept is excellent, which is especially essential.
    Many thanks for the whole thing!

    Feel free to visit my webpage stop weed smoking

  52. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of
    plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive
    content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of
    it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do you know any ways to
    help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d definitely appreciate it.

    Also visit my page: hemp crop

  54. It is the best time to make a few plans for the longer term and it is time to be
    happy. I have learn this submit and if I may I want to suggest you some fascinating issues or suggestions.
    Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I want to read even more issues approximately it!

    Check out my page :: 163.30.42.16

  55. Thank you, I’ve just been searching for info approximately
    this topic for ages love and sex yours is the best I have
    found out till now. But, what concerning the bottom line?
    Are you sure in regards to the supply?

  56. I wanted to thank you once more for your amazing website you have designed here.
    It’s full of ideas for those who are seriously interested in this kind of subject, primarily this very post.
    You really are all so sweet along with thoughtful of others in addition to the fact
    that reading the blog posts is a great delight in my experience.
    And that of a generous present! Tom and I really have fun making use of your suggestions in what we must do next week.

    Our checklist is a distance long which means that your tips will
    be put to fine use.

    Here is my website http://www.hltkd.tw

  57. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the
    following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield
    this increase.

    Also visit my web-site; normal testosterone

  58. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who had been doing a
    little homework on this. And he in fact bought
    me breakfast due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him…
    lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this topic here on your internet site.

    My web page; Kathrin

  59. Hello there! I could have sworn I?ve been to this site before but after
    going through some of the posts I realized
    it?s new to me. Nonetheless, I?m definitely delighted I came across it and I?ll be
    bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

    Look at my web site :: hemp farming

  61. Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take
    the feeds also?I’m happy to seek out numerous useful info here
    within the publish, we’d like work out more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.

    my homepage carb days

  62. I am not sure where you’re getting your info, however great
    topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.

    Feel free to visit my page :: find easy diets

  64. I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of house .
    Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
    Reading this information So i’m satisfied to show that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I found
    out exactly what I needed. I most without a doubt will make certain how to lose weight don’t omit this web site and provides it a look on a constant basis.

  70. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish.

    nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish
    be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly
    the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

    Visit my homepage talking dirty

Comments are closed.