The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: FLAKE. Visit, comment, and write & post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES . The Café is open. Come as you are!
The counter at the dive bar was sticky, and it grasped at her forearm as she lifted another whiskey to her pursed lips, which were dangerously numb at this point.
Too bad it couldn’t do the same to her feelings as it did to her lips; she drained the glass, letting it slither and land with a clatter as she lifted that same hand to draw deeply on her last cigarette.
This bar used to be her favorite spot, before she took up with him, before they moved their celebrations to classier places, before he kicked her to the curb for drinking and driving with his toddler…again; she’d been sure she loved the guy enough to keep things in check, but look at her now.
Shaking her head, she dropped the butt in her empty glass, noting the sizzle as it landed on an ice cube, and desultorily picking a flake of scum from the counter and flicking that in the glass as well.
She was out of dough, her credit card locked, her glass empty; time to go stumble on home.
A stranger’s rough voice cut through the fog, “Hey pretty lady, can I buy you a drink?”
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)
Valley of the Trolls 
Tragically intense, Liz. All up to her. What path will she choose?
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Choose any path…I dunno!
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I think she might be saved! (maybe)
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Eventually…?
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ruh roe
(but, solicitous strangers notwithstanding, the demon resides within)
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Sometimes you don’t know until it’s all over…
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May the addictions plaguing her leave her in peace.
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Fingers crossed, step at a time…
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She’s saved! (Not.)
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Could go either way, from where this paused. >>wink!<<
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Very well told. I think she sees a way out, for tonight, but it will still be there waiting for her in the end.
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Sometimes it takes a fewwrong turns to get it right?
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The addictions can be stronger than any other force. Poor thing.
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Yep. Common enough story, may be a turning point. Or not…
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