The Anniversary

An Experiment in Microfiction

Happy Free Fiction Friday! Hope all is well. Today’s offering includes two microfictions - version one is literary, version two is sci-fi alien fun. Let me know which one you like best! (Or neither, lol.)

The Anniversary by Lyndon Perry (first appeared in Every Day Fiction, 2008)

“Those three words,” I say as I pour her another glass of wine.

“Love you, too,” she coos. An impish grin flickers across her face.

I quickly refill my glass and snuggle back down beside her. The fire crackles in front of us. After all these years we’re still caught up in the romance.

“Perfect ending to a perfect day,” I murmur in her ear.

She takes in a deep breath and sighs out a yes that makes my heart jump. The wildflower bouquet we brought back from our afternoon picnic must be releasing its aphrodisiacal magic. I’m in love with the world.

“I love the fall,” I say. “The Flint Hills are gorgeous this time of year. We should buy this bed and breakfast and live here forever.”

“You say that every anniversary,” my wife teases.

“And you’d think after fifty years I’d finally convince you,” I say, smiling.

Golden Anniversary by Lyndon Perry

Those three words, I say to her as I pour another glass of Rigelian wine.

Love you, too, she coos. An impish grin flickers across her fluorescent face.

I quickly refill my glass and snuggle back down beside my love as we wrap our seven free limbs around each other in tender embrace. The holofire crackles in front of us. After all these aeons were still caught up in the romance.

Perfect climax to a perfect century of celebration, I murmur in her ear.

She takes in a deep breath and sighs out a ‘yes’ that causes my four hearts to beat in syncopation. The Aurilian bouquet we brought back from our afternoon picnic must be releasing its aphrodisiacal magic. I’m in love with the universe.

I love this planet, I say. The Milky Way is in a spectacular rotation. We should buy this solar system and live here forever.

You say that every millennium when we vacation here, my wife teases.

And you’d think after fifty of them I’d finally convince you. I smile.

<><

Kinda fun, don’t you think? In real life, I did not have a fun couple of weeks. We bought new appliances and the delivery was a disaster. Here’s a blog post about the fiasco on our travel blog, Boom Travel and Wellness (if you are interested).

How was your week? Drop me a line and let me know. Until next time! - Lyn