17 Comments
Apr 12Liked by S.E. Reid

You write/paint such cinematic scenes. Me again, thinking I’m in a Twilight Zone episode 😳 Just perfectly imagined (and the goosebumps along with it).

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Apr 12Liked by S.E. Reid

I’m old, so grew up on watching The Twilight Zone —black and white.📺.

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Apr 12Liked by S.E. Reid

Stunning as usual! Took me a second to realize it was an eclipse--inspiration strikes at the most interesting times!

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Great story. You really paint a mood. I would have liked to have known more about the girl and why she killed her.

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In the race for fiction inspired by the eclipse, S.E. with a great entry.

I loved the economy of story in this, I think just enough backstory was divulged in all aspects.

Which brings me to... "Flash Fiction" -- is this what we would consider flash fiction on Substack? At what point do we consider something a short story vs. flash fiction? Or are they synonymous?

By my count, this is about 1800 words. That, in my book, is a short story. Not that my book is definitive.

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I always thought flash fiction was 1k or under. Ish. Between 1k-2k is kind of a gray area, but over 2k is short story territory.

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I liked this. The description was fantastic. The building of the doom and gloom to when she saw the eclipse was great. How the townsfolk reacted at the end fit well? I got a full sense of her life and the secret buried in her garden growing on her. Makes one wonder what the Eye of God would find looking upon each of us.

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The eclipse took me by surprise! This was such a fantastic, atmospheric story, and the slow trickle of hints and unsettling imagery was hypnotic.

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Lovely, dark, and haunting. I likey!

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Wow! What a story! I loved this so much. Poor Mrs. Radcliffe (although, payment always comes due, doesn't it?).

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Apr 12Liked by S.E. Reid

Wonderful story. I’m glad in the middle of a busy day but I had to read it because the title captured my imagination. Reminded me of Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart (but not so dark). Totally surprised by the eclipse connection. Bravo!

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I want a peacock blue coat!!

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And that's why I read the paper. The online edition, anyway, and sometimes the actual paper. Also, I loved the line about the floral garden spreading like a skirt, and the cloud not being a cloud, and...wow. Just wow. This was awesome.

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Apr 21Liked by S.E. Reid

👏😍

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Apr 14Liked by S.E. Reid

♥️♥️♥️

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WOW. I did not expect that ending. Excellent work!

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Loved it!

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