“Flying in the Dark” was written in April 2022 for a 100-word microfiction contest where I was assigned a genre (Rom-Com), word (Batch), and action (Wearing a Sleep Mask) that were required to be used.

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     Whining jet engines and a lightless underworld clouded waking thoughts, but sleep eluded Lucy. Lolling over, Rog whistled restfully under eye-mask and jacket-as-blanket. She pulled his mask out, released, and — smack! — Rog’s among the living.
     “Luce! Dude! What gives?”
     “Can’t sleep.”
     “I was.”
     “I don’t like when you leave me awake.”
     “Well, can’t really make you a batch of midnight cookies tonight.”
     “Don’t be an ass.”
     Rubbing his eyes, “Fine. Sorry.”
     “I do love your cookies, though.”

     Moments passed.

     “So what now, Luce?”
     “I dunno… Just stay with me.”
     He smirked in the dark. “Forever and always, sweetie.”

Catch-all