;)

In a time where our lives have become inherently intertwined with technology, have our romantic relationships altered as well? Will we get engaged via text? Fall in love with the voice in our phone? Marry our tablet? The story is up to you!
Announcing our Spring Flash Fiction Contest: A Digital Age Love Story
750 words or less, the rest is up to you!
Due by noon on February 23rd by email (writingcenter@roosevelt.edu) or in person at AUD 442.
The winner will be announced on February 26th at our Flash Fiction Party in the Writing Center. The winner's story will be published on our blog and the writer will receive a gift certificate as their prize.

2014 Halloween Flash Fiction Contest Winner: How to Survive an Apocalypse

HOW TO SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE1

by Peter Saunders

A parade of Four Horsemen? a slicing scythe?

Is this how we are to meet our dooms?

The Devil himself come to claim his tithe?

Clouds of chemicals shaped like mushrooms?

Is this how we are to meet our dooms?

The test of the Antichrist, or a common blight?

Clouds of chemicals shaped like mushrooms?

A conclave of witches on Walpurgis Night?

The test of the Antichrist, or a common blight?

Everyone suffering would die to find out

A conclave of witches on Walpurgis Night?

Superstition blooms from seeds sown by doubt

Everyone suffering would die to find out

Exactly why we endure this trial

Superstition blooms from seeds sown by doubt

Hope springs eternal from those in denial

Exactly why we endure this trial

None can tell with a definite answer

Hope springs eternal from those in denial

We must make the best of this ravaging cancer

None can tell with a definite answer

What we are learning by suffering so

We must make the best of this ravaging cancer

That drives us to madness, confusion, and woe

What we are learning by suffering so

Infected with plague that kills in the gloom

That drives us to madness, confusion, and woe

We know not, nor even dare to presume

Infected with plague that kills in the gloom

As we sit in our waiting rooms unto the gloam

We know not, nor even dare to presume

Where our late family and friends go to roam

As we sit in our waiting rooms unto the gloam

Now I ask you: do you still persevere?

Where our late family and friends go to roam

You, too, may yet follow, for our ends are near

Now I ask you: do you still persevere?

Do spectres of dead ones haunt your waking dreams?

You too, may yet follow, for our ends are near

Already, I see you unravel at the seams

Do spectres of dead ones haunt your waking dreams?

Greed turns neighbors into mortal foes

Already, I see you unravel at the seams

The Reaper rejoices, here and there he goes

Greed turns neighbors into mortal foes

As buildings collapse, as hate is rebuilt

The Reaper rejoices, here and there he goes

Wilting our will and compounding our guilt

As buildings collapse, as hate is rebuilt

We run from the world but cannot escape

Wilting our will and compounding our guilt

Is the ruin of our future that begins to take shape

We run from our world but cannot escape

But worse than pandemic or mortal decay

Is the ruin of our future that begins to take shape

Rotting by night, reeking by day

But worse than pandemic or mortal decay

Is the shameless greed that drives our deeds

Rotting by night, reeking by day

We reap what was sown by those seductive seeds

Is the shameless greed that drives our deeds

Peculiar to shortcomings of the human race?

We reap what was sown by those seductive seeds

Do we truly deserve such a low, vulgar place?

Peculiar to shortcomings of the human race?

Is this what it’s come to at last?

Do we truly deserve such a low, vulgar place?

Must we die in a penitent blast?

Is this what it’s come to at last?

Alas, we find that we don’t mind

Must we die in a penitent blast?

Our fates have long since been thus resigned

Alas, we find that we don’t mind

As prejudice fuels war like books on a fire

Our fates have long since been thus resigned

Dripping with oil, we recline on the pyre

As prejudice fuels war like books in a fire

And the splinter of winter deeper delves

Dripping with oil, we recline on the pyre

DID WE BRING THIS UPON OURSELVES?

And the splinter of winter deeper delves

As you read these words with your dying breath

DID WE BRING THIS UPON OURSELVES?

This question compels you in the shadow of Death

As you read these words with your dying breath

I hope you find these useful tips

This question compels you in the shadow of Death:

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE?

I hope you find these useful tips

When provisions of food and water are scant

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE?

The answer is tragically simply: you can't.

1 N.b. Results may will vary drastically.

Congratulations, Peter! Check back next week for the runner up!