The Minute Fiction is a series of small immersive fiction stories created to give readers a quick daily mental break. How many minutes are in a year? Borrow one for yourself and have an adventure.
Your world is a tapestry of intricate textures, a realm of minuscule wonders that stretch out before you as you embark on a journey through the wooded forest floor. Your antennae quiver with anticipation as you begin your crawl, your tiny legs moving in rhythmic coordination, carrying you forward with a determination that belies your size.
The ground beneath you is a maze of fallen leaves, their papery edges curling and crunching as you navigate this intricate terrain. Each step is a calculated maneuver, a dance of precision and grace as you traverse the labyrinthine world that is your home. Your tiny mandibles work tirelessly, clearing the way and occasionally stopping to sample the occasional crumb of decaying matter.
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FICTION NOVEL
by Ann Patchett (Narrator) Meryl Streep
Best Seller Chart Topper
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As you crawl along, you encounter fellow inhabitants of this hidden realm. A fellow ant scurries past, its antennae briefly brushing against yours in a silent exchange of information. You pause, briefly considering the significance of this fleeting encounter, before resuming your journey. A line of industrious ants marches in formation, carrying morsels of food larger than themselves, a testament to the collective effort that sustains your community.
The forest floor is a bustling metropolis of life, a symphony of tiny movements and subtle signals that guide your path. A beetle trundles by, its shiny exoskeleton glinting in the dappled sunlight that filters through the canopy above. A delicate spider weaves its intricate web, its delicate silk a testament to the artistry of nature‘s creations. You sidestep a sluggish caterpillar, its vibrant colors a warning of the toxins that course through its body.
As you continue your crawl, you catch a glimmer of movement above – a flash of azure blue that sends a shiver down your spine. The shadow of a hungry blue jay darkens the forest floor as it lands nearby, its sharp eyes scanning the ground for a potential meal. Panic courses through you, and your instincts kick into overdrive. You scuttle beneath a nearby leaf, your heart racing as you hunker down, your tiny form hidden from view.
The world around you becomes a symphony of heightened senses – the rustling of leaves, the faint chirping of distant birds, and the soft breeze that stirs the underbrush. You hold your breath, your antennae twitching as you listen for any sign of danger. The blue jay’s probing gaze lingers for a moment before it takes flight once more, its wings slicing through the air with a sound that sends ripples of relief through your tiny body.
With the threat averted, you cautiously emerge from your leafy refuge, your movements slow and deliberate. The forest floor is once again your domain, and you continue your crawl with renewed determination. You pass a colony of ants working together to carry a leaf fragment several times their size, their coordinated efforts a testament to the strength of community.
The forest floor unfolds before you like a captivating tapestry, each thread of grass, leaf, and detritus a part of the intricate narrative that defines your existence. You encounter a droplet of dew clinging to a blade of grass, a glistening orb that reflects the world around it like a tiny mirror. The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves fills your senses, grounding you in the present moment as you continue your journey.
The forest floor offers a banquet of scents and textures – a crumb of pollen here, a discarded seed there. Your tiny mandibles work tirelessly, collecting minuscule sustenance that fuels your relentless crawl. A chorus of insect songs fills the air, a cacophony of chirps and trills that punctuates the stillness of the forest. You pause to savor the beauty of this hidden world, a fleeting moment of introspection amidst the ceaseless rhythm of life.
As you near the end of your crawl, you’re greeted by the sight of a fellow ant perched atop a pebble, its antennae waving in greeting. You exchange brief signals, a silent acknowledgment of the shared journey that has brought you both to this point. With a final surge of energy, you propel yourself forward, your tiny legs carrying you across the finish line of this remarkable expedition.
The forest floor stretches out before you, a vast expanse of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Each crawl is a testament to your resilience and adaptability, a reminder that even the smallest of creatures can navigate the challenges of their environment. As you pause to rest, your antennae twitching with contentment, you reflect on the journey you’ve undertaken. Your world may be small, but it is a world of wonder, a realm of hidden treasures and unexplored corners that invite you to continue your tiny odyssey through the heart of the forest floor.
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FICTION NOVEL
by Daniel Silva
Climbing Charts #15
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NONFICTION
Into the Abyss: An Extraordinary True Story
by Carol Shaben
Editor’s Choice Best NonFiction
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I like the thought of ‘minute’. It’s just fun to imagine and possibly even dream about.