Robert's Space Industries logo featuring an anvil and stars in a circular design
A man is crying while holding a black telephone to his ear, sitting at a cluttered desk with a coffee mug and papers. A woman stands behind him in a blue shirt, watching him with concern.

Fifty-Three Words

In a rain-slicked diner off Route 23, a weary salesman peddles the promise of a better tomorrow through electric gadgets and hollow smiles. Between Cincinnati and Columbus, the line between the sales pitch and the truth begins to blur. As Jules pours another coffee and the smell of chicken-fried steak fills the air, he’s forced to confront his own "bullshit." Is he selling progress, or just another dream he no longer believes in himself?

Longing. Regret. Surrealism. Places Between.

Flash Fiction | ~500 Words | February 2026