Current Issue
Phases Suzanne W. Vincent
*Cue dramatic music* “It’s the Ciiiiirrrrclllllllllle, the Circle of Liiiiiiiiiife!”
I clearly remember the first time I saw The Lion King. It was July of 1994, me, my toddler, my newborn, and my mother in a classic big-screen theater. I remember being awestruck by that song, and that stunning opening scene. Mom? She said, “It’s awfully loud. They should turn the volume down. I should go ask them to turn the volume down.” My newborn? Slept through the whole thing. My toddler, completely unfazed by the loudness, but raptly attuned to the visual feast on the screen. She still loves great animated films.
There we were, four people, different phases of life, different experiences with the same moment.
Those two children are married now, contemplating their own families. Mom has passed away. I’m forging on into my fabulous fifties and looking forward to the next great adventure, fully preparing myself to be the coolest grandma in the universe!
Damn, those phases went by quickly! That circle of life is spinning so fast I’m getting dizzy.
This month’s stories feature some of the trials and joys of life’s journey through some of those many phases in the circle of life–from a futuristic childcare dilemma, to a tender coming-of-age story, to the problems and opportunities of being an independent adult, to the challenges of caring for aging parents.
We know you’ll love every word. We do.
And to all the moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s a bunch of flowers that you don’t have to try to keep alive.
© Suzanne W. Vincent
Support Flash Fiction Online
Flash Fiction Online is a free online magazine that pays professional rates. So how do we make that happen? It’s due to the generosity of readers like you.
Here are some ways you can help:
Become a Patron.
Sign up to become a monthly donor and gain access to exclusive Patron rewards like manuscript critiques, insider submission statistics, the Editors’ Wishlist, free downloads of our current issue, and Ask Me Anything chats with the FFO staff. Read more…
Subscribe to FFO.
Never miss an issue! E-reader formats delivered to your inbox. Available from WeightlessBooks.com
Buy our issues & anthologies.
Each of our issues and anthologies are available in convenient e-reader formats (epub/pdf). Available from the Flash Fiction Online Store and WeightlessBooks.
Donate.
Consider a one-time gift that fits your budget.
Spread the word.
Love one of our stories or articles? Share it with a friend!