Flash
The Duality Trap
Quibble can tell the difference between what is real and what is his imagination. He has been able to do this for as long as he can remember. He imagines others have the same ability, but that is imagination. His wife is grounded in practicality, and that is real. He pleases her in every way, and that is imaginary. Right now, Quibble is listening to the family heirloom chest of drawers talking to him about this gift of knowing the real from the imaginary. That the chest of drawers is talking is imaginary. What the chest is saying is real.
Ken Poyner
Ken’s nine collections of brief fictions and poetry can be found at Amazon and most online booksellers. He spent 33 years in information system management, is married to a world record holding female power lifter, and has a family of several rescue cats and betta fish. Individual works have appeared in Amsterdam Review, Analog, Rundelania, The Cincinnati Review, Best Micro-Fictions 2024, and elsewhere. Visit www.kpoyner.com.