Playing with Fire | Microfiction Friday

A 100-word story about chemistry, legacy, and what we leave behind.

Happy Microfiction Friday! Today, we’ve got a fun little piece about a struggling chemist and his attempts at uncovering the teachings of a long-dead mentor, “Playing with Fire.”

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But before we get started…

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Playing with Fire

By J. Louis

Willard squinted at the journal, trying to decipher its faded words.

Not even Thaddeus, the famed chemist, could overcome mortality.

But perhaps his teachings might.

The lab smelled of pungent, fragrant chemicals.

Just a drop of this, and a sprinkle of that…?

Jade fire erupted from the glass vial, blinding him. The smell of burnt hair and smoke lingered in the lab.

Willard fingered the spot above his right eye where his eyebrow should have been. He groaned and cradled his forehead in his palms.

That ratio wouldn't do at all.

But it was as good a start as any.

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Interested in learning more about Drabble?

A drabble is a type of microfiction in which stories are 100 words—no more, no less. This story was based on a single randomly generated word. My plan is to revise this story according to any feedback it receives, then put together a writer's note documenting the process and publish it along with other stories (and lessons learned along the way) in a collection.

If you’re not ready to subscribe just yet, that’s cool too; but if you want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee with a one-time donation!

I need all the caffeine I can get to keep writing!

Without further ado, here’s the prompt for this week’s drabble…

This Week’s Drabble Prompt

Write a story inspired by: a journal.

Journals are windows into the lives of others, and contrary to what you might think, you don’t have to be a writer to get a lot of value from journaling. Great leaders all over the world have used journals to chronicle their feelings, and scientists have used journals to ponder their thoughts ahead of their big breakthroughs.

So my question to you is there: how will you use a journal to tell a microfiction story?

That’s all I’ve got for now. Until next time… keep writing!

- Josh