For The Girl Who Has Everything & Other Short Stories
from My Bloody Valentine: a PUNK NOIR Magazine series
Choose Punk. Choose Noir. Choose Tuesday. Choose another Punk Noir Flash Series. Choose Valentines. Choose to make it bloody. Choose three talented writers who write three spectacular flash fiction pieces. Choose to like. Choose to share. Choose to retweet. Choose Punk Noir because we choo-choo-se you.
A Simpsons and a Trainspotting reference there. Lucky you…
Enjoy these three excellent stories though.
Cheers always,
– Stephen J. Golds, editor-in-chief
My Bloody Valentine by Michael Downing
He was Jolene’s everything, until she found the Valentine’s Day card from that blonde in Accounting. Same one who, “was just a co-worker.”
Her heart screamed, then broke.
He slept beside her, breathing heavily, unaware of her smoldering rage.
Jolene didn’t plan – nobody ever does. Grabbed a carving knife, one with a serrated edge that sliced through holiday hams with one stroke. His eyes fluttered open as she tugged down his pajama pants, grabbing him with one hand. A smile crossed his face, misreading her intentions.
By the time Jolene put the knife away, his screams had softened into whimpers.
Bio
Michael Downing is a writer originally from New Jersey, now living in a small college town in Georgia. Over the past fifteen years he has written some plays, published a few books, and his short stories have been featured in various publications and anthologies (some that have even been nominated for Pushcart Prizes). He is still everything New Jersey: attitude, edginess, and Bruce Springsteen songs….but not Bon Jovi. Find him on Twitter/X: @kmwriter01 or Bluesky
For The Girl Who Has Everything by Dennis Smith
What do you get your wife of seventeen years for Valentine’s Day?
High School Sweethearts. The love of your life. The one who has everything. She got you season tickets to the Sox last year, and you had a great time going to the games. At least until you found out she’s boinking her dentist while you and Teddy Jr are at Fenway. You played it cool, and didn’t let on even though you wanted to choke her out. You settle on Dr. Schwarzmann’s pinky in a pretty lilac box. His left eye will keep for her birthday in March.
Bio
Dennis Smith is an Arkansas based storyteller with a day job. His work can be found in Shotgun Honey, Punk Noir, and The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature.
As Promised, Lollapalooza 1993 by Jaime Alejandro Cruz
Holly wiped the knife clean and glared longingly at the correspondence.
Seven months. A dozen hotel nights. Letters, their only constant. ‘Junkhead’ sucks? You lied about everything, Larry. She mourned, draped in hotel neon emerald glow. Last night, Larry snored and Holly read the letters again, reliving passionate back and forths. At dawn, the burgundy fibers of Larry’s handkerchief swallowed up blade blood like keeping a secret. She packed the twined brick of letters, parted for Alice in Chains, and he bled out from his throat. Holly couldn’t part with the letters the way Larry couldn’t part from his wife.
Bio
Jaime Alejandro Cruz writes and records. He produces the Arts Calling Podcast and features short-form literary works and audio projects at the coalition. His work has recently been published in Barrelhouse, Foreign Lit, The Belfast Review, and others. His plays have been produced here and there.
These stories appear as part of My Bloody Valentine, a PUNK NOIR Magazine series.
PUNK NOIR, the online literary and arts magazine that looks at the world at its most askew, casting a bloodshot eye over the written word, film, music, television and more.
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Many many angry women on this fine day!
love the honest vitality, or the vivacity. Lost for words. All vitality is honest. The rest is decided once the deed is done. Punk Noir 4eva, tattoo your tongue and kiss the bride....