Lust by Zvi A. Sesling
from Seven Deadly Sins: a PUNK NOIR Magazine series
I always wanted to have Belinda as my wife.
We met in high school and dated through college, but the Vietnam War came along and I got drafted. Two years and back home I found Belinda married to Ray Welch, my best buddy. Now I must tell you I wasn’t going to let that keep me from having Belinda. I wanted her and she was mine, so I congratulated them both.
A few weeks later I convinced Ray we should hike up Mt. Washington for old times sake just like we had done with the fraternity in college.
It was Memorial Day weekend and the crowds were pretty big despite the unseasonably cold weather. He “fell” and hit his head on a rock. I informed the Park Rangers he was missing and I couldn’t find him in the blinding storm. Since he was only wearing a sweater he froze to death. I attended the funeral and tried to keep Belinda company, but kept seeing Earl Mason coming over there. I put two and two together and suggested to Earl we go for a hike. Belinda was going to be mine and I would never let anyone else have her, ever.
This story appears as part of Seven Deadly Sins, a PUNK NOIR Magazine series, originally published July 2025.
Bio
Zvi A. Sesling, Brookline, MA Poet Laureate (2017-2020), has published numerous poems and flash fiction. He edits 10 By 10 Flash Fiction Stories. His flash fiction books are 40 Stories (with Paul Beckman), Secret Behind the Gate and Wheels. Sesling lives in Brookline, MA with his wife Susan J. Dechter.
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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You've got to admire his determination