Bursting Box Publishing

I wrote this piece for a Flash Fiction contest at a writing retreat where the rules were simply:

• No longer than 300 words
• Must include the following 10 words:
  • Lantern
  • Mirror
  • Key
  • Orchard
  • River
  • Clock
  • Envelope
  • Sparrow
  • Ladder
  • Shadow

The following story won 2nd place. 😊

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Aroa’s Delivery Service

The Brassac postman checked his watch and offered an aged envelope to Aroa Bonheur. It wasn’t his first time asking for her delivery help, but this time seemed special.

She reached for the yellowed letter, but the postman didn’t let go. “Château de Monségou. In one hour. Compris?“

“Oui, monsieur,” she said. “I can fly there in time.”

He nodded, satisfied, then released the mysterious envelope with another glance at his watch. Reading the delivery instructions, Aroa immediately ran for her single-seater airplane.

Her Carlson Sparrow Ultralight was designed with a side door so she didn’t even need a step-ladder to hop in. Twisting her key whirled its propeller into motion, and a quick runway lifted its three wheels from the ground.

Despite her eagerness to reach the château, flying had always calmed Aroa. She flew over the French countryside, casting her shadow over winding rivers that glimmered like mirrors and scores of orchards that rolled over passing hills. She breathed deeply as she surveyed the never-changing countryside. Flying reoriented her perspective, proving just how small she was in the grand scheme of life, the universe, and everything.

Forty-two minutes later, she landed expertly on the barren road leading to the abandoned château. Checking her plane’s clock confirmed that she was on time.

Aroa re-read the strange delivery instructions on the envelope.

To: Noah Sergeant
Château de Monségou
81260 Lamontélarié, France
15th of October, Year 2025, at 14:29

The envelope had waited in the Brassac post since 1788. The tale seemed impossible, yet… a man stood at the abandoned château’s doorway. His eyes shone brightly like twin lanterns.

“Monsieur Sergeant?” Aroa called.

“I am Noah Sergeant,” he said.

Surprised but dutiful, Aroa approached him and handed over the 237-year-old letter.

“C’est incroyable,” he whispered. “He made it.”

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Aroa’s Delivery Service © 2025 by C. Rae D’Arc is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Unfortunately, I needed to leave the retreat early, so I wasn’t able to read this aloud to hear people’s responses. With that, please let me know what you think in the comments!