Early morning sunlight filters through the kitchen window. Darlene turns from the counter and her eyes lock on my plate. Alone together, I feel her heat.
“You’re kidding, right?” she says, holding a plump red apple.
There is a deafening silence. Even the birds outside hold their song. I shift in the chair, wait. It won’t be the last time these walls are privy to a barrage about what normal people eat, healthy portion size, and how consuming at regular intervals helps manage hunger. But I’m not people.
I pick up the powdered donut and devour it in three quick bites. Dangle the chilled shrimp, begging for a dip in spicy sauce. After granting their wish, I cleanse my palate with a KitKat and wash it all down with a Coke. Breakfast of champions.
“That was repugnant,” she says.
“Nothing is mutually exclusive.” I dab my lips with a serviette. Manners count.
I smile at my wife. We don’t always agree with everything. Each of us is unique yet together we became something better. I might not always be what she expected, but in the end our fifty years is an admirable milestone.

Early 2025, a call came out for flash fiction under the theme of ‘Unlikely Pairs.” Limited to 200 words, I found the idea intriguing due to its infinite possibilities. When I initially played with the concept, the first draft of Love’s Surrender came in at 600 words. That’s the fun of flash. It requires ruthless editing, smoothing, and finding intentional words to convey meaning. Love’s Surrender was accepted by the editorial team at Bunker Squirrel Magazine, available in print and online. Check it out here: https://www.bunkersquirrel.com/