The Same River Twice

Nicole and I participated in the 2025 100-word Fiction Challenge hosted by nycmidnight. Nicole made it to round 2! Here's my round 1 story.

• Genre: Suspense.

• Required Action: forgetting a name

• Required Word: held

Dolly. Your eyes. Don't mirror me. I revert them. Gertie's human hands squeeze mine. My nails co-opt her polish. FOCUS. No changing. Be Dolly.

I'm beckoned to the hallway. Name?

My hair yearns to match his curls. Dolly.

FLASH! Whirrr.

Room 6. Watch the video, tell me what they all have in common.

The video is a montage of faces. My features fight to wander, to sample. I'm at war with my covetous body.

FLASH! Two instant photos slap the table.

Well, Paulie?

A face develops. Had I held on?

Are they all human?

I wish that were true, kid.