balloon

Derek pressed his back against the bedroom door that had been slammed in his face no more than a few moments ago. He'd apologized to Analise too many times over the phone and she deserved to hear this one in person.

On the far side of the door, Derek could hear Analise opening and slamming drawers. He really hadn't wanted to do this, really he didn't. If only that asshole, Frye, had kept his mouth shut.

"Why'd you have to take that damn promotion?" Analise shouted from beyond the doorway. Her breath began to come in sobbing huffs.

Jen lay back on her bed, trying to remember the dream she had been having before her alarm woke her up. It was beginning to fade, but she could still remember the major parts. She was lying somewhere, maybe a beach? Maybe at home…it was fading fast. She remembered having a large belly, sticking out above of her, as she was lying down. Then it was gone, all she could remember was that she had a dream, and the vagueness about what it was, but that was it. She sighed, closed her eyes, trying to will the dream back into being, but nothing.

or, “A Twist of Inflationary Fate!”