Remorse

A micro-fiction story of remorse for my first killing.

I maintain that I am fundamentally a good person. But as I sit here, thinking about my crime, I can’t help but plead self defence. I was in the shower, getting ready for work, when out of nowhere he came at me. I was naked and vulnerable — I reacted almost without thinking.

I pinned him down for what must have been minutes. He slowly drowned, his legs jerking frantically. His movements slowed, then he grew still. I dried myself off, got dressed, and left.

Whether it was a trauma response, or just distraction, I forgot all about him until the next day. Stepping back into the bathroom, I was jolted by his slightly shrivelled form still lying where he’d died.

I disposed of his body quickly, not wanting to think about it anymore.

Now, I always check the shower for spiders before I get in.

Micro-fiction is an extremely concise form of storytelling, typically defined as a complete narrative told in 300 words or fewer, often focusing on a single moment, character, or image to imply a deeper story.