Urban Volcano

Fiction by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson

Flash fiction

The letter

I walked into the storage room and looked over the pile of boxes. I knew that my university diploma was there somewhere — the proof that I had finished my masters degree in geology.

The letter — Illustration by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson
Illustration by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson

I opened the boxes one after another in search of the right folder. Luck was with me on the third box. I extracted the file and opened it carefully. Though not with enough care to avoid a letter falling on the floor. Putting the folder aside I reached for the yellowish envelope that was not addressed to anyone.

I pulled out a densely written paper and started to read. A smile came over my face as I read my own handwriting, explaining to my family and friends the reasons why I had decided not to finish my masters in geology — why I could not cope anymore.

I had completely forgotten about this letter. A letter that was never sent but allowed myself to calm the turmoil in my head. It helped me take a deep breath and focus on finishing my thesis.

The flash fiction story The letter is part of the flash fiction collection Flash 52.

Börkur is an avid storyteller with a keen eye for quirky characters, funny dialogs and vivid scenario descriptions. Much of his writing falls within the genre of realistic fiction and his stories are more often than not based on real events in the author’s life. Although the tales contain grains of truth, they are melded with fiction, making the reader curious to know the line between reality and fantasy.