Short Story

M.I.A.

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for WTFAIOA Pick 3 #3.
Each week the inspirational list will
be comprised of 21 randomly selected
words; we must use at least three.
Here’s our list of words; I have used all.

Appetite, Brief, Calling, Chest, Destined, Detect, Draw, Earlier, Fair, Internal, Knew, Level, Literally, Middle, Modulate, Sole, Strangeness, Sub-rosa, Theater, Unwittingly, Visitor

© Stabledifusionweb.com

Detective Joss Kennedy received a cryptic message about the old theater on the edge of town. Known for her level-headedness and keen internal compass, she had arrived earlier that evening to investigate; it was fair to say her appetite for solving mysteries was insatiable. When she eyed the dark figure of a man in the middle of the rows of seats, she knew this was the reason for the unusual message.

A sole dying light bulb flickered, barely illuminating the aisles and casting long shadows that danced like ghosts. The unknown visitor stepped away from the light. There was a strangeness in the air but also a familiarity which Joss couldn’t ignore; it seemed to draw her to this mystery man. He was stocky with a broad chest and gave the impression of having the need to modulate his body, like someone uncomfortable in his own skin.

As Joss slowly moved through the rows, she felt a sub-rosa calling … to disclose who this man was and the reason he was here. She approached carefully, her instincts on high alert although she could not detect any real danger. Joss believed they were destined to play a part in this unfolding drama together, albeit unwittingly.

“What do you want?” she asked. He looked up, his face obscured by the brim of his hat. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I thought I was alone here,” he replied softly. His words literally sounded like a brief and hastily uttered confession. And at that moment, Joss knew; it was like a dagger was being slowly pulled from her heart and she was bleeding out. The man in the theater with her was Glenn … her fiancé believed dead, killed during a covert mission in Afghanistan.

Joss felt her body sway and reached out to steady herself. She was certain this was not just a chance encounter; it was deliberate. She could feel the tension in the air. Why all the secrets, the lies, the subterfuge, the conspiracies?  She remembered all those years ago when she was met with a dead end every time she asked for information, begged for answers. She was more determined than ever to expose the truth, one furtive whisper at a time.

Joss braced herself for what would come next.

NAR©2025

This is “In My Secret Life” by Leonard Cohen

Pick 3 #3 This week’s new list

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Donna B. McNicol, 2025

42 thoughts on “M.I.A.”

  1. Pingback: Pick 3 #4 This week’s new list – wtf Am I On About Now?

      1. That whole concert was fantastic. Many of the songs from it are on YouTube and they are all wonderful. The Webb Sisters are great – they made some nice albums and I saw them live around 2011 (I think). A lovely show. They then joined up with Tom Petty for what became his final tour.

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