Flash Fiction: Fairy Cakes

"Fairy Cakes" was written for the 17 April Flash!Friday competition and received a special mention for the best use of the supernatural. The prompts were the  photo and the setting "kitchen".

Fairy Cakes

When I recognise the man in the shadow coloured coat, I realise that more than a decade have passed on his side of the wall since he was told he had to leave. It feels like centuries have disappeared. 

At the kitchen window I wave at him and can see the haze of blue and grey glass buildings on his side of the world. But he doesn’t see me.

The oven dings and I rush over to remove a new tray of cakes. Now that I know he’s here, I start on a new batch of batter; all golden eggs and silver apples. His childhood favourite. I make snow white frosting flavoured with summer roses. Flakes of crayon-yellow sunshine glitter on top.

An apprehensive hand grips my heart. Almost none return here. They disbelieve every memory of magic. They start believing none of this matter. They become hollow.

Clutching hope in my chest, I put the tray of frosted cakes by the open window and let the fresh smell drift into the air.

I wait, hands trembling. Fidgeting. Every second stretches to a year.

Then he looks around at the familiar smell and smiles like a child; released from the glass and smog world for a while.

Prison Guard, 1910. Public domain photo.