Dear Readers,
We are thrilled to publish a flash fiction written by Zoé Mahfouz. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Zoé Mahfouz – Bio
Proud holder of a Master’s Degree in Screenwriting from the London Film School, Zoé Mahfouz is an Award-Winning Actress, Screenwriter and Content Creator. Her own writing (fictions, creative nonfictions and poems) has been featured in 20+ literary magazines and best-of anthologies across the globe. Her short screenplays and TV pilots have been recognized in Film Festivals worldwide, including at the Scriptation Showcase Script Competition, the Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards and the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, a Canadian Screen Award-Qualifying Festival.
I, LIAM
Jayce recognized the man right away but couldn’t remember his name. She stared at the billboard where he was posing for a Burberry ad, starry-eyed.
“Did you know he was also a singer?” Jayce asked.
“Have you ever heard him sing?” her mother replied in a soft and measured voice, like someone trying to overcome a stutter.
“Not yet. He must have signed a bunch of NDAs to protect his art. People know him. He even posted a picture of himself next to The Weeknd on Instagram,” Jayce said in a breathy explosion of words.
“Wow. Let me guess. He is also a wellness advocate promoting his healthy lifestyle and posting reels of himself at the gym?” her mother asked in a voice that could cut glass.
Jayce nodded, but it took her a moment to find her voice. “Yes, how did you know? Isn’t he amazing? Doesn’t his face remind you of a mix between—”
“—Justin Bieber and a BTS singer?” her mother interrupted belligerently.
Jayce made a muffled squeak. She started speaking in a hoarse whisper. “I sent him money for his Kickstarter campaign. A third of my savings for his new solo album. He is going to credit me as an executive producer, and we might even meet.”
Her mother swallowed a string of profanities. Anger crept into her voice. “Honey, please, tell me you’re joking!” her mother hollered.
“Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It’s my money; I can do whatever I want with it,” Jayce said in a tone that walked the line between bitterness and incredulity.
“His name is Liam Nikuro!” her mother roared.
The name tasted like a mouthful of food gone bad. Jayce sounded confused. “So you do know him?” she asked in a cracked voice.
“I designed him. He is a virtual influencer,” she said in a tone that could have frozen peas.
It was the day Jayce and her mother became strangers to each other.
Reminder
With a cover designed by our of award-winning Japanese artist Hikari, and with artistic photos by award-winning Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura included, please do not miss the chance to have your words grace the pages of our upcoming book, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Email five haiku(s) at literaryrevelations@pm.me and label your submission 5 Haiku.
