July 2025 Flash Fiction Winner: Evolve
Ants, trees and other warnings
by Ru Lee
He didn’t like that I smelled of wood. It reminded him of the ancient trees that loomed above us. I watched him tiptoe, careful not to stir the nerves that curled like roots beneath our feet. Each step brought a soft crunch of fallen leaves, and the hush of ants whispering spells only he could hear. At the cabin door, he suggested a cold shower. I smiled and wandered toward the sound of rustling trees.
I returned, half an hour later, with the forest clung to me – soil on my skin, leaves in my hair, and wildness in my grin.
Yan Ru Lee is a writer and filmmaker whose work explores storytelling across print and screen. Her work has appeared in Farrago Magazine, Brunswick Street Gallery, George Paton Gallery, 3 Shot Film Festival, and the Bowery Theatre and St Albans Community Centre. Most recently, she co-wrote a film adaptation under the School Broadcasting Network, which is scheduled for entry in the 2026 International Children’s Film Circuit. Ru holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Media Communications from the University of Melbourne.
Our monthly Flash Fiction contest is co-hosted with Melbourne writing collective, The Provocative Inklings. This contest is free to enter, and writers of all ages, from anywhere in the world, are invited to submit! Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date.
