After Rome became the 2nd destination to fly direct to from Perth, I decided to allow myself a few days to visit the famous city in the peak of summer. I can’t start to describe how delighted I am to have made that decision. The ancient city centre oozes with history, and one can only … Continue reading When in Rome… – Travel Piece Teaser
Author: vpimentelau
Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury – Feature Article
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a ‘silent epidemic’ affecting more than just the injured person. I came to terms with it when we were called into a separate room at Royal Perth Hospital to be briefed on my step-father’s condition after his fall at work. We entered a pastel-coloured room and the doctor closed the … Continue reading Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury – Feature Article
Hillingar – 600-word short story
I’ve fantasised about murdering him more than I should. I focus on the two frail, solitary hairs that compliment my boss’ head as his mouth moves frantically. His eye twitches in excitement, and I can see his complexion change. He is getting angry, I think. It would help my chances if I could actually focus … Continue reading Hillingar – 600-word short story
Flight control – 50-word microfiction
Writing prompt: Must start with dialogue on a plane Flight control ‘First time?’ ‘Yeah. Can you tell?’ ‘I know the feeling. Take one of these; it will help.’ ‘Thanks mate, I appreciate it.’ * ‘Sir, you need to calm down, please.’ ‘Wake up, wake up!’ ‘What’s wrong matey?’ ‘What did you give me?’ ‘Oh shit, … Continue reading Flight control – 50-word microfiction
The singing siren – Flash fiction (300-words) on the theme of ‘Melody’
The singing siren The humming of my mother’s voice never fails to move me from deep within. The warmth of her melody brings me back to one of my oldest memories, an autumn night where we sat by the fire in our house. The crackling of the golden pine firewood had set the tempo to … Continue reading The singing siren – Flash fiction (300-words) on the theme of ‘Melody’
Heat waves – short dystopian fiction (400 words)
(Short scene written for a Writing Genre Fiction Unit) The road ahead of us seemed interminable as the searing heat made it hard to ascertain whether I was losing my mind or not. Kind of hard not to, considering the biological disaster we had been trying to survive. The way sunlight caught the hint of … Continue reading Heat waves – short dystopian fiction (400 words)
Archaic new beginnings (Personal essay)
(written for a competition on the theme of vice) I try to reinvent my whole existence yet again today without recurring to the millennially soothing act of succumbing to smoke. Sounds easy enough, but the family history which precedes me assures my self-explanation for the need for nicotine, at least, on a daily basis. Most … Continue reading Archaic new beginnings (Personal essay)
Character sketch (200-words: written for a Genre Fiction unit)
First time I met my workmate, his incisive blue gaze had beaten my read on his. The faded tear-drop tattoo on the right side of his face caught my attention, its perpetuity contrasting with the frantic circumspection of his cerulean orbits. The shagginess of his dreadlocked mullet bordered with the military prowess of a pale … Continue reading Character sketch (200-words: written for a Genre Fiction unit)
Point of view – short story
There we were, starving, but happy to be together. The sun shone brightly against the water and the sound of old diesel and new outboard engines could be heard roaring through the ocean. We hadn’t eaten all day, apart from some minor green stuff. We’d been roaming around for a while and I knew she … Continue reading Point of view – short story
Most embarrassing moment – Personal essay
The most embarrassing moment of my life (that I can remember, at least) was at a golf country club south of Lisbon, when I was about thirteen years old. Sometime after his second marriage, my dad had developed a passion for the sport, and so every fifteen days when he had custody, we used to … Continue reading Most embarrassing moment – Personal essay
Vasco Pimentel's Portfolio 