elisimpsonwrites.bsky.social
@elisimpsonwrites.bsky.social
Eli Simpson writes stories about characters who find power in systems designed to strip it away, exploring identity, resistance, and self-determination through the lens of queer experience and childhood displacement.
24 days in to a sustained practice of writing daily, and I feel like I'm still discovering what my limits might be. Hope you'll follow along. 2/2
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #WritersOfBluesky #365DayChallenge
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #WritersOfBluesky #365DayChallenge
January 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM
24 days in to a sustained practice of writing daily, and I feel like I'm still discovering what my limits might be. Hope you'll follow along. 2/2
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #WritersOfBluesky #365DayChallenge
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #WritersOfBluesky #365DayChallenge
1900 words of tender first love in a St. Louis summer.
Read now: https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/found-objects
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Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash (2/2)
Read now: https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/found-objects
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Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash (2/2)
January 24, 2026 at 3:28 PM
1900 words of tender first love in a St. Louis summer.
Read now: https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/found-objects
---
Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash (2/2)
Read now: https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/found-objects
---
Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash (2/2)
Bare tree branches still, waves on a lake shore that pounded before seem to whimper like puppies? I remember the day I finally stopped and took notice of it.
Read the rest of "Snowfall" on Substack.
CW: Parental death
#WritingCommunity #Grief
https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/snowfall (2/2)
Read the rest of "Snowfall" on Substack.
CW: Parental death
#WritingCommunity #Grief
https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/snowfall (2/2)
January 23, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Bare tree branches still, waves on a lake shore that pounded before seem to whimper like puppies? I remember the day I finally stopped and took notice of it.
Read the rest of "Snowfall" on Substack.
CW: Parental death
#WritingCommunity #Grief
https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/snowfall (2/2)
Read the rest of "Snowfall" on Substack.
CW: Parental death
#WritingCommunity #Grief
https://elisimpson.substack.com/p/snowfall (2/2)
One month later, I sat in a booth across from Jacob as he told me about the four scholarships he'd received to be NCAA baseball pitcher.
My world had righted.
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Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash (76/76)
My world had righted.
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Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash (76/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
One month later, I sat in a booth across from Jacob as he told me about the four scholarships he'd received to be NCAA baseball pitcher.
My world had righted.
---
Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash (76/76)
My world had righted.
---
Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash (76/76)
time to fuck up a friendship and, maybe, start something new.” I winked at him.
He whooped. My parents coughed awkwardly. Serves them right. Maria beamed. (75/76)
He whooped. My parents coughed awkwardly. Serves them right. Maria beamed. (75/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
time to fuck up a friendship and, maybe, start something new.” I winked at him.
He whooped. My parents coughed awkwardly. Serves them right. Maria beamed. (75/76)
He whooped. My parents coughed awkwardly. Serves them right. Maria beamed. (75/76)
looking at the car. They’d gone suspiciously still. Parents were not as subtle as they thought they were.
I looked at Maria. She nodded.
“He finally, actually apologized.”
“And..?”
“Petey, my boy—” He hated when I started pretend-wise—“an hour under the bleachers is more than enough (74/76)
I looked at Maria. She nodded.
“He finally, actually apologized.”
“And..?”
“Petey, my boy—” He hated when I started pretend-wise—“an hour under the bleachers is more than enough (74/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
looking at the car. They’d gone suspiciously still. Parents were not as subtle as they thought they were.
I looked at Maria. She nodded.
“He finally, actually apologized.”
“And..?”
“Petey, my boy—” He hated when I started pretend-wise—“an hour under the bleachers is more than enough (74/76)
I looked at Maria. She nodded.
“He finally, actually apologized.”
“And..?”
“Petey, my boy—” He hated when I started pretend-wise—“an hour under the bleachers is more than enough (74/76)
Peter barked a laugh.
We sat on the porch, talking, sipping sodas when Mom and Dad joined us, stealing sips from Maria's flask when they weren't paying attention, and talked late into the night.
At some point, Peter asked me, “So… Jacob?”
Mom and Dad were standing on the driveway, (73/76)
We sat on the porch, talking, sipping sodas when Mom and Dad joined us, stealing sips from Maria's flask when they weren't paying attention, and talked late into the night.
At some point, Peter asked me, “So… Jacob?”
Mom and Dad were standing on the driveway, (73/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Peter barked a laugh.
We sat on the porch, talking, sipping sodas when Mom and Dad joined us, stealing sips from Maria's flask when they weren't paying attention, and talked late into the night.
At some point, Peter asked me, “So… Jacob?”
Mom and Dad were standing on the driveway, (73/76)
We sat on the porch, talking, sipping sodas when Mom and Dad joined us, stealing sips from Maria's flask when they weren't paying attention, and talked late into the night.
At some point, Peter asked me, “So… Jacob?”
Mom and Dad were standing on the driveway, (73/76)
She drove us back to my home, blasting Magnolia Park, screaming our heads off to the lyrics. Peter greeted us at the door, back for the weekend from university.
“No girlfriend?” I questioned.
“She told me that women shouldn't have jobs.”
“Ew,” Maria and I agreed in unison. (72/76)
“No girlfriend?” I questioned.
“She told me that women shouldn't have jobs.”
“Ew,” Maria and I agreed in unison. (72/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
She drove us back to my home, blasting Magnolia Park, screaming our heads off to the lyrics. Peter greeted us at the door, back for the weekend from university.
“No girlfriend?” I questioned.
“She told me that women shouldn't have jobs.”
“Ew,” Maria and I agreed in unison. (72/76)
“No girlfriend?” I questioned.
“She told me that women shouldn't have jobs.”
“Ew,” Maria and I agreed in unison. (72/76)
“So?”
“You already knew.”
“I did.”
“How?”
“I have my ways,” she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Also, his eyes follow you everywhere. Anyone actually paying attention would have noticed. He's gone for you, baby boy.”
That brought the first mirthful laugh to my lips in week. (71/76)
“You already knew.”
“I did.”
“How?”
“I have my ways,” she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Also, his eyes follow you everywhere. Anyone actually paying attention would have noticed. He's gone for you, baby boy.”
That brought the first mirthful laugh to my lips in week. (71/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
“So?”
“You already knew.”
“I did.”
“How?”
“I have my ways,” she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Also, his eyes follow you everywhere. Anyone actually paying attention would have noticed. He's gone for you, baby boy.”
That brought the first mirthful laugh to my lips in week. (71/76)
“You already knew.”
“I did.”
“How?”
“I have my ways,” she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Also, his eyes follow you everywhere. Anyone actually paying attention would have noticed. He's gone for you, baby boy.”
That brought the first mirthful laugh to my lips in week. (71/76)
I left him there, under the bleachers. He needed his own time to figure things out. I suggested he start coming out to people. He told me he was telling his best friend later that night at the after party. He told me I should come. I refused.
Maria was waiting for me in the parking lot. (70/76)
Maria was waiting for me in the parking lot. (70/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I left him there, under the bleachers. He needed his own time to figure things out. I suggested he start coming out to people. He told me he was telling his best friend later that night at the after party. He told me I should come. I refused.
Maria was waiting for me in the parking lot. (70/76)
Maria was waiting for me in the parking lot. (70/76)
me. You called me a f--. Yes. A damn month.”
“A month. Okay. Yeah. Can I text you?”
“Yes. About school. Nothing else. One message that mentions anything but schoolwork and I'm out. Got it?” The puppy Jacob had become nodded. Oh. That was… I was not going down that path right now. (69/76)
“A month. Okay. Yeah. Can I text you?”
“Yes. About school. Nothing else. One message that mentions anything but schoolwork and I'm out. Got it?” The puppy Jacob had become nodded. Oh. That was… I was not going down that path right now. (69/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
me. You called me a f--. Yes. A damn month.”
“A month. Okay. Yeah. Can I text you?”
“Yes. About school. Nothing else. One message that mentions anything but schoolwork and I'm out. Got it?” The puppy Jacob had become nodded. Oh. That was… I was not going down that path right now. (69/76)
“A month. Okay. Yeah. Can I text you?”
“Yes. About school. Nothing else. One message that mentions anything but schoolwork and I'm out. Got it?” The puppy Jacob had become nodded. Oh. That was… I was not going down that path right now. (69/76)
Not a punch, which felt sharp to me. Open hand, make him feel everything. That was… It had that quality of a cymbal but transformed for human skin. It felt… Right.
“Yeah. That one, too,” agreed Jake.
“Damn right,” I said.
“So… Date?”
“Ask me again in a month.”
“That long?”
“You punched (68/76)
“Yeah. That one, too,” agreed Jake.
“Damn right,” I said.
“So… Date?”
“Ask me again in a month.”
“That long?”
“You punched (68/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Not a punch, which felt sharp to me. Open hand, make him feel everything. That was… It had that quality of a cymbal but transformed for human skin. It felt… Right.
“Yeah. That one, too,” agreed Jake.
“Damn right,” I said.
“So… Date?”
“Ask me again in a month.”
“That long?”
“You punched (68/76)
“Yeah. That one, too,” agreed Jake.
“Damn right,” I said.
“So… Date?”
“Ask me again in a month.”
“That long?”
“You punched (68/76)
I could stand here, let anger claw at me, or I could do what mom always did: Take a breath, and tell myself that forgiveness is the harder choice but the right choice. Did you know that people could make that choice?
I slapped him. That was a good compromise. (67/76)
I slapped him. That was a good compromise. (67/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I could stand here, let anger claw at me, or I could do what mom always did: Take a breath, and tell myself that forgiveness is the harder choice but the right choice. Did you know that people could make that choice?
I slapped him. That was a good compromise. (67/76)
I slapped him. That was a good compromise. (67/76)
She reminded me when we got home after she met with Principal Hertz.”
Or maybe I had. People are allowed to make mistakes, I reminded myself, even ones that are terrible. (66/76)
Or maybe I had. People are allowed to make mistakes, I reminded myself, even ones that are terrible. (66/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
She reminded me when we got home after she met with Principal Hertz.”
Or maybe I had. People are allowed to make mistakes, I reminded myself, even ones that are terrible. (66/76)
Or maybe I had. People are allowed to make mistakes, I reminded myself, even ones that are terrible. (66/76)
You probably don't remember, but my mom was your guys's realtor when you first moved here.”
WHAT?
I think I made noises. I must have. Jacob laughed in an awkward, strangled sort of way.
“Yeah… Um. I told Mom that day I thought you were cute. (65/76)
WHAT?
I think I made noises. I must have. Jacob laughed in an awkward, strangled sort of way.
“Yeah… Um. I told Mom that day I thought you were cute. (65/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
You probably don't remember, but my mom was your guys's realtor when you first moved here.”
WHAT?
I think I made noises. I must have. Jacob laughed in an awkward, strangled sort of way.
“Yeah… Um. I told Mom that day I thought you were cute. (65/76)
WHAT?
I think I made noises. I must have. Jacob laughed in an awkward, strangled sort of way.
“Yeah… Um. I told Mom that day I thought you were cute. (65/76)
I… I've had a crush on you since we were eleven.”
Watery eyes found. Watery eyes really weren't scary by any measure. They were… kind of adorable.
“Really?”
"Yes," I said too quickly. How was my mouth ahead of my brain? I hadn't forgiven him yet.
“Mine started when we were eight. (64/76)
Watery eyes found. Watery eyes really weren't scary by any measure. They were… kind of adorable.
“Really?”
"Yes," I said too quickly. How was my mouth ahead of my brain? I hadn't forgiven him yet.
“Mine started when we were eight. (64/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I… I've had a crush on you since we were eleven.”
Watery eyes found. Watery eyes really weren't scary by any measure. They were… kind of adorable.
“Really?”
"Yes," I said too quickly. How was my mouth ahead of my brain? I hadn't forgiven him yet.
“Mine started when we were eight. (64/76)
Watery eyes found. Watery eyes really weren't scary by any measure. They were… kind of adorable.
“Really?”
"Yes," I said too quickly. How was my mouth ahead of my brain? I hadn't forgiven him yet.
“Mine started when we were eight. (64/76)
This boy had punched me, called me a slur, looked far too good in a baseball uniform, and was whining like a puppy in front of me, and had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to go on a date with him?
“Jake…”
“You don't have to.”
I sighed in exasperation. “I know. (63/76)
“Jake…”
“You don't have to.”
I sighed in exasperation. “I know. (63/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
This boy had punched me, called me a slur, looked far too good in a baseball uniform, and was whining like a puppy in front of me, and had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to go on a date with him?
“Jake…”
“You don't have to.”
I sighed in exasperation. “I know. (63/76)
“Jake…”
“You don't have to.”
I sighed in exasperation. “I know. (63/76)
I wanted to stay angry. It felt like the thing you're supposed to do. I wanted to want to punch him again. Instead, I just looked at this boy, and my heart melted. Peter was right. I was way too gone for this guy.
"Would you... Would you still wannagoonadatewimme?" he wobbled.
Did I? (62/76)
"Would you... Would you still wannagoonadatewimme?" he wobbled.
Did I? (62/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I wanted to stay angry. It felt like the thing you're supposed to do. I wanted to want to punch him again. Instead, I just looked at this boy, and my heart melted. Peter was right. I was way too gone for this guy.
"Would you... Would you still wannagoonadatewimme?" he wobbled.
Did I? (62/76)
"Would you... Would you still wannagoonadatewimme?" he wobbled.
Did I? (62/76)
people could do that?"
His eyes found the ground. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
"And you called me a 'f--.' DUDE!"
"Yeah... That was... I'm sorry."
"Don't ever let me hear you say that word again. In any context."
"Yeah. Okay. Yeah."
I raised my fist again and paused. (61/76)
His eyes found the ground. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
"And you called me a 'f--.' DUDE!"
"Yeah... That was... I'm sorry."
"Don't ever let me hear you say that word again. In any context."
"Yeah. Okay. Yeah."
I raised my fist again and paused. (61/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
people could do that?"
His eyes found the ground. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
"And you called me a 'f--.' DUDE!"
"Yeah... That was... I'm sorry."
"Don't ever let me hear you say that word again. In any context."
"Yeah. Okay. Yeah."
I raised my fist again and paused. (61/76)
His eyes found the ground. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
"And you called me a 'f--.' DUDE!"
"Yeah... That was... I'm sorry."
"Don't ever let me hear you say that word again. In any context."
"Yeah. Okay. Yeah."
I raised my fist again and paused. (61/76)
My fist found his face—sorry, Peter, but punching a dude in his dick is not cool. He took the punch. Looked at me. Tears stained his cheeks, eye black streaked through.
"Yeah. Yeah. I... deserved that."
"You did," I agreed. "You're an asshole. You could have just said, 'No.' Did you know (60/76)
"Yeah. Yeah. I... deserved that."
"You did," I agreed. "You're an asshole. You could have just said, 'No.' Did you know (60/76)
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
My fist found his face—sorry, Peter, but punching a dude in his dick is not cool. He took the punch. Looked at me. Tears stained his cheeks, eye black streaked through.
"Yeah. Yeah. I... deserved that."
"You did," I agreed. "You're an asshole. You could have just said, 'No.' Did you know (60/76)
"Yeah. Yeah. I... deserved that."
"You did," I agreed. "You're an asshole. You could have just said, 'No.' Did you know (60/76)