I went to Vampire School to learn how to seek out victims and get blood out of a body: necks, arteries, veins; the whole nine yards.
They told me you could only go out at night. I didn’t mind because I’ve learnt to like night life: clubs, booze, drugs. Sex with strangers.
I was in my early teens when I realised: I’m not like the others. I denied it to myself at first. I was scared what people would say. They would make fun of me; shun me. They might beat me up.
Mum and Dad could never understand. All parents are selfish; they want their kids to be like them: hanging around undertakers, cemeteries and crypts.
I knew I couldn’t live like that. I had other tastes. I was sixteen when just by chance in a coffeeshop I met an older vampire and I could see straight away he wasn’t like the others. We began meeting and quickly became friends. He taught me that it was okay to be myself. To have pride.
Other vampires hated us. They said we were ‘queer’ and a danger to children.
Now, I no longer hang around in the dark seeking out people to kill and drink their blood. Me and my new family enjoy cosy parties in each other’s homes and we go to bars and clubs to be ourselves.
Who needs blood when you can have watermelon juice, pumpkin spice latte, and apple kiwi smoothies.
Out and proud! The Vegan Vampires.
Words: Richard Rooney
Illustration: A.I.
Flash Fiction 250
Flash Fiction 250 