A Single Adulterous Heart

Short story review

Photo by František Čaník on Unsplash

Lust propels one towards a benevolent goal, love… not so much.

A girl's impression of adoration is not just created, it is indelibly branded on the frontal lobe as soon as she lays eyes on her father. Although nurture plays a role in a woman’s perception of love, biology is the dominant force in one’s perception of sexual attraction.

In medicine, a rebound is the return to a previous state or condition. In life, a rebound is the deliberate act of bouncing back after a hard hit. Both are reactive, however, only the former requires a willingness to improve after a decline.

Told from a first-person perspective and filled with crisp, perfunctory details reminiscent of ‘70s and ‘80s hits describing unmistakable carnal chemistry at first sight, Love Me Daddy, is flash fiction at its finest.

Set in the most historic neighborhood of the world's concrete jungle, this is a nod to infatuation, the most prevalent, yet misunderstood romantic notion. Featuring an unnamed, naturalista protagonist, and an antagonist summed up as tall, wealthy, white, and handsome, this piece will make modest readers blush through carefully crafted internal (lust-filled) desires.

Brimming with contradictory allusions to every girl’s core longing to be loved and never disappoint her first and only true love, this is a bite-sized reminder of the psychological bond between dads and daughters.

Written by

Scarlet Ibis James

as part of the debut short story collection, Scarlet Yearnings, this passionate piece is more meaningful than an incidental encounter. Although brief in form, it is a reliably satisfying conveyance of how memories are aphrodisiacs and have the potential to affect casual encounters.

Rating: 5+ stars

Additional shorts featuring women behaving independently:

Two Sisters, by Ama Ata Aidoo

Her Mother, by Anjaha Appachana

The Swimming Pool¹, by Sarah Ladipo Manyika 

1. Part of the Lagos Noir anthology edited by Chris Abani.