Writer’s Digest 94th Annual Competition Mainstream/Literary Short Story First Place Winner: “The Memory Eater”

Congratulations to Eric Reitan, first-place winner in the Mainstream/Literary Short Story category of the 94th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. Here’s his winning story, “The Memory Eater.”The Memory Eaterby Eric ReitanMalachi, who delivered mail for forty-seven years, stands at the screen door clutching a letter. The branches of the old oak are their own kind of tangle, ice-coated, gleaming like quicksilver in the streetlamp’s glow. There’s no room.” Claire can’t handle more than a few hours with Dan’s wife. Claire is gone.” He doesn’t know who says it, but it sounds like Dan’s voice when he’s cranky and condescending.