I just love how committed you are to your 'Verse, S. This one did NOT disappoint. (And I think you did perfectly fine with the prompt! Inspired by is more important to me than a direct interpretation!) It's so chilling how you've created this formula in which the reader is lulled into understanding the story through ONE lens but in reality, it is a whole 'nother cracked and smeared lens that we should be reading the piece through! That's such a wonderful technique and as each prompt passes I really look forward to being sucked down into this bleak reality of yours!

Nice work with gender neutrality, too! This - Four thick slices of bread sat on the counter next to a pot of cooked vegetables and an open packet of butter. is wildly successful as the gut punch you intended it to be.

Keep going!