A pen awakens to find itself gifted to a young boy, only to realise it's not a person but an instrument. As it navigates the highs and lows of being used, discarded, and cherished again, it develops a complex bond with its owner. Through years of scribbles, love letters, and neglect, the pen wrestles with its identity and purpose in a world that remains blind to its sentience. Pen Pals is a captivating short story that explores the imaginative realm of anthropomorphic fiction, offering a unique perspective through the eyes of an inanimate pen brought to life.

4945 words.

Francis Benedict Carlson grew up in Cardiff, Wales. He graduated with a first class BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design from Brunel University. Having spent many years developing E-Learning websites in Cambridge, he realised his passion lay in writing. He studied an MA in Creative Writing at Teesside University and graduated with distinction. In 2021, he published his debut novel, Mercurial Vision, a satirical, dark comedy. He is a keen traveller and has visited 72 countries to date.