No More Bets
In a game of roulette
I place my bet
on 31–
my gamble’s begun
the wheel turns
sweat
seeps from my brow
the wheel spins now
can’t close my eyes,
can’t bear to watch
I dread
to lose
it all
the croupier
calls
no more bets
the chips are down
I frown
the wheel turns—
numbers blur
with each spin
and clack
clack
clack
I hold my breath
cross my fingers
behind my back
and wish me luck
the ball
stops
where—
what—
number
is it in
I dream
I hope
did I win—
Nope.
—Lesley Scoble, July 2026
Acknowledgements
No More Bets was written in response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #380.
The prompt image is by Kaysha.
My thanks to Melissa Lemay for inspiring my poem.
And my thanks to you, the reader for being here.
LesleyScoble.com 
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