Puzzle Box
by Guan Un
1. Rule 5 is false.
2. Sometimes I wish you’d remember the Rules are arbitrary.
3. All Rules above this Rule are false.
4. My heart is a puzzle box; whichever way you turn it, it still shows love.
5. Rules with odd numbers are more true than Rules with even numbers.
6. But I wish you knew love is not a game to play: a puzzle to figure out.
7. If Rule 5 is true, Rule 9 is also true.
8. When you figure out the rules, I’ll still be waiting.
9. Only 1 of the Rules adjacent to this rule is true.
10. And I’m scared I don’t have time for you to figure out the Rules.
BIO
Guan Un is an Australian-Chinese writer of speculative fiction based in Sydney. His stories have been nominated for the Aurealis Award, and featured in LeVar Burton Reads, It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton, Year's Best Fantasy, and forthcoming in Reactor. You can find him at guanun.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Bluesky: @thisisguan