Picture Prompt for Flash Friday @ http://flashfriday.wordpress.com/
Click the link for rules and to enter your own flash, then read my response below.
The Strong One
I heard Mama
scream and ran into the bedroom. I watched her lift his lifeless body. She held
him for several long minutes. I broke the silence. “Mama…” She looked toward me
and then blankly past me. Absently, she passed baby Jonah to me and stumbled
across the floor to her rocker.
Mama was
still rocking when I saw Lizzy coming up the lane from school. I wanted to keep
from upsetting Mama more, so I stepped out to meet Lizzy. I explained what had
happened in the best way I knew how, but I mustn’t have done a very good job,
because she ran inside and buried her face in Mama’s lap.
I re-entered
the house to find Mama absently smoothing Lizzy’s blond curls and felt a pang
of jealousy. I wished momentarily that I was small enough to crawl into Mama’s
lap and let her take away my troubles.
Now it’s my
turn to be the strong one...
(The above is a (condensed) excerpt from the historical fiction novel I am writing.)
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Here is my second entry.
No More Secrets
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Here is my second entry.
No More Secrets
Loraine’s sentient hair curled around her mother’s fingers,
drawing her closer. Warmth spread through her body under Leda’s touch.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I’ve kept this secret for sixteen years. Your father doesn’t
know we lived and I didn’t think you would understand.”
Loraine pulled back from the embrace. “Understand what? That
my father tried to kill both of us—simply because I was going to be different
than other kids?”
“He was trying to protect us both—or so I am told.”
“From what? And you don’t protect people by killing them!”
“Your father was confused and scared—he didn’t know any
better way.”
“Loraine, I want you to know; you saved both of our lives.”
“Me? How? I wasn’t even born yet.”
“I didn’t understand until later, but somehow a tendril of
your hair coiled around my heart—and started it beating again. I thought I had
dreamed it until you were born with these abilities.”
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Edited to add: I won honorable mention for this second piece at #FlashFridayFic. I am truly grateful.
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