The tie-dye sunset darkened to bejeweled black velvet, and still the little girl sat on the top step. Her cutoff shorts tickled the backs of her legs with stray threads, and she yanked them off with dirty fingers, waiting.
The front door opened with that familiar creak and a short woman sat down beside her. She wrapped one muscular arm around the girl’s shoulders.
“It’s going to be ok,” she said. “They’ll be back soon.”
The girl tried to nod. But she knew, already, that it was a lie. Nothing was ever going to be ok again.
Still, she waited.
About the Creator
Emily Finhill
I'm just a tormented spinster authoress, trapped in the life of a happy suburban mom.
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You are the problem
In our intricate web of social interactions, blame often emerges as a central thread, woven into the fabric of our collective consciousness. It's a potent force, capable of shaping relationships, influencing decisions, and even defining identities. Yet, in our quest to assign fault, we often overlook the complexity inherent in the act of blaming itself. This essay endeavors to unravel this enigma, exploring the multifaceted nature of blame and its profound impact on individuals and societies.
By Ekombe hau7 days ago in Fiction
The Burnout Train
This poem was written in response to the Rattle® Poetry Ekphrastic Challenge for April 2024 and was ultimately not selected. You can find more information here. https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/ The image that this poem was specifically written about can be found here. (April 2024 – Gerrie Paino's “Night Train”) https://i0.wp.com/www.rattle.com/ekphrasis/EC24Apr.jpg?ssl=1
By Rae Fairchild (MRB)3 days ago in Poets
Comments (4)
Beautifully poignant mood of dread established here. I both want to and don’t want to know whether her feelings will be confirmed.
Beautifully poignant mood of dread established here. I both want to and don’t want to know whether her feelings will be confirmed.
Ohh, love the element of mystery to this! and that first paragraph is sublime!
Nice story ❤️❗