September 14: Flash Fiction Challenge

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This is in response to Charli Mill’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. The theme is riptide.

Here’s my entry:

The Riptide Suitcases

The riptide hid in two shallow suitcases. Foreign tee-shirts lay crushed against jumpers, jeans pressed unfolded next to sandals and boots. I lifted my daughter’s larger suitcase up; it was heavy but not as heavy as my swirling heart.

No traffic impeded our journey. The ripples began early, too early. We shared coffee but didn’t eat. The departure gate beckoned. The riptide began. It burst out of me. I cried, no I wailed. Guilt crashed against waves of sadness. Sadness wrestled and drowned my heart. Never again will I feel such depths of emotion. My adventurer, daughter had gone.

Recently my daughter left the UK for at least a year (perhaps more,) to work abroad in South Korea, teaching English as a Foreign Language. I couldn’t be happier for her but I couldn’t be any sadder either at her departure. I cried and cried! Such emotions, perhaps I’d been keeping them in for a long time? I didn’t cry when she went to University, and now I made up for it, spectacularly. What an outpouring!

To enter Charli’s challenge respond by September 19, 2017 to be included in Charli’s compilation (published September 20). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!

https://carrotranch.com/2017/09/15/september-14-2017/

 

Perhaps you have had similar experiences when your son or daughter has left home? Do comment below.

Bye for now,

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My social media links:

Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time

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Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!

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25 thoughts on “September 14: Flash Fiction Challenge

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    1. Yes indeed, I found it so overwhelming! Not unexpected but the emotions were powerful nonetheless. And the guilt – because I made her cry too and my youngest too! Still, it’s all good now I know she is happy and that is all a parent can ask for. 🙂

    1. Thank you Samantha. Good luck to Alex, hope all goes well for his new beginning. Exciting times ahead for our sons and daughters. My youngest is now looking at Universities too. Goodness knows what I’ll be like when they have all flown the nest. Hate to think. At least you have your lovely cats to cheer you up! xxx

      1. I’d love to see her but not so much the ticks! Natasha hasn’t mentioned her blog yet, too busy going out to parties! I’ll ask her about it in a little while… She has a week off in October and is going to do a bit of exploring then.

      1. The memoirists who write flash fiction use BOTS based on a true story. I didn’t know the term either! I love learning from all the different writers.

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