This flash fiction was written for Carrot Ranch. If you’d like to join in, click here.
Mourning (99 words)
So much pain.
I became mean, tired, despondent. I pushed. I shoved. Told everyone to leave.
They did.
Through day and night, I existed, feet scuffling as I sleepwalked through life, uncomprehending light or dark or winter or spring until I blinked awake, teary, pillow sodden, a scratching on the back-door reverberating through the house.
I willed the sound away. I had power: I willed people away. I could will this away. Yet, it continued.
Opening the door, I saw your brown eyes gazing from a dog’s face, a dog with your joie de vivre, who invited himself in.
end
Sascha Darlington
That’s a great response Sascha.
🙂 Thank you so much, Michael!
Realistic, but a sad place for the protagonist, Sascha. And perhaps not so flattering for whoever had dog eyes. I like the attempt at willing sounds away. I do that myself at night — “Sounds like a pterodactyl on the roof , but it’s nothing, just my imagination.”
That made me launch into a song: just my imagination….running away with me….”
Aw. I think some people have puppy dog eyes and it’s cute. But then I think puppy dogs are cute. 🙂
Yes, that’s true, people can have eyes that remind us of dogs and cats and it’s kind of cute.
I was being a bit me 🤓, because I think that if someone actually had the eyes of a different species (canine), which are quite different in many aspects, it would probably be terrifying.
ps Thank you, as always, for reading!
I enjoy it, as always.
I’m confused. I thought it was a dog not a person with dog eyes. Hmmm. I assumed that based on the scratching at the door. People don’t do that (do they?). I think I’ll let it be a dog. That’s who I’d let in. 🙂
She lost her husband who had warm brown eyes. It was a dog at the door.
Dogs are often the best medicine.
Even when you don’t know you need it. 🙂
Thanks!
You captured that walling off people in pain and grief do, and showed how a dog can get in easily. Well-written for maximum effect (meaning, I teared up).
I appreciate that so much! Thank you.