Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
She’s caught glimpses of him all day, dodging behind hanging rugs, peeping from dark alleyways.
She’s unconcerned; it’s happened many times before. Her therapist describes this as working through the grieving process.
She’s never heard him before though; that’s something new, that low insistent voice.
This way…
Quickly, Mother…
“Go with the flow,” her therapist says, “see where it takes you.”
It took her to a grassy knoll on the outskirts of the market, where she watched the silver arrow streak across the sky.
It afforded an excellent view of the carnage caused when the missile found its target.
Late to the squares this week – couldn’t finish the story before we left for our last gym session before the lock down, tried when I returned, power cut intervened, and then internet wouldn’t reconnect. Maybe I should have just gone for a lie down instead… Thanks to Rochelle, for her consistent and reliable leadership of Friday Fictioneers.
“ecellent view” might suggest she enjoyed what she was seeing. I wonder, is she somehow the cause of the missile attack?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes (in fact quite often) my attempts at grim irony fall flat. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Neil.
LikeLike
Dear Sandra,
What a culmination to her tragedy. It sounds a little like our world today. You think that was bad? Wait for this. Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS You can tell me if I’m off base. 😉 It’s been known to happen before.
LikeLike
No worries, I’m sure she considered it yet another tragedy, even if she miraculously avoided being involved in it. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
So sad. Touching story.
So many have lost their loved ones through these acts of mindless terrorism…
No therapy can heal…
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Anita.
LikeLike
This is late? Sheesh…
That said, what a fantastic take. I like to think he guided her out of there on time and not because she was the cause.
LikeLike
Thanks Dale. Yes, that was the way it was meant to read. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good – can’t always be a sneaky deed, right? 😉
LikeLike
You definitely should have had a lie down instead – this is great.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Liz. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow. At first I was full of empathy for the trauma, but then when she was complimenting the view I thought otherwise!
LikeLike
I read it as his ‘ghost’ saving her from the missile attack. Nice to think she has someone watching over her.
LikeLike
If she saw the “arrow” streaking across the sky, then it didn’t hit her. But its after-effects could well have affected her. Maybe she went to see her son 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I do love it when you go all dark on us!
Delicious…
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this one. So well written. It’s good she listened to his voice, though sad for those left behind.
LikeLike
Her son’s looking out for her, isn’t he? What a tragic (for all the carnage), but tender ghost story!
LikeLike
Ohhh, a perfect halloween ghost spook here. Very well done.
LikeLike
I love the mystery here and how the curtains between life and death and reality and illusion dance in the breeze. Great story!
LikeLike
I enjoyed the psychology of this story. Hard to pull off, yet you did.
LikeLike
He’s still watching over her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we tend to carry our passed love ones with us, we want to see them. I like how you introduced the idea of being observed and guided out of danger.
LikeLike
imagined or not, the son has become her guardian angel of sorts. .let’s leave it at that.
LikeLike
Multiple layers in this piece. I’m especially curious as to the son’s death; it feels likely hat it was in some way violent.
LikeLike
Whoops! ‘That’ not ‘hat’
LikeLike
I imagine she’ll never forget the traumatic scene. Fortunately, her son is with her in spirit.
LikeLike