Yet another week has passed, and it’s time to share another six-sentence story. However, this week’s prompt word made me derail into a psychologically dark theme. So, a small disclaimer before I let you read: if you are someone who may be triggered by domestic abuse and CPTSD, it might be best to skip this week. For others, dread... tread on—with one eye closed.
Musically, nothing much has changed. I did listen to a lot of Type O Negative this week, which is one of those bands I used to listen to in my teens—Life Is Killing Me specifically is the album I was stuck on.
The weekly writing challenge is hosted by GirlieOnTheEdge, and you can find links to other participants’ work through the link-up. Please do check out the others too, there are a lot of great writers on this hop.
Rules of the hop:
Write 6 sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word.
The link is live from Wednesday at 6:00 PM until late Saturday night.
Spread the word and support fellow writers!
PROMPT WORD: HELP
Six-Sentence Story - Shoelaces
“Daddy, please, no,” our five-year-old heroine chokes on her tears as the man she looks up to most grabs the keys from the mantelpiece.
She runs to the window, barely reaching, rising onto her tiptoes on the bed, her chin resting on the frame—and as she gazes out, the most beautiful woman she has ever known lies there, motionless.
That night, she begged all the gods she could name for silence while sliding into the comforting dark of the slit between the bed frame and the wall, the revs of a six-cylinder BMW M20 engine sending tremors through the air.
In her early teens, our heroine found solace in the arms of a stranger, a man who could have been her father by age, offering kisses for a pack of cigarettes and booze.
“Mommy, help,” the voice of a five-year-old cuts through the air as a spitting image of the girl in our first sentence struggles with her shoelaces.
This voice has become the only one that drowns out the hum of the car when our heroine spaces out, and with those tiny hands and innocent eyes, she did receive a gift from the gods, if I may say.
Perhaps I could invite you to read more of my work:
If you like short stories I have them scooped up into one category (including the six-sentence stories).
Or perhaps I could interest you in poetry and refections or something more personal like the Blog.
I also happen to own an IT studies blog in Estonian and "Chaos in Spring" can be listened to on YouTube, Spotify and other streaming services.
This is a a heavy, beautiful, and deeply human look at the ghosts we carry. The title itself is a perfect metaphor, representing both a mundane childhood struggle and the literal ‘ties’ that bind a daughter to her mother’s past 🙌
Thank you for the comment Ange, am glad you found it beautiful and human while the subject was so heavy.
Parents need to protect their children.
Thank you for the comment!
Yes, I agree and sometimes from themselves…
Unfortunately this type of a thing does happen more than it’s spoken about.
More heinous than abuse perpetrated on adults is the abuse of children.
On a lighter note, Reelika, I knew of them, but for whatever reason never listened to Type O Negative back in the day. Wonder what my current ears will think now? 😎
Thank you for your comment Denise! And yes, while any violence is heinous the one that makes me shiver the most is done on children.
Hopefully you like the band, they have a bit “lighter” songs too on other albums that sound kinda hot.
Ooh, gritty but good.
Thank you Chris, for the comment!
Yeah it came a bit gritty even for me this time but am glad you think it’s good, means a lot coming from another writer, especially a fricking good one as you!
Such difficult subject matter. I chose a related topic. I think it is sad that domestic violence is both of our first mind when we hear the word help. Such is and has always been the way of the world.
It is unfortunate yes, especially with kids involved who are the ones that suffer the most, no kid should witness such horror and fear in the ages of their development.
While it may be easy to say for me that if I had a kid I would take my three things and leave in such a situation …
It remains the way of the world unfortunately and if I could I would change it, but I can only change my world just as one can choose their adult life and partner.
Thank you for your comment.