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The Spot, by Padmini Krishnan

15/9/2023

21 Comments

 
Editor's Choice
My mom did not pick me up that day. It had been 3 hours after school. At last, a neighbour came to collect me.

Policemen were bustling on the ground below my apartment. I was whisked to my unit on the fifteenth floor. My grandmom was there, sobbing.

‘’Your mom has gone to Bangalore,’’ she told me.

My dad stood on the balcony, staring down.

The next day, I saw a red spot on the ground where the police stood.

It has been two years now. The spot is still there. And my mom has not yet returned from Bangalore.

21 Comments
Krystyna
15/9/2023 02:40:26 pm

Congratulations on the “Editor’s Choice”, Padmini.
You’ve done well in the story progression of a sad, difficult topic.

Reply
Padmini
15/9/2023 07:33:06 pm

Thanks a lot, Krystyna. Hope you are well. It had been a few months since I wrote flash fiction.

This was written in the memory of an acquaintance.

Reply
Paul Freeman
15/9/2023 02:57:54 pm

The best flash fiction infers rather than states, as this story does.

Reply
Padmini
15/9/2023 07:33:51 pm

Thank you so much or reading, Paul, and your kind words.

Reply
Padmini
15/9/2023 07:36:12 pm

Thank you so much, Gordon, for selecting my story as the editor's choice this week.

Reply
Sivan Pillai
16/9/2023 05:21:34 am

The child has to learn to live without her mother. Nice story, Padmini.

Reply
Padmini
16/9/2023 05:39:03 am

Yes, you are right. Thank you so much for reading, Sivan

Reply
Tom Baldwin
16/9/2023 05:28:38 am

There is a lot unsaid in this story. Wel done, Padmini.

Reply
Padmini
16/9/2023 07:07:55 am

Thank you so much, Tom, for your encouraging words

Reply
Sue Clayton
16/9/2023 05:50:44 am

The truth might have been kinder. This child's heart is breaking every day.

Reply
Padmini
16/9/2023 07:13:36 am

You are right, Sue. It is even more heartbreaking indeed when the kid has no nanny and the father is away in office for 10-12 hours a day. The mother means everything to him.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Sue.

Reply
Christa Loughrey
16/9/2023 09:11:01 am

A well-deserved editor's choice, Padmina. Simple, deep - heartbreak gently portrayed.

Reply
Padmini
16/9/2023 11:39:31 am

Thank you for reading and commenting, Christa.

Reply
David Lowis
16/9/2023 10:27:00 am

I echo the above comments. I like the slight ambiguity of the ending. And congratulations on Editor's Choice.

Reply
Padmini
16/9/2023 11:41:22 am

Thanks a lot, David, for your kind comment.

Reply
Don Tassone link
16/9/2023 01:25:30 pm

Heart-rending story. Perfect title. Well done, Padmini.

Reply
Padmini
17/9/2023 04:24:16 am

Thanks a lot, Don

Reply
Jim Bartlett link
16/9/2023 03:38:20 pm

I agree with Don (and the others commenting here) - heart wrenching. Congratulations on being the Editor's Choice.
Jim

Reply
Padmini
17/9/2023 04:25:13 am

Thank you so much, Jim

Reply
Angela link
16/9/2023 06:21:52 pm

What a heartfelt and moving story!

Reply
Padmini
17/9/2023 04:25:47 am

Thank you for reading, Angela

Reply



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