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After the Storm, by Angela Carlton

30/9/2022

 
After the rain storm, my husband appeared in the backyard drugged up and dazed. I didn’t recognize him one bit. He was a shell of himself. My cousin came over to check on things and he slept.

We sat on the porch and counted stars to take our minds off the chaos.1-2-3-4-5, we counted five stars and listened to music. It was another escape. We drank wine and ate finger foods. I didn’t have an appetite really. I was just going through the motions, hanging on, and waiting for my husband to reappear physically and emotionally for this is what happens when you hang with a wicked crowd.

My cousin loaded the dishwasher, emptied the garbage, and collected the mail as I curled up in a lounge chair listening to the rhythm of the katydids under a throw blanket with tears rolling down my cheeks.

“I’ve gathered the mail,” my cousin whispered. “I put it on the counter. I’ll come to visit again tomorrow after you’ve slept. Please get some sleep.”

As she stepped out into the night, the cousin noticed the air was very cold. When she looked for those five stars they had found plastered in the sky, she could not find a single one.
Jim Bartlett link
30/9/2022 04:56:31 pm

Okay, I have read this three times, and each have left me wanting. This is wonderful, yet so heartbreaking, and so deep. There is more, much more to this story, and one day you need to tell us the rest...
Nice
Jim

Doug
30/9/2022 07:02:14 pm

The lack of stars sounds like there is an ominous threat coming over the horizon. Good job.

Angela Carlton link
30/9/2022 08:26:14 pm

Thanks guys, there are layers to this which in turn equals a story collection. I am pleased to see it is getting the wheels turning!

Meredith Chiwenkpe Asuru
30/9/2022 08:58:15 pm

I really want to go deeper. My imagination is running in many directions. Good one

Natalie
30/9/2022 10:16:02 pm

Completely agree with Jim. I could feel the chill as the cousin was leaving…

Ashley Smallwood
1/10/2022 02:44:17 am

Good story! It does make you wonder what's next interesting...

Sue Clayton
1/10/2022 05:46:38 am

Puts me in mind of the song "three stars will shine tonight". Who or what were those five stars?

Angela Carlton link
1/10/2022 01:53:28 pm

Thank you everyone. I enjoy the feedback, stellar.

Mimi Grouse
1/10/2022 02:02:49 pm

Very sad, and very well written.

Peggy Gerber
1/10/2022 08:38:03 pm

Beautifully written. I love the clear imagery.

Brook
2/10/2022 02:23:52 am

I look forward to the wonderful phrases like recognize him one bit and rhythm of the katydids. I recognize a time and a place of this story. All that is left is to find out the mystery of the husband and why she is crying. Good job Angela

J9
4/10/2022 11:49:09 pm

I need more

Padmini Krishnan
5/10/2022 12:39:32 pm

I feel as if I have understood, but I am still not sure if my interpretation was correct. Will there be a sequel?

Angela Carlton link
5/10/2022 05:10:17 pm

Thanks again everyone. This is part of a novella I'm working on so from time to time I do publish them here.

EDITOR NOTE
6/10/2022 01:41:45 pm

Just a clarification for all – stories must be free-standing. You won't get to find out what happens next... unless you buy Angela's novella!


Comments are closed.

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    Friday Flash Fiction is primarily a site for stories of 100 words or fewer, and our authors are expected to take on that challenge if they possibly can. Most stories of under 150 words can be trimmed and we do not accept submissions of 101-150 words.


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    ​Please note that we tend to post longer flash fiction exactly as we find it – wrong spacing, everything.

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