Set Free

Sophie absentmindedly rubbed her scarred ankle.  It felt as if the heavy metal cuff still clung there, from the length of chain that had held her captive. Feeling antsy she asked again, “When do we leave?” “Be patient, Sophie.” Abigail urged. Two days later Tatty announced, “It’s time!” Stepping from the house that served as…

Passage

Within the ship, the smell was overwhelming.  Animals once occupied its hull.  Crammed together, people were now its cargo.  Riding the waves of the ocean, my stomach emptied frequently. Will I ever arrive? Saying goodbye to family was heart-wrenching. Will I see them again? My brother told me to jump overboard as soon as I…

“If” She Ran

Since I read about Frank Angle’s IF Challenge, I have been waiting in excited anticipation to join.  The objective is to write a post with the theme “If” in a short story, a poem, or another creative expression.  For more details on this challenge, see the bottom of this post. I chose to write a…

Abandoned

Waking early, I slip out the back door. Invisibility is my goal.  I never steal too much, only enough. Receiving a good price for my trinkets, I return to the abandoned house.  Mom’s smile turns to a frown as she struggles to sit.  From my backpack, I retrieve the medicine I bought with the money…

Freedom

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is hosted by Priceless Joy. The challenge is to write a story based on a photo prompt in 100-150 words (+ / – 25 words). This weeks prompt is courtesy of Fandango. ~~ The elderly looking man slowly hobbled toward the park bench. For hours, it seemed, he stood under…

Lace Maker

Dressed in a stunning blue gown covered in lace, she dances.  Her partner holds her close in his arms.  They float across the marble floor to the uplifting music of the orchestra. A sudden pain explodes across the back of her neck. Looking up, the face of her owner is a strange color purple.  Bending…

Promise

“Friday Fictioneers” is a weekly challenge by Rochelle Wisoff Fields.  The challenge is to write a story, using only 100 words, in response to a photo prompt.  This week’s photo was provided by Bjorn Rudberg.  Other stories can be found here. ~~ She warily entered the main room of the orphanage, feeling uncomfortable in the open space. Living…

Thursday Doors: Mongolia

From 2006-2012, I looked forward to summertime with anticipation and excitement.  It was a privilege and a delight to lead or join teams of volunteers from Hong Kong in traveling to one of my favorite places on the planet, Outer Mongolia.  Most years, the teams included my daughter and son, Sarah & Nathan, which made…

Be Brave

via Daily Prompt: Brave Lately, I have been at a loss on what to write my next post about.  Then appeared the “WordPress Daily Prompt” challenge. The prompt was “brave” and my mind immediately began to whirr (I love when that happens).  I usually feel intimidated by these prompts; however, today I decided to join…

The Widow’s Pot

She comes to mind.  It was more than eight years ago. We’ll call her Hepzibah. Covering her head with her scarf, Hepzibah bowed to pray.  The mat she knelt on covered the dirt floor of the tiny, barely standing, church building that stood in the middle of the slum she called home. Under her scarf,…

Brutal Beast

We recently traveled back to the Philippines for a few weeks.  Walking down the streets and through the slums, the sights took time to process again.  No matter how many times I see poverty and the suffering that is a result, my mind recoils and a shock wave courses through me.  The feelings are compounded…

The Fight

Boarding a plane bound for the Philippines, I barely noticed her.  After squeezing into my seat and clicking the belt closed, a tiny voice said quietly, “Are you vacationing in the Philippines?”  She sat to my left.  Turning to answer her question was the beginning of a wonderful encounter. She was in her young 20’s,…