Escape

Skipping along the stone street, I glance behind me.  My mama and papa smile at me and my heart soars.  A little boy dressed in tattered clothes sits on the curb in front of my house.  He opens his mouth and screams. I frantically look toward my parents, who fade away as I jolt awake. Luotian…

Princess

My parents waited a long time to have me.  They wanted a child born in the most auspicious year of the dragon.  It was 1988.  The double eights were especially lucky too.  They hoped for a boy.  I was born a girl.  As a small child riding in the front seat of my baba’s taxi,…

Taken

The flower market at Lunar New Year was exquisite. Rosita held her daughter’s small hand as they glided through, admiring the brilliant exotic plants.  They chattered excitedly, making their way back to the hotel where her husband waited.  They had planned a special dinner for the last night of their vacation. A scream popped their joyful…

Chess Set

Wiping away her tears, Alina stood on tiptoe peering through the pawn shop window at her papa’s beloved chess set.  He was gone, the drink had taken him to his grave. Alina’s mama promised, “Someday, we’ll buy it back.”  But, her mama’s broken heart pulled her to the grave soon after. Winters were brutal, Alina…

Safe Place

Her mama told Nara to stay below deck.  She peeked through a tiny window at the people on shore. Their singsong voices drifted as they greeted one another, as vendors hawked their wares in the colorful market.  Will this be the place?  Returning to sit amongst her sisters, the gentle bobbing of the boat and the…

Sacrifice

Tuya saunters through the grass watching the herds grazing.  Her daughter, Sarnai, gleefully dances along beside her. “Mommy, I’m hungry,” yanks Tuya from her dream.  The cruel winter had taken their herds and her husband.  She and her daughter were forced to move to the city.  With little money, Tuya must choose; buy food or…

Tribute

“Why did you do it?” the bystander asked. The soldier answered, “We did it for John. Serving our country with pride, we left a part of ourselves in Afghanistan.”  The young man raised his prosthetic leg.  “For some of us, it’s literal.  We struggled to fit back into normal life.  John understood because he’d been there…

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, 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 saw land.  The…

“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…