As I watch the GOP turn away from compassion and empathy, as I hear them speak of a world in which it seems “every man for himself” will be the new mantra, I was inspired to write this short tale for a winter night.

WINTER

Anna’s father had denied it right up to the moment his name appeared on the list. After that, all he did was rant on and on about how it wasn’t fair, how he’d been lied to. He’d slapped her mother once, when, fed up with his endless tirades, she’d screamed at him that it was his fault, that he’d ignored all the signs, ignored those who tried to warn everyone, that he’d been selfish and uncaring with all his “every man for himself” and his “dog eat dog” talk- and suddenly,  he’d slapped her, hard, knocking her to the floor.

After that, there had been a long silence lasting for days, until one morning, Anna had come into the kitchen and found him, his face pale, reading a note.. He’d thrown the note away but after he left the house, Anna had dug the note from the trash, unfolding it carefully, reading the words “It’s done”

It took Anna a while to realize that the note meant more than just that her mom had left- and later, weeks later, when they found her mother’s body, Anna had started to understand. Yes, it was done. Her mom’s struggle. The family’s struggle. The struggle for life. Hope. All of it- done.

Anna sighed. They had been warned……

To read the rest of the story, see the link to The Twilight Mirror and the New Dawn by Jordan Amar.

–

©2014 Eschate