PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
She stomped her feet on the mat dislodging most of the compacted snow. Boots pulled off, she hung her wet coat on the hook and made for the kitchen.
The cold had made her nose stream. She grabbed a piece of paper towel, flicked the switch on the kettle and slumped into the tattered armchair by the window.
There was still no news.
Each night she went to bed despairing.
Each morning she woke with renewed hope.
Would it always be this way?
Would knowing be better or worse?
He had only been two years old when he went missing.
Word Count: 100
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Clare Hempstead 
I felt the cold and the desperation
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Thanks Neil.I can only imagine how it must feel.
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Oh, that’s sad. Well done.
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Thanks very much. It must be awful for a parent.
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Dear Clare,
I wonder how long he’s been missing. I felt the cold, the hope and despair at the end of the day. Very well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think because she is doing normal everyday things, he has been missing for some time and she is trying to get on with life. I imagine he is never far from her thoughts though.
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How very sad. I’m not sure how a parent can ever get over that. You captured that sense of suspension beautifully.
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Thanks Sandra. I don’t know if not knowing makes it worse or better if the truth is not the desired outcome.
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That’s a tragic take, captured how life goes on despite awful events and not knowing what has happened to your child must be awful. Well done.
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Thanks Iain. The pain must be with the parent all the time.
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I was right there with her, going through the mundane and feeling her pain. Good descriptors.
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Thanks Dawn. I’m pleased you liked it.
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This is so sad.. I think somewhere deep within all hope has died… i have a feeling it’s more like before closure you have at least to act. Very poignant.
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Thanks Bjorn. I can’t begin to understand how difficult it must be to continue with life in such circumstances.
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Would knowing be better or worse? I think this is a key question in a situation like this. Very well written.
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Thanks Alicia. I don’t know whether I would want there always to be the possibility that the child would be found or whether the not knowing would be unbearable.
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She felt so alone. A fine piece of writing
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Thank you for such a lovely comment, Michael.
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What a tragic situation. At least if she knew one way or the other she could move on.
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Thanks Draliman. I don’t know how people cope when their child goes missing. There must be so many emotions.
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Wow, that last line took a little wind out of my sails. You captured a great atmosphere of winter, etc. Reminds me of growing up on ten acres of land outside of town (which slowly encroached on us in later years). Good story, Clare!
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Thank you so much. That’s a lovely comment to receive.
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Great story, Clare and very haunting.
It reminds me of the dreadful real life disappearance of Australian 3 year old, William Tyrell http://www.whereswilliam.org/
He just vanished from his grandmother’s place.
My daughter is 10 and a few months ago she mentioned a William. I think she wanted the reward money but was also concerned about what has happened to him. I’d never really considered how hearing that story has affected a generation of kids and their parents. I know the kids around here are very conscious of white vans.
xx Rowena
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Thanks Rowena. Sadly, there are so many true stories of children going missing. The pain must be never-ending.
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This is terribly sad and heartbreaking.
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Thanks very much.
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Desperately sad leading to a dreadfully effective last line.
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Thank you Liz.
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Oh. My. Took me by surprise. Well done.
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Thank you very much.
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That’s a big story in 100 words.
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Thanks – we could always do with a few more words! 🙂
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A heavy punch in the last line. The cold despair of everyday life is very well described. I’ve read about people who lost their children that they were relieved when they finally learned what happened. It gave them closure and the knowledge that any suffering had ended. It must be horrible.
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Thanks Gabi. 🙂
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Great writing. The cold is bad enough as we read through but, when we learn there’s a two year old lost out there it goes up another level and is icy horrible.
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Thanks Mick. The chances of finding him alive and unharmed are slim.
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So heart wrenching. You know if it’s cold out, then a two year old missing for even a few minutes could be devastating. I get the feeling it’s been a lot longer than a day or two.
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It is a great task to keep hope alive.
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A sad and beautiful story. You captured the feeling of hopelessness and hope perfectly in the simple actions as you described them.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
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Oh, how hard and painful… you would never stop looking, or waiting. Lump in my throat.
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Thank you very much. 🙂
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Great writing! Would love some feedback on my new post ‘proving ‘them’ wrong’ 🙂 https://malisehoney.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/proving-them-wrong/
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