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Friday Fictioneers – Choices

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Word Count:  100

Choices

The Reclining Gentleman

Walking was meditation to her.  It permitted her thoughts to go where they would: sometimes willy-nilly, sometimes very thoughtfully organised.

This time, her thoughts were focused on wishing she were elsewhere.  This whole single-parenting thing was so not fun at times!  Yes, no spouse meant no extra arguing over how to handle whatever the situation was, but it also meant there was no one to back you and commiserate with you.

How tempting it would be to cross this bridge into a new life, leaving the old one behind.

She never heard the blare of horns, the screech of tires…

100 Word Stories – Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Photo Prompt:  The Reclining Gentleman

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98 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Choices”

  15. Well written, Dale, but incredibly sad. I experienced single parenthood for the first four years of my daughter’s life. Sometimes I used to go into complete meltdown about silly things. It was often due to complete exhaustion, working fulltime nursing and then coming home to a hyperactive child. Fortunately, I had a wonderful network of friends, many of them single-parents, too, so we used to support each other both emotionally and with practical sharing of responsibilities. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in that situation without any friends, or not be the sort of person who found it easy to unburden their stresses to others.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Sarah. I am lucky enough to have a good support system as well but now that they are teenagers… whole ‘nother ballgame! Thank goodness for blogging, getting together with friends to commiserate and Zeke, who gets me out there to walk it off!

      Liked by 1 person

    • It’s unfortunately not all kisses and hugs. When looking back, though, one would hope there was more on the happy side!

      Like

  20. Yikes. This is why I tell my wife walking is dangerous. Actually, I tell her exercise is dangerous whenever she tries to get me off the couch. But this unexpected ending really was pretty grim. Is it bad to say I liked your tale?

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’m just reading a story collection by an Australian author – Danielle Wood – called ‘Mothers Grimm’. I think you’d like it. There’s a particular story in there called ‘Sleep’, which your story makes me think of. Your tale of this mother’s struggle and the sheer fatigue of keeping on going alone is very evocative and wonderfully told. So tragic.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Okay, first of all, I thought your story was very well done. Secondly, the great thing about being the reader is that I’m free to imagine the situation as I like. I need this since my life has misery enough already.

    I was delighted to discover in your story that after the screech of tires, the man jumped out. “Are you okay?” he said in the velvety yet compassionate tones you might expect from a handsome, tragically-widowed, billionaire doctor who loves children.

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Dale, You bring the character’s struggles to light in so few words. Raising teenagers is no fun …that too alone…I hear that there is light at the end of that short tunnel so hold on to this blog!

    Nicely written.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Realistic and tragic, but well-written story, Dale. I did some single parenting also when my husband was away on business. I guess many of us have. It’s easier if you know they’re coming back though. Well done. — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

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