By Stephanie Hutton
It’s Mummy’s turn to put me to bed.
“Once there was a beautiful princess, as free as the birds…”
Mummy’s wine sloshes gently, the glass as thin and perfect as she was before she had me.
“Now where was I?” she says, dragging her eyes back to me. She doesn’t tell me what happened to the princess.
Mummy pulls up the covers to tuck me in. For just a second, I worry that she will put them right over my ugly face.
“I’m sorry,” I say, because my aching tummy tells me to.
Her kiss only ever comes after lights out.
Wow, a truly tender, bitter-sweet story. A Winner!
Thank you Bobby ?
That wasn’t supposed to be a question mark at the end, must be my insecurity directing my finger taps 😉
What a sad little tale. Very thought provoking.
Really poignant little story. Well done!
I want to hug everyone in this story. I’m sorry. You did this so well.
Really interesting you were able to empathise with the mother too, thank you.
As painful as it is masterful. Impressive piece!
Thank you John. The painful stories seem to leap to mind fastest. I don’t think I have had the compliment of my writing as masterful before, that made my morning!
A very thoughtful story. The best stories, I find, are the simplest ones. They touch the soul in the most unaffected and direct way. Thank you for writing this.