By Karen Crawford
I didn’t say it when she left for her first day of preschool, first sleepaway, or first semester of college. I didn’t say it after her wedding, when she moved away, or when I took her to rehab.
Her hugs always lasted a little too long.
I can’t say it to her cat, her car, her empty childhood room now cluttered with clothes, makeup, self-help books, pictures, divorce papers, and that one final note.
Instead, I hug her cat just a little too long.
I talk to her picture on my phone every day, yet I still can’t scatter the ashes.
Oh wow! Very powerful, wonderfully written, full of suppressed emotion and the story of a shattered life told in so few words.
Thank you so much for reading, Paul!
full of tightly restrained grief. thank you.
Thank you for reading, Nancy!
Well written piece on regret and sorrow. The reluctance of letting go.
Thank you so much, Mick!
Wow grief and regrets entwined illustrated so powerfully through the written word
Thank you so much for reading, Mary!
Oh, wow! Such a well written narrative of an emotional experience!!
Thank you so much, Dhananjay!
Your story succeeds at conveying this heartbreak extremely well. The details really contribute to putting the reader right there. Kudos!
Thank you so much, Shoshauna!!
A haunting story of regret and the things left unsaid. Nice.
Thank you so much, Mark!
Excellent, strong piece
Thank you so much for reading my piece, Scott!
Hit me by surprise and too close to home. To me, Karen is the queen of short verse.
Thank you for reading, my friend!
Oh, how well crafted each word, each phrase, each sentence appears. Winding up the reader until the last few syllables, when we are left alone with our emotions, a flood, a wave, a crash. Another excellent micro-fiction piece by one of my favorite up-and-coming authors.
Thank you, BC! Really appreciate the read and comments.
Well crafted piece… beautiful yet sad emotions shine through… well done..
Thank you so much for reading, Valli!
Our “If Onlys” so poignantly captured great writing
Thank you, Mary, for the kind words.
I think you are describing the grieving of a parent for a child? Only, a parent’s pain is so much sharper.
Thanks so much for reading my piece, Veronique. Yes, it is about a parent grieving for her child.
I certainly didn’t expect the ashes, but I’ve never had a hug that was “too long.” I think the problem started there. The hugs should have been even longer. Mine are!
Thanks so much for reading and for your comments. Agree 100% about the hugs!
Well done. Goodbye is so hard to say and letting go can feel impossible. Very enjoyable read. Thanks.
Thank you so much for reading, Helen!
Heartbreaking and a lesson to those who indulge themselves by shutting out the world around them.
So clearly written I felt I was standing alongside her looking at the same picture. I love how you evoke the imagery with words. Beautiful piece, sad though it may be.
Thank you so much for both of your comments, D.E. Appreciate them!
The hardest goodbye. There is no word for a parent losing a child, it is not mean to happen. A child loses parents, an orphan, a spouse loses the other, a widow or widower. Compelling.
Thank you so much John for reading my tiny piece and for your comments!
I echo all those comments, praising your powerful story. Remarkable talent.
Thank you so much Liz for reading and for the kind words! 🙂
A sting in my nose says your story dug deep.
Thank you so much Deanna for reading my little piece!