By Nancy Patchen
On her last night, the bitter cold outside seeped into the front room. Nina was chilled to the bone from the pain of the past months. She tucked the shawl patterned with lilies around herself in the rocking chair. Her daughter, Angela, bundled on the sofa in a warm robe, kept her company.
Angela talked on and on in the darkness, her soft voice soothing. Nina kept rocking as Angela’s voice grew fainter and fainter and then faded to a whisper. Just before dawn, Nina woke up and carried the shawl over to the sofa to cover her daughter’s lifeless body.
Nicely done. Well paced with an ending that rewards.
That penultiate sentence gave the clue. Sad, but peaceful.
Unexpected end. Poignant and well written
This was cleverly done.
Moving, sad
My gratitude to each one of you who commented. You understood.
Nancy