By Stephen Snyder
Sara always looked forward to the strawberry festival in May. Every year her mother took a picture of Sara smiling from ear to ear, a half-eaten shortcake in one hand, and red syrup running over her chin.
This year Sara learned a grim new word: ALS. Months later, Sara said goodbye. In the spring, her father took her to the festival. But the crowd and music seemed faded and worn. Still, her dad took the picture—Sara trying to smile, half-eaten shortcake in one hand, and red syrup running over her chin—looking for normal. The bittersweet taste of strawberries lingered.
Wow. I keep going back to the sentence “Months later, Sara said goodbye.” It feels like the whole story hinges on that, but it’s open to interpretation. Did Sara as a soul, as the intact personality of Sara leave? Did Sara literally die? Did that happen before or after the festival? I wish I had answers. Sara’s family probably does too. Really well written, Stephen!
Sara’s mother died so her dad took her to the strawberry festival instead.
Yes, that was the only part that wasn’t immediately clear and does sound like Sara is the one who died, though I understood after I went back over it a second time… Well written otherwise… loved ‘the crowd and music seemed faded and worn’
Very well done. A good story arc. I like that Sara’s grief is told through line line: ” the crowd and the music seemed faded and worn.”
Very powerful and moving.
Poignant…