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The Haunted Border

January 2, 2022 8 Comments

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Blood drained from Maria’s fingers as she seized the chain-link fence separating her from Cristiano and Ángel. Her two youngest boys, caged in the land of the free. Cristiano’s skinny, too-still body was curled around Ángel’s on the cold concrete floor.

Maria gasped a prayer begging God and the border guard to hold them again. The gray-haired guard shook his head, denying her plea, but his Aviators reflected an otherworldly shimmer.

Ghostly arms wrapped around Maria’s legs. Weightless kisses brushed her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, Mommy,” Ángel whispered as Cristiano’s ethereal thumbs wiped her tears away. “We will stay with you—always.”

By Jim Latham

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Goldstone says

    January 2, 2022 at 7:24 am

    Excellent, especially – “caged in the land of the free”.

    Reply
    • Jim says

      January 2, 2022 at 8:03 am

      Thank you, Tim. Glad buoy enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Alastair says

    January 2, 2022 at 8:28 am

    Ouch. Powerful piece, well done!

    Reply
  3. Justin says

    January 2, 2022 at 8:39 am

    The final paragraph will stick with me for a long time. Powerful!

    Great stuff, Jim.

    Reply
  4. Nan says

    January 2, 2022 at 9:32 am

    Everyone who takes our freedom for granted should read this!

    Reply
  5. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    January 4, 2022 at 6:36 am

    Excellent read… I feel the emotions from the first word… kudos…

    Reply
  6. Nancy Rule says

    January 5, 2022 at 11:09 am

    ooh the reflection in his aviators – good visual – great story! so sad 🙁

    Reply
  7. Nina says

    January 5, 2022 at 5:52 pm

    This one stuck with me. Haunting and so very sad.

    Reply

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