Wednesday/Friday has rolled around once again. Today’s story weighs in at 99 words, Finally, I’m under the 100-word limit. I have good news to share. My story A Perfect Death as been accepted for publication in the October 17th edition of the on-line magazine Sweet Tree Review! I’m super excited.
I’ve seen too much, felt too much
Lost everything
Nothing is what it should have been
What I’d planned
At seventeen
They took me and bent me
Into a man I don’t recognize
I walk through my days
Guarded and stealthy
Waiting to be taken again
Waiting to be thrown into a box
Beaten and hounded
Starved
Frozen
Unbearably alone
But I’ve done what is needed
To keep me sane
Made plans
Behind this door?
Enough food to keep me alive for a year
That door?
Blankets upon blankets
What?
The last door?
Can you not hear the voices?
Up From the Ashes 
Oh, chilling last line!
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I think being a POW messed with him a little. This story actually came from a man who stayed with us for a few days. He worked with vets and told us a story about a man who was a POW in WW II and was hungry all the time. Years later he built a walk-in closet with a lock on the door. Inside he kept just about enough food for a year. Even his wife didn’t have a key.
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Wow, what a heavy story — even his wife didn’t have a key? Poor guy, he was messed up (which I can totally believe). Hope he got help.
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The friend who told us the story was a counselor, that’s why the WW II vet was finally letting go of what happened to him. He’d never told anyone before – he was 85 at the time.
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Chilling verse!! Really draws you into the situation.
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Thanks. Poetry isn’t my forte but I’m working on it. Seems to be a good way to go in 100 words. Thanks for your kind words.
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That last line really hits the reader! Great decision there. And congratulations on having your story be accepted :D!!
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Thanks, Jade. And thanks for taking the time to read my story.
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No problem! 🙂
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Dark and chilling stuff.
Congratulations on your upcoming publish!
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Thanks so much on both counts. I’m pretty darned excited!
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Oh my, that way heavy! My grandparents lived through WWII and kept a solid stock of food their entire life. My grandma told me: “You never forget.” You captured it so well.
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I imagine you don’t forget. And hope to never find out. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
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You have captured this so well. It’s one of those situations that I don’t think you can truly appreciate what they went through unless you were there.
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I know! I can’t imagine the mental scars. Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.
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Dear Alicia,
Chilling and emotional. Very well written. Congratulations on your story. 😀 That’s awesome.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’m pretty excited.
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Oh dear!
Oh dear!!
A frightful story.
Congratulations on your story.
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Thanks and thanks, Alicia
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To me this perfectly describe PTSD… I wonder if free will ever be free…
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Thanks, Bjorn, I wonder that myself.
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I’ve known several vets with PTSD. We lose a lot of them to suicide every year. Extremely well written. You put us right there.
Congrats on your publication. I’ll look for it on the 17th.
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Oooooo creepy. This is very well told. A mind shaped by training and experience cannot help but see shadows everywhere. I hope he is okay. What a terrible thing to go through.
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Thanks, Laurie. War leaves so many wounds. I’m glad you stopped by to read and leave a comment. Thanks.
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Congratulations, Alicia, on having your story published. That’s great. Good story here also. If this poor fellow is hearing voices, I fear he’s been pushed over the edge of sanity. I read one time that a devout Mormon family keeps one year’s food in their home. That’s probably not a bad idea. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Susan, I’m pretty happy about the publication! First ever – hopefully not the last. Also, glad you liked The P.O.W. I can’t imagine what those men and women go through.
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That poor man – or woman – has been seriously mistreated. Well written.
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Thanks, Liz. He’s been wounded, that’s for sure! Glad you stopped by. Alicia
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Beautiful!
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Thank you!
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First: congrats on your story being accepted.
Second: that is one chilling poem. Especially the development of what he thought he wanted at seventeen and what he is now. He deals, but for how long? Great writing.
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Thank you so very much. I love it when you stop by. Alicia
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What a hauntingly sad story. I read about your background for the story and it’s really quite heavy. Your story does a great job of capturing such a disturbing situation. I feel for him. Congrats on your story!!! So awesome, Alicia. I’m so happy for you!!
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Thanks, twice over, Amy. I’m glad you liked the story and I’m super excited about being published.
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Heavy subject well rendered in verse
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Thanks very much.
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Wow, you really got into the deepest darkest corners of his mind!
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Thanks, Dawn, I’d hoped that would come across.
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Yes, I can hear the voices
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Oh!
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Alicia
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Powerful story — the poetic style fits it well.
Congratulations on having your story published.
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I’m glad you think the poetic style worked. And thanks so much for the congrats. I’m super excited.
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