As a child, Raul dreamed of climbing into the sky. Becoming an angel. Poor Raul. Momma grew marijuana in the greenhouse. Smoked. Drank. Got too high. Had too many boyfriends. Not one admitted Raul was his son. Raul planted flowers. Momma ripped them out. Seeing their empty cupboard, he planted beans. Momma tore them out. When Momma gave birth, Raul named the baby Angel because Momma was too high to care. Days he watched clouds. Nights he showed Angel constellations and fell in love with her smile. The day Momma traded Angel for a case of bourbon Raul’s dream shattered.
Up From the Ashes 
Welcome back, Alicia. And with such a powerful story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s been such a long time. Rochelle had to help me post this story.
LikeLike
This is just sad.
Great writing.
LikeLike
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is a real tough life story. Nice to see you again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to be back
LikeLiked by 1 person
Momma seems to be a bit of a problem. Wow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeez, Alicia! Why don’t you just rip out my heart already!!
Excellent story, however 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
So much sadness in so few words. Life can be very hard on some individuals
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, boy! You’re so right! Thanks, Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Raul has been handed an extremely difficult life. His mother’s drug and alcohol addictions have destroyed poor Rail. Sad!!!
Glad to see you writing with us again, Alicia.
Hope you’re well … Izzy 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fun! Glad to be back. Thanks for reading my wee story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh gosh, this is gutting!
Beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laurie.
LikeLike
Dear Lish,
First, a hearty welcome back to the FFFold. We’ve kept your space for you. 😉
What a gut wrencher of a story. Raul needs to trade Mama in for a real human being. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s nice to be back. Now I just need to figure out how to post my own stories. It’s been WAY too long.
LikeLike
It’s so good to see you back, Alicia. No one else can rip out our hearts and squash them as you do, what a re-entry into the FFFold.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Gabi. It’s been a while, that’s for sure. Thanks for the welcome back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes! What a horrible story. He will have problems the rest of his life with that family history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
That is one powerful story to mark your return to FriFic, Alicia. Lovely to read from you again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sandra. Now let’s see if I can keep it up!
LikeLike
Sadly, this isn’t always fiction. Children have suffered because parents are addicts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! I was so lucky to have wonderful parents and siblings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Didn’t always enjoy my sib at the time, but things tend to change over time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Momma Monster. Some kids go on to thrive because of such monsters, but most spend the rest of their lives trying to recover from the trauma. I hope both kids survived and went on to better places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I hope they make it too. So many kids are permanently damaged by their parents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Alicia.
LikeLike
That’s how supervillains are born. It’s nice to think Raul could defy the odds and go on to make something of himself, but those odds are hard to defy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, boy. They sure are. Thanks for reading and leaving a reply.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Damn! That last line punched me in the gut.
Amazing work, Alicia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thanks! Glad you stopped by to read my wee story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I did!
LikeLike