Remembering
“You sure this is the place?”
He nodded. “There’s the hollow oak where you hid. I ran to tag you, tripped on a stump.”
“Which is still here. After twenty years.”
“You came to help me, found the key.”
“Saved it in my treasure box. Forgot about it. Till we remembered the saying.”
She who unlocks the forest door, lives and thrives forevermore.
“Look, Katya. Bricks! A window!”
“The forest door!”
Katya reached it first. She shivered, afraid to try the key, afraid not to. “For our children,” Denis reminded her.
She took a deep breath and inserted the key.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello everyone! This story is part of an ongoing series, which will be continuing. To read all the related stories, go to Search and type in “Katya”. Enjoy!
I am wondering what is behind the forest door? And what happens when they open it? But what most captured me is the phrase saying, “For our children”. We parents will do everything for the sake of our children, even if it is too risky or in a life-threatening situation. The snappiest salute to all parents who are willing to take a risk for the sake of their children.
Yes, Katya and Denis are thinking of their as yet unborn children. Thanks so much for reading and for your wonderful salute to parents everywhere! Stay tuned for more adventures of Katya and Denis …
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI am excited to read more adventures of Katya and Denis. Hope I will read that soon.
There is something fascinating about a door in the forest. I cannot help but wonder what they will find on the other side. You have set the scene so well, it is easy to picture them standing in front of the door and Katya reaching out to unlock it. I enjoyed reading your story.
Thank you, Marianna. I too am fascinated by a half-hidden forest door, especially one in such a lovely shade of blue-green, round, and half-hidden by flowers. What will happen next? I am also curious.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI have a door in a forest in my ‘Forest Magic’ short story that I published on Kindle and KU earlier this year if you’re interested.
I have read your story, Forest Magic, and can definitely recommend it!
Thanks Marianna, that’s kind of you to say.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleIt is a stunning picture you chose for this story. It might be the start to a longer story?
Love this Juma, so much mystery, so much that is left unsaid for the reader to think about. The ‘for our children’ made the story feel more urgent, like they are looking for a place to escape too with their children. It leaves you wanting to know more. Very nicely done.
Hello Carrie. I think I want to know more as well. You’ve set such a precedence with your recurring characters – dare I try to follow in your footsteps?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOh, definitely. It’s surprising where it may take you. With the ‘Write Storybooks’ prompts I wrote several stories starring eleven year old twins ‘Jem and Clem’. Now I’m writing a children’s chapter book about their adventures, so it’s definitely worth writing prequels and sequels to the micro / flash fiction stories that you submit here ?
Ok, Carrie. I have taken your advice and have written the next episode of the story of Katya and Denis! It is entitled “Forgetting” – another Doors micro. I hope you enjoy it!
Because there is no hint as to what could be there we are all kept guessing by the clever crafting of the story.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks, Susan. The more I think about Katya and Denis, the more curious I get. I think there may be some clues in the picture itself. I will revisit the forest scene and see what I can find out …
Love how the dialogue tells us so much about Katya and Denis and drives the story Juma. Leaving us with the cliffhanger – will she turn the key and, if so, where will it lead? Very well written.
Thanks, Linda! We’ve all been so inspired by other cliffhangers from
Carrie OLeary (will Mab ever outlive her Christmas Tree trauma?) and 
Lisa Gledhill (what is in the package and what makes it lumpy?) that I feel inspired to continue in their great tradition. Stay tuned for more adventures of Katya and Denis.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleIf my ‘Cherry Blossom’ story is shortlisted, you might just find out ?
Oh I LOVE your story! Cannot wait to read further. Pleased I helped inspire you 🙂
It all seems very symbolic and open-ended, Juma, which makes it possible (and necessary) for the reader to activate their own mind and try to imagine what Katya and Denis are going through. And, of course, what they already have been through during the twenty years that have passed since the key was found. Fascinating! I hope you’ll be able to delve deep into their story!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello Juma, what question do we ask first? I’d like to think, opening the forest door is stepping into the world of nature, lives and thrives for evermore – (not in a material world)
This story is brilliant. It is very intriguing.