“It’s autumn.”
“Yes, mum.”
“Oh! It’s my favourite season of the year. I love the gold and orange leaves. I love the windy nights.”
“Sure you do mum.”

“Oh! Can I go and see my mama? She’d be waiting to have me sit by her side at the table. We’d have a lovely dinner together.”
“Oh! But mum, mama is gone.”
“What do you mean by gone?”
“I mean she’s no longer alive.”
“No, that’s not true. But when?”
“Oh! Mum, it’s been a very long time. I was still a young girl then.”
“Oh!”
She covered her face with her hands crying. Lisa went close to her to console her.
“Mum, it’s ok.”

“Then can I go to see my papa?”
Lisa was startled. She didn’t know what to say. Her lips trembled as she spoke softly.
“But mum, Papa is also gone.”
“You mean, he’s also dead.”
Lisa nodded.
“No! He isn’t. He’s at the train station waiting for me.”

She became hysterical. Lisa called the nurses. She was sedated. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched her mother go to sleep. She kissed her on her forehead. She couldn’t believe her mother could come to a shadow of herself overnight. It was like a dream to her.

Lisa was going to see her mother from time to time. At the dawn of a Tuesday, she got an urgent call from the hospital. She hurried down. Her mother was in critical condition. She sat by her side until evening. As the moon was taking its place in the sky, she gave up. Lisa cried
uncontrollably. Her only family has gone. She has been bereaved of her sisters years ago. Her children rallied around her to console her. At her mother’s funeral, she read her tribute.

Gone to a home beyond,

Gone to be with her kindred.
She battled the midnight man,
He prevailed and stole her away,
But he didn’t steal her soul.
My mother departed in the autumn,
Her favourite season.
You’re forever remembered.

She bowed her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

    5 1 vote
    Post Rating
    11 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Bella Minyo
    Bella Minyo(@bella-minyo)
    1 year ago

    Thompson, the dialogue in your story really stuck out to me. The way it was worded and used to tell the story before the story was revealed was ingenious. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your story of the pain one goes through when watching a loved one lose a part of themselves and the depth you created in those characters, words, and actions in less than 350 words.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    It is a heartfelt and tearful read, Thompson. And I really love the poem that is Lisa’s tribute to her mother. It’s a well-paced story. And the title is great. Lovely.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Thompson Emate
    1 year ago

    You’re always welcome, Thompson.

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    1 year ago

    Sweet story, Thompson. I like the reference to midnight man.

    Greene M Wills
    Greene M Wills(@greene-m-wills)
    1 year ago

    I loved this story of a human being clinging to her past in her confusion. She must have felt safe and loved while she was a little girl… The grief her daughter feels is so genuine and raw and wonderfully described through your words. The poem is so lovely!

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    1 year ago

    Well done, Thompson, you have captured the pain and sadness of watching a loved one’s decline very, very well. In particular, how sad it is to have to tell someone again that a loved one is dead.

    Recent Comments

    11
    0
    Selected Authors may submit comments (5 Credits)x
    ()
    x
    Scroll to Top

    Sharing a Post

    Why do my friends need to SignIn to read the post I shared?

    Actually, this is a voting security feature. During public voting, only club members can read posts submitted for that contest. Since anyone reading the story is able to vote (click the Like button), we reserve these capabilities to members who SignIn. Before we implemented this security feature, people were voting multiple times and making the public voting process unfair and out of balance. To fix this, our staff finally decided to allow only members who SignIn to read the stories. Membership is free and easy, and ensures our club is safe, secure, and family-friendly!