Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
This week’s photo prompt is provided by Maria with the blog, Doodles and Scribbles. Thank you Maria!
When my brother had rung me up to inform me that my mother was being placed into a home because she was becoming a danger to herself I did not actually believe it.
It was true that I had not seen her for some time because I had been busy with my own family. That sounds incredibly selfish, but my son had been very ill which prevented me from going to visit a place that was further away than I wanted to be. Just in case.
However, I agreed to help clear out the house because it was going to be put up for sale in order to pay for the care home. When it came to clearing out the pantry I looked at the familiar food and felt a pang of regret for not coming to see mother. Mind you, when I began to pay attention to the food I realise that the dates were long past.
Maybe she was a danger to herself, after all, I thought to myself with a sigh.
Written for flash fiction for aspiring writers
Bittersweet tale about what comes to us all in the end. Well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad that she is just now realizing that she should have gone to visit her mother. Now it’s a little too late, like the food in her pantry. Wonderful story, Angie!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I guess she thought she had for ever. But, yes, she was a bit too late. Thanks for reading and hosting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its a worry isn’t it when you go through someones food cupboard and discover food years out of date…..well done Angie..
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is worrying enough find getting your own cupboard! Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting take on the prompt, and a great insight — it’s so hard to see and admit that someone can’t take care of themselves anymore, both for them and for their loved ones. On the other hand, before I start casting aspersions about expired containers in the pantry, I’d better go check mine… oops…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t even think about looking in mine! I think I would be in a home very fast 🙂 Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Well, we’ll all just agree not to peek.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We grow old and we don’t realize our parents are growing old as well. Nice take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think anybody was to think about it. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not an easy situation to be in…most parents would choose caring for their ill child over visiting their own mothers and “regret” it later. Maybe I’m reading a tone in here that you don’t mean but…I get the feeling there was already an emotional distance between this mother and daughter.
Ellespeth
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I think there was definitely an emotional distance and the child’s illness was more like an excuse. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
As my mother’s dementia deepened, she became fixed on due dates, having me toss food that was week’s away from expiration.
But for the mother and daughter in the story, the expiration dates had passed, bittersweet story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect it can go one way or the other. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Life does have a way of rushing us off our feet.
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly does. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
I think your piece here is true to life. I know with my Baba for instance, she stopped cooking and only ate meals bought from the store — TV dinners. But when she stopped doing that, stopped eating some fruit, and making her coffee, and became very ill due to an infection, it was time to sell her house and move her to a seniors residence where she got some care. She’s at home in the residence now and it’s good she moved there when she did. They feed her and she also sees more people there so she isn’t so isolated. It’s a sad but true part of life. Nice write 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very sad. I suppose you are right Dave, this is life. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great read
hit a nerve
As always Sheldon
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is something my friend went through a while ago when she found her grandmother using expired milk. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is tough being beyond the expiry date (sigh of acceptance)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems we passed that too soon! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
It’s hard to accept that our parents have grown old and are unable to care for themselves any more. It’s even more difficult when we’ve moved some distance away from our old homes, and don’t see them as often as we like. Sadness – and a degree of guilt – hits us when a parent must go into a nursing home because they can no longer care for themselves. But it’s generally for the best, and safer for the elderly than being left alone. Thought-provoking story, Angie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is generally that the best I would agree. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
It’s sad that she’s realising too late that her mother needed her, though I doubt she’d begrudge her the need to care for her own child. Nicely done, Angie. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be a shame to reach that position. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person