copyright-Rich Voza
Karen peered into the darkening evening.
“Isn’t Ian coming, Mummy? He said he’s my new daddy.”
“Do you like him?”
“He scares me.”
Karen had other questions but was afraid to ask them.
“Never mind, you won’t see him again.”
‘Unless this plane doesn’t move soon,’ she thought. ‘When he realises we’ve gone, what I’ve packed, he’ll be here with fury.’
She chewed on her lower lip.
Relief flooded through her as the plane taxied. ‘He can’t follow without his passport.’
“Are we going to fly into the dark Mummy?”
“No darling, we’re taking off into a bright new world.”
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
I dread to think what the other questions were, Karen might have asked, but a lovely tale of hope for the future, nicely built. 🙂
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Thank-you Clare. I think she’d realised she’d made a mistake and feared for her daughter. She hopes she’s leaving in time.
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Brighter horizons, I think.
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Thanks Sandra. Yes the sun i the distance does offer a sort of promise, the plane a means by which to attain it.
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I am surprised by the stark similarity in our thoughts. Do check out my post. The context is exactly same ! 🙂
Loved the last two lines. Shows the darkness they were wrapped up in.
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I’ll check it now. I never read others until I’ve done mine to prevent being influenced into writing the same. Thanks for your comment, I’ll come back to you soon.
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Hi, I’ve tried to comment on your piece but can’t seem to connect with your blog unfortunately. You’re right, it’s eerie but then I think the contrast of light and dark, the sense of flight make for good imagery and tales like this. I think you described the character’s anxiety better than me though. 🙂 Hope this gets to you.
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Although the child is scared of the man, it sounds like the mother has shielded her from the worst of it. I’m glad they’re flying off to a new future far away from him. Great dialogue, very believable!
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Thanks. The dialogue was difficult in the space allotted. The hope is she’s acted in good time.
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Nicely written, with unanswered questions. It feels like mum did the right for hers daughter
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A bright new start – lovely.
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I think that new start is the only option… and I think I dread what has happened.
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Yes. Me too. Thanks Bjorn
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Keep running, girls. Great story!
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Thank you
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Hooray. The tension was killing me.
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Thanks
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Dear Michael,
You had me fearing that he was lurking on that plane. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle
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Great suspense writing, I was fearing for them right to the last line. The child is lucky that she has a mother who asks the right questions.
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Thanks very much
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