(Photo: Adam Nieścioruk on Unsplash)
She was shaking when I entered the room. Hands wringing, lips trembling, her eyes a shade of numb I had rarely seen.
Mary had called me. She had come to check on her and bring a midday repast. Mother being too proud to ask for help, even though her legs no longer held her sturdily or long enough to cook herself a decent meal.
Appearance and stoicism were Mother’s barometers of standing.
Socially and otherwise.
Not that you’d know it from her mascaraed cheeks.
She pointed to the antique book I had gifted her the previous evening.
“I understand, therefore I’ll live,” was scribbled in the cover. “R.B. 1941“
Mother pressed a notepad on me. Scribbled on it were the same words. Same letters. An older hand.
“I forgot,” she whispered, caressing her initials. “But reading what I have just written, I now believe.”
Prompt quote: “Reading what I have just written, I now believe.” (Afterward by Louise Gluck)
For the dVerse prosery challenge
Na'ama Yehuda 
Oh, this is so beautiful!
I’ve been trying to get my story going and have flushed it twice already!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dale! I’m so glad you liked it! I’m sure the right story for you will ‘stick’! Will be on the lookout when you’re ready! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your stories. You are such a lovely story-teller!
And, as you know… I found one 😉 xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I saw you found one! And … I’m glad to say that I love yours stories, too! It’s such an enriching thing, to read each other’s stuff! 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You so sweet. It really is enriching to reach each other’s stuff! xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
xoxo 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
xoxo
LikeLike
This is a wonderful write! This line “Not that you’d know it from her mascaraed cheeks.” says so much about her. Just an amazing line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lillian! I’m glad this fleshed her out and helped the visuals in this short short. 🙂 Lovely prompt leads to tickled muses. 🙂
LikeLike
The phrase “her eyes a shade of numb” is strikingly descriptive. A well penned write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Beverly! I’m so glad this communicated. Sometimes metaphors can fall flat because they are too idiosyncratic. I’m happy this didn’t. 🙂
LikeLike
“Hands wringing, lips trembling, her eyes a shade of numb I had rarely seen.”
This is a wonderfully descriptive sentence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m glad this spoke to you! Thank you for this lovely comment. 🙂
LikeLike