Maybe this might be horror, but it reads a lot like the heartbreak of loss to me. The way you wrote it, with people wondering, “What could have happened to that little boy?” between each symbol of a passing holiday, and with the single quiet sentence stating simply that Ren's mother drank herself to death... so much pain distilled into so few words. This is very, very good.
Thank you, Jeannine! That’s exactly right. It’s horror, but whether or not the fantastical element actually happens, doesn’t really matter. Their world was consumed by loss. Thanks for reading! <3
The "no closure" is probably a big part of what makes this a horror story... the all too realististic pain of bereavement depicted here gives this particular horror story a human heart. Happily-ever-afters are mostly mythical beasties.
Maybe this might be horror, but it reads a lot like the heartbreak of loss to me. The way you wrote it, with people wondering, “What could have happened to that little boy?” between each symbol of a passing holiday, and with the single quiet sentence stating simply that Ren's mother drank herself to death... so much pain distilled into so few words. This is very, very good.
Thank you, Jeannine! That’s exactly right. It’s horror, but whether or not the fantastical element actually happens, doesn’t really matter. Their world was consumed by loss. Thanks for reading! <3
No closure. Wasn’t ready for that 💔 but I shouldn’t trust you not to hurt me. Nice shot, btw.
The "no closure" is probably a big part of what makes this a horror story... the all too realististic pain of bereavement depicted here gives this particular horror story a human heart. Happily-ever-afters are mostly mythical beasties.
Loss is eternal. The forever and ever amen kind. That's what makes it horror. This is both lovely and awful.
damn dude why do we have lost sons on the brain? 😭
I blame TV!
An epic nightmare, Sean.
Tough one to pen!
VIVID to the 10,000th degree
And the offhand “June drank herself to death” was devastatingly effective in its nothing-to-see-here simplicity
I was proud of that! Thank you for noticing!
Sean this drilled a hole straight through my heart. I loved it.
Thank you, Paul! <3
This one rattled me. In so few words!!
Thank you, Stephanie! I may have shed a few tears while writing it. ha
I’m not surprised!
I don't think I've seen a more effective use of "what?"
Thanks, Will. I’m proud of those whats.
(In the voice of little John) yeah
Strange and devastating.
Thanks, Mac! <3