This is my 9th attempt at the month-long blogging challenge, Blogging from A to Z. I’ve completed it 5 times so far. My theme this year is 7 Sentence Fiction, and the word I’m using for B is Backdoor.
The Backdoor
When Grandpa had run away the fourth time, that door had been locked. It wasn’t safe, they said, and Aneesh could understand why.
Ten months later, the illness finally got the better of him. No one else had noticed it, but Aneesh knew his grandfather had wilted during his last days.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” said a neighbor, coming to visit his family after a long time.
Aneesh heard his mother reply, but he couldn’t help but feel the man didn’t mean what he said.
“I understand you now, Grandpa,” he whispered to no one, looking longingly at the backdoor that was still locked.
Liked this? Maybe you can read some of my earlier posts: Stories | for A to Z 2018.
(© Vinay Leo R. @ I Rhyme Without Reason,
2nd April, 2018)
Vinay Leo R.
Poetry & writing are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.
Really sad when your freedom is taken away from you. Good writing, Vinay.
True. It also matters what you’re trying to be free from, I guess. Thank you, Mayuri.
Ah! The regret and the understanding that comes when it’s too late!!
Yes. Not always, but it does happen like that I think, Shilpa Garg. 🙁
Good one Vinay. To be denied of one’s freedom is painful to say the least. So much said in such few words.
Thank you, Meha. Yes. Losing our freedom is difficult and painful, I agree.
Kind of a sad story, but then I think that was the point.
(John Holton recently posted… The Easter Sunday Edition of The Week That Was)
Well, yes. Such stories usually are sad, I suppose. Thank you, John.
Could I be profound yet again??? AS they say, what pain one goes through, is felt only by him and the one who loves him dearly. Surely its Aneesh who is the only one who feels so much for grandpa. His loss would be felt by no one. Grandpa knew it, he may have wilted in his last few days, but the ways of the world had remained in his mind. That hadnt wilted away.
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Yes. Only those who feel so much will know the loss, I agree. And even old people would want an escape from other such fake people like the man. The ways of the world don’t wilt away that easily.
PS: Ramya, if you want, you can be profound on all 26 days this month. I wouldn’t mind at all. 😀
9th time??? Great achievement Vinay.. I loved the 7 sentence story. Looking for more.
It’s not an achievement as such, Balaka. 😉
I love attempting it. So I usually try not to miss it. Hope the rest of the month goes without a hitch too! Thanks. 😀
Ah! P’s grandpa used to do this, I’ve heard. Such a sad story this is, V!
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Yeah. The illness makes them a little more unpredictable than usual, T.
sad to read about the situation of that grandpa. And glad Aneesh could understand him. Great writing, V.
Yes. Sometimes, that situation is needed. It’s for their good, I guess. Thank you, Vasantha.
Situations such as this are probably more common than we realise. A poignant piece indeed Vinay
Yes. Unfortunately, they are more common than we realize. Thanks, Keith.
Clever to cover so much in so few words! Well done.
Thank you, Shirley.
This is so sad. Hope people understand old age and the problems associated with it and be little more considerate.
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Yes. I hope so, Deepa.
Freedom is something we value more as we grow older, I guess. I cannot say I understand that what Aneesh’s grandpa went through but can definitely understand what it means to lose freedom. Very well captured in just seven sentences, Vinay.
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Yes. I think being around fake people makes us want to find that escape route quickly too, Sreedeep. That’s true, be it at any age. 🙁
How do you do this ? You Convey so much in few words!
I try. 🙂 Thank you, Aesha.
It’s a sad but strong tug of the bond to be able to convey so much. Well expressed, Leo! Nice work on the seven sentence! New styles of writing all around!
Cheers,
Deepa
Thank you, Deepa. It’s an extension of the 5 sentence fiction form. 😛
Even my heartbroke with Aneesh’s. Freedom comes with a huge cost. 🙁
Nice theme of completing fiction in 7 sentences. Looking forward to read more.
Thanks, Disha. Glad you liked my theme.
Such a sad end to lose one’s freedom. Nice post.
It is sad, yes. Glad you liked the post. Thanks, Iain.
I help to care for an elderly mother in law with beginning dementia. This story was so poignant. You did an excellent job of expressing so much in just seven sentences.
Thanks, Alana. It’s hard to express in few sentences, when it’s a subject like this. Glad you felt I did it justice.
Its certainly no easy feat to convey a lot in so few words. You succeed and so well. Looking forward to read more of your 7 sentence stories.
Thank you, Nayantara. Glad you liked it. 🙂
Interesting twist.
Thanks, Anne. 🙂