For quite a while, she stands at the breezy quay watching the boat weave its way gradually away from the shores; every watery mile creates more distance between them.
The aquamarine gray water is calm and the weather quite pleasant, but, Madeline’s thoughts are far from calm.
She is not so sure that her decision to send him away is the right one and even as the white stern of the Wayfarer moves beyond swimming reach, she feels a powerful urge to call him back.
Her boy’s waving hands are now a speck in the far distance (in her motherly mind, he is still her little lad who clutched onto her for guidance).
She wants so much for him. A brighter future she sees in his tomorrow and their small fishing town is nowhere to chase his dreams.
Her hope is that under the Maestro’s tutelage, he would rise to his true potentials like his late Papa.
With a heavy sigh and a whispered prayer, she trudges up the stony pavement back to her cottage.
It will be a lonely time she thinks to herself.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
In response to prompt photo from The Storytellers Abode for Flash Fiction For Aspiring Writers. Thank you Louise and Priceless Joy for providing this platform.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
This is wonderful Jacqueline! I felt like I read an entire chapter of a novel in your short story! It is very difficult to do some things that are best for our children. Very nicely done! Thank you for participating in FFfAW challenge!
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Honestly, it is my pleasure to participate in the challenge. I thank you so much for your brilliant and encouraging words. I really appreciate them. It totally agree that it is not easy to be a parent and to make these choices for our children.
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Thank you so much for that!
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🙂
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A mother’s love holds tight; a mother’s love turns loose. A mother’s love holds tight even when she turns loose.
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What a lovely quote Oneta. I will definitely remember this. Thanks my lady 🙂
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Beautifully written. Such a great motherly love. Young or old, the children will forever be the little one to their mom. My children always laugh whenever they hear my mom call me baby…LOL
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My children too :):) The always wonder when my mom tells them that I am her baby. I do appreciate your lovely comments my dear. Regards
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We hold them so dear and close to our hearts but we must sometime soon let go and let them live their lives and achieve their dreams. A tough season parents must go through. Rich and emotionally laden story…well done!
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I felt her pain…for just a moment. Then I snapped back to reality and remembered how much I’m looking forward to my 18 y/o to leaving the nest. 😀
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Hmm! It’s because you have others holding on to your strings after he has flown the next. I am not sure I will be glad to see all of them leave the house eventually. I grew up in a noisy home with siblings underfoot all the time. I like peace and quiet but only in small doses :):)
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Great point Jacqueline…I didn’t look at it that way but you are totally right! There’s no way I’m ready to be an empty nester..I like peace and quiet as well but not TOTAL quiet…that would probably drive me crazy.
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It’s an inevitable occurrence; the circle of life, but I honestly don’t want to think about it now. Now, I begin to understand why my mother keeps adopting one child or the other and teaches at the children’s church to keep her from missing us too much.
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Ahh the empty nest, one day you will know this Jacqueline.
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I can imagine! I don’t look forward to it!
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Beautiful and poignant! Well done, my friend ☺
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Thank you so much Kay 🙂
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Hello Jacqueline,
I am reminded of how my mother cried the day I went off to University, heart-wrenching sobs.
She probably realised that I was making the transition from childhood to something in between childhood and adulthood. 🙂
I enjoyed reading this beautifully written story, you’ve used words to capture the emotions so vividly.
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I can very well imagine your mom bawling over her baby leaving the house. My poor son will get the shock of his life maybe in front of his friends when that inevitable time comes. Thanks my dear for reading and your heartfelt comments.
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Telling an entire story successfully in short short fiction is no easy task. Great job!!
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