There’s something really powerful about how this captures the confusion between being helped and being controlled. The way she keeps questioning her own perception, especially when everyone else sees him as good, feels incredibly real. That final image with the piano stayed with me...the idea that even in fear, she’s still reaching for something beyond where she thinks she belongs. Incredible work here. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, this is very evocative! Can't help but feel a little suspicious of Pastor Joel, but maybe I'm just cynical haha! Excited to read more of your work, since I see this is part of a wider collection.
whether its justified or not, and in this case I share that suspicion, this piece really captured the fear and resentment that can stem from needing and accepting someone's help.
Thanks for sharing! We rarely think about the objects that travel with us daily until we stop to look at the teeth of an old brass key and suddenly remember the exact smell of a front porch or the specific creak of a door from a life we no longer live. Thank you for this quiet, poignant reminder that the mundane things we carry are often the keepers of our stories.
There’s something really powerful about how this captures the confusion between being helped and being controlled. The way she keeps questioning her own perception, especially when everyone else sees him as good, feels incredibly real. That final image with the piano stayed with me...the idea that even in fear, she’s still reaching for something beyond where she thinks she belongs. Incredible work here. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, this is very evocative! Can't help but feel a little suspicious of Pastor Joel, but maybe I'm just cynical haha! Excited to read more of your work, since I see this is part of a wider collection.
whether its justified or not, and in this case I share that suspicion, this piece really captured the fear and resentment that can stem from needing and accepting someone's help.
Lily felt real. her fear felt real, her quiet resistance felt real.
that's the mark of truly great writing when a character's silence speaks louder than anything they could ever say. 🤍
really looking forward to reading more from you.
Thanks for sharing! We rarely think about the objects that travel with us daily until we stop to look at the teeth of an old brass key and suddenly remember the exact smell of a front porch or the specific creak of a door from a life we no longer live. Thank you for this quiet, poignant reminder that the mundane things we carry are often the keepers of our stories.
Mmmm I'm wondering about the pastor. Thanks for sharing
I love the piano key analogy. I've never thought of it like this, but so true.