{Photo credit - Firewords, UK}
This
illustration belongs to and was published in Firewords, UK in the second quarterly issue, 2016
as part of their flash fiction challenge of not more than 400 words.
Based on their illustration, here is my story titled
- “Elixir”
The
moon had disappeared beneath the sheath of clouds and the night hung heavily
like a pall of gloom. It was the darkest night ever in the history of mankind.
There was pin drop silence. The earth was barren and there were no signs of
life on the planet. The air was musty with an awful stench that could make a
person puke to death. Planet earth was
nearing her end, but, for that last hope.
The
silence of the night was shattered by a sudden deafening sound of an unfathomable
energy, followed by a weak squeak, a tweak and a mild thud.
“Save
me, please. Can somebody help? I see nothing around. Don’t let me die. Please
somebody help,” pleaded the branch as it lay helplessly with one last leaf that
held the elixir of life.
“I
am bleeding. Please somebody help me,” cried out the branch. A sharp pain shot
through its veins. In spite of the gusty wind that blew mercilessly, it held on
to that leaf with all its might.
“Please
help me!” The shrill voice resonated.
Laila
literally fell off the couch as she saw her mother stand right in front of her,
pressing a tissue over her left thumb. She was momentarily befuddled and it
took her a few seconds to gather herself. All of a sudden she realized that the
call for help from the dying branch, had in fact, coincided with the ones that
came from the kitchen.
“I
have been screaming for help for God knows how long. Show some concern,” said her
mother angrily and turned off the television.
Laila
was horrified to see traces of blood all over her mother’s apron. She ran
upstairs to get the first aid kit.
“How
did this happen?” asked Laila, as she dressed up her mother’s wound. Thankfully,
the blood had stopped oozing by then.
“I
was chopping this humongous pumpkin to make your favourite soup,” said her mother
softening up.
“By
the way, what in God’s name were you watching?” she asked.
As
Laila narrated about the dying branch with one green leaf that held the elixir
of life, her mother listened in rapt attention.
“What
happened to the leaf?” she asked eagerly.
“Well
mother, if only you had hurt your thumb a few minutes later,” Laila answered with
an impish grin.
******
Although
Elixir did not emerge a winner in the flash fiction contest of Firewords,
UK, their feedback was quite gratifying:) Here is what they wrote:
“The
Firewords team really enjoyed reading your submission. The convergence of the
two stories was jarring and shocking; a very powerful aspect to the flash. Both
stories worked well individually but we did like the relationship between the
mother and the elixir. This subtlety was the important link between the two
worlds.”
