Thursday, April 17, 2014

Reclaiming Lives


Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy
A single photograph survived from the ones I burned.

Years after it was over she remained reticent about the incidents in the playroom.  Choosing instead to reside in a cloistered cocoon woven into the tapestry of her life.   With the passage of time we peeled back layers upon layers of pain, yet the innocence lost she could never regain.


That I so wary and fearful of strangers missed the signs at home is the regret I live with now. What he did was out of our control.  But, as we reclaim our lives and strength we are in charge again.


**


Written for Friday Fictioneers. Word Count : 100

24 comments :

  1. Anonymous7:00 am

    wow, strong piece. this saddened me, but i'm glad that they were able to regain their lives somehow...

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    1. Thanks for reading and liking it Kz. I wanted to end it with hope rather than despair.

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  2. What a sad yet well told tale of lost innocence.

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  3. A difficult subject handled well.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Sandra.

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  4. Anonymous4:04 pm

    Yes, innocence lost is lost forever. I feel so many of our children lose their innocence much too earlier, even though not it such terrible way as your character. Little girls and teenage girls often dress like sleazy women. Children grown up too early and miss just being children.

    janet

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    1. Thanks for your comments Janet. I agree children are growing up too early. The sexualisation of mass media, advertising and entertainment mediums is having an impact on children.

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  5. Sad story but these things happen. Well told.

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    1. Thanks Patricia, I’m glad you liked it.

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  6. Anonymous9:48 pm

    Something I'm sure many women have had to live through and with... Well told.

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    1. It is indeed. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  7. Anonymous12:00 pm

    This is a really hard one! Very raw story, told very well. Nicely done.

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    1. It is harder to write such stories. Thanks for reading and commenting Dawn.

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  8. Anonymous3:56 pm

    An interesting take on the photo prompt. Sadly, your tale is more 'fictionalised factuality' than actual fiction. Yours has at least a sort of happy ending. :)

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting Ann. I remember reading a line somewhere that said everything that actually happened is doomed to become a fictionalised happening, so you are right it is a 'fictionalised factuality'.

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  9. When the enemy is within,it is the worst and unfortunately kids have no recourse to deal with that kind of abuse!Loved the way you said so much without really saying it Subroto-awful yet happening all the time-more than we would like to accept.

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    1. You are right it happens more than we acknowledge it. Thanks for reading Atreyee, glad you liked it.

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  10. There's a damaged life here. Well illustrated.

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    1. It is indeed. Thanks for reading and commenting Patrick.

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  11. Anonymous12:08 pm

    Good to see they are able to rebuild their lives. The 'cloistered cocoon woven into the tapestry' stood out as a beautiful description in this tale of loss.

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    1. Thank you Sarah for your words of appreciation.

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  12. Dear Subroto,

    How do I keep missing you? This is the second time and I apologize. I'm glad you alerted me to the fact. This was a story was worth the read. How many parents feel this remorse at not having been able to protect their child. Well done.

    shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. No apologies required Rochelle, I just value your input and I am glad you liked this one. It was tough subject to choose but I went with it.

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