99 Word Flash Fiction Challenge {18}

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

Such wise words.

But total crap some days.

However, a great intro into the month of October, the month we purposefully try to scare ourselves and others. Fear is an emotion that can disable an able body in just the blink of an eye.

At one time, I feared very little. As I grew up, new fears emerged and some faded away.

When I had my kids, I was given the gift that most parents are given; a fear that something, someday will happen to them. It is a fear that stays with us constantly but resides quietly inside of us until that day… That day that we are out and our child has wondered off on their own and we lost sight of them. Or their minor illness turns out to not be minor and are rushed away for treatment at the hospital. Or when you finally let them leave the house without you and they test the boundaries by coming home later than allowed. Then that day is when that quiet fear becomes a roaring monster inside of us threatening to suffocate us from the inside out.

Some of us fear death in one way or another. I know that I do. My biggest fear from death is losing those around me and the pain that death leaves behind.  I am not sure that I necessarily fear dying, more that I fear that I will die before I am able to meet my great-great- grandchildren.

There was a time that I never really thought about my fears. I had some, and I avoided them. But they never really plagued me in any sort of way. I find that this is no longer the case. I have all sorts of fears, some I understand where they stem from. But others baffle me, like the teeth thing, – mentioned in this post.

For the last several days I have been dealing with a new kind of fear. This past weekend, my neighborhood hosted a dog fair, banning together with several other shelters in the DFW area, hoping to introduce families to these animals needing homes. My grandmother has been in search for a small dog to keep her company which sounds really kind of sad now that I type it out. Almost as though she is a lonely person in need of company… (Let me give you a behind the scenes for a moment; my grandmother and I live 1.2 miles from one another. If we go more than two days without hearing from one another, we automatically bombard the other for fear of thinking something is wrong. We are weird that way…)

Where was I? Oh right, so we went in search of a doggy companion for my grandmother, and we found one for her!

And then I found one for me….

This had me pondering this weeks flash fiction prompt. I wanted to do something different and out of my element. Isn’t that the point? Challenge myself to do something different. So that is what I did, I am not sure how well I captured it in 99 words but I can honestly say that I have never written in this type of POV before.

 

The October 1, 2014 challenge from Over at the Carrot Ranch Communications prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) show a character confronting something worse than death. It can be a universal fear or something unique to the character. What does this fear reveal about motive? Does it color the tone, deepen the plot or add to absurdity? Go ahead, poke a pencil at fear this week.

 

Out of My Cage

Strangers came and led me away from my home. They smelled like grass, something we weren’t used to smelling often. I bowed my head hoping that the bumpy ride would end soon. My stomach quivered, my last meal threatening to resurface.

The stillness hurt my ears. I missed my home with its comforting noises and the cold concrete floor.

It was an accident, hands pawing at me, calling my name; I hadn’t meant to wet myself. Hiding behind the door, my tail between my legs, I awaited the outburst.

Instead they laughed. What kind of hell was this place?

 

  Meet Gus Gus, my inspiration

 

So what fears plague you?

~AJP

P.S. Each morning my daughter and I read a daily inspiration and this was today’s so I wanted to share since it was fitting with today’s post.)

.…Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. 1 Chronicles 22:13