Unopened
Many of my story ideas have come from my free writing sessions. For 2019 I pulled together a daily list of prompts and thought I'd share a few of the results here. These aren't finished stories and they haven't been edited but the writing process looks messy right!
Prompt: Unopened
Writing Time: 15 minutes
The unopened book stared at me from the nightstand as I slid my socks off. Swallowing I tried to ignore the sinking feeling I got every time I looked at its unopened spine. Tomorrow morning, I promised myself for the hundred time as I reached for the light switch.
As the alarm sounded, I swatted my hand across the annoyance. Five more minutes turned into an hour and I felt shame cross me as I pulled on pants and rushed to get the kids ready for school. Another early morning promise shot before seven.
“I’m getting coffee,� Alice called as I hit the top stair.
“You are thirteen, put the caffeine down,� I screamed, grateful I didn’t have to see the sullen pout she’d perfected over the last year.
“Dad lets me drink coffee.� Her shoulder bore into me as she rushed towards the bathroom.
I doubted that assertion but Jeff had made than more than one parenting choice I didn’t approve of in the last six months. Pulling my cell out I jotted out a quick text before deleting it. Maybe in a few months a simple text would be easy but it felt too raw at the moment.
“I can’t find my shoes,� Liam’s whine carried across the living room.
Grabbing them from the foot of the steps, I held them up forcing a smile. “They were exactly where I told you not to leave them.�
“You’re the best, mom.� Liam’s arm wrapped around my middle.
Blinking back tears, I held him until he wiggled away. I hadn’t felt like the best in a very long time. “Thanks buddy.�
“For what?� he called as he pulled on a backpack.
Shaking my head, I smiled. Most days weren’t easy. I hadn’t found balance yet in this new role as single mom; though I hadn’t had balance before this transition either.
“Can I borrow this?� Alice held up the small book from my nightstand. “I need a book for English.�
“You have tons of books on your shelf,� I raised an eyebrow.
“But I’ve read them all, come on mom…�
“I’m reading that, pick something else.�
“It’s been on your nightstand for over three months. If you were going…�
“Enough,� I interrupted. “We need to get going. Pick another book, Alice. I am reading that one; even if it takes me all year to open it.� As my daughter huffed up the stairs, I smiled. Tonight I was reading the first chapter� or perhaps tomorrow.
#2019 #FreeWriting #Prompts #DailyPrompt
