“I need to stop a minute.”
“You want me to lock the wheels?”
He grimaced, I can lock my own goddamn wheels left unsaid as he reached down and flipped the levers that would keep the chair from rolling down the hill once she let go.
It was steep enough to be dangerous, the pine needle carpet slick as silk sheets. He looked down at his hands, permanently curled like lobster claws. “Why did you bring me up here?”
“I wanted to show you something.”
He nodded, disappointed. Knowing she wouldn’t help him with his plan. Ever the good sister.
A moral dilemma for the narrator, if not the sister
There has to be an easier – less painful – way to do it. A shame the sister seems to be oblivious to his state of mind to help him out either way.
Dear Josh,
My take is that he wants to commit suicide. Why would he lock his wheels? Or is that the point with the curled hands? I don’t know that I’d help my brother with a plan like that either. Gritty and full of emotion.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I wanted to say something like “hands curled from the accident” but I decided to leave it ambiguous. She wants to show him a cool rock in the forest, but he wants her to push him off a cliff. If he doesn’t lock the wheels, then she will!
Thanks for reading!
You’ve done a good capture of frustration and want to/don’want to. Or don’t quite have the nerve. To go quick or to only make his situation worse, that is the question, I think.
No rest to be found this way. Let’s hope he’ll find something that makes life live-worthy again. Good story.
Ah, such tragedy in the multiple interpretations of the word “good”. Here’s hoping that her optimism and support win the day.
This story goes with CE Ayr’s “stuck between a rock and a hard place”. It can be hard for people to find meaning again and a will to live after a major accident. Hopefully, he can find a new reason to live and carpe diem seize the day. It is easy to forget that as bad as it seems, it could be worse and then we might even find things to be grateful for, even when the world is shrouded in darkness and despair. However, while others can guide him, that’s a journey he ultimately needs to drive himself. Been there, still doing that.
xx Rowena
This is totally believable. Either way, the sister loses–help him or stop him, someone’s going to blame her.
Beautifully drawn and believable characters, descriptive writing to die for, an apposite Latin tag as the title and a story arc that goes way beyond the end of the 100 words. Flash fiction doesn’t come better than this! I’m seriously impressed!
Thanks so much!
This was truly well done. I don’t think too many sisters would be willing to help out with such a task. Even if they did understand that was what was wished…
Thank God for a caring sister! Good story!
What a unique take on the prompt. Left me feeling cold and empty and sad. Well done.
Just try. Don’t give up. You still have purpose and your plan would destroy your sister. I loved it. Good work. :o)
An interesting take on the prompt, full of emotion and an unsaid tale behind the wheelchair.