Melting by the Ax
a micro fiction
A nurse fed him an ice chip when I'd explained why I’d come.
“So tell me about the glaciers.”
He straightened. “It was a pine forest. But there was a massive tree trunk right on the edge of a cliff—a redwood. It reminded me of isolation. I don’t know why they cut it down.”
Water dribbled from his chin. A vacant smile. Forgotten tears wet his cheeks when he turned to me. “Who are you?”
“Just a visitor, sir.”
I didn’t say that the redwood still had its roots. That sometimes the ax was just unstoppable.
I kissed his hand.
Photo Credit: Daniel Frančišković
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Thank you for reading! This is part of a micro fiction series where I take a photo and write a story inspired by it. Each story is 100 words.
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About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
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Comments (3)
Sometimes the axe is indeed unstoppable. This story was very emotional. I loved it!
Loss can take many forms. But so can love. This story drives straight to the heart. Well done, Mackenzie.
Mackenzie… your words are like art… full of perspective, and open to interpretation by the people. This story gives me pause for thought. I had to read it twice! My favourite sentence is the last.