Slight Opening
Hidden In Pain
“There was only one rule: don’t open the door.”
I would say this to myself several times a day. Mam would not like it!
“Don’t open the door, you little brat!” A slap would soon follow. A punch or maybe more names. I would try to be invisible. As though I did not exist. Yet I still caused her discomfort.
So, I stayed here, not good enough for the world. Yet there is safety in stillness. There is comfort in familiarity even when there is pain. I stayed away from the door. Stayed away from the unknown until today.
I’m not sure when I saw the stream of light come through. A slight opening through a crack in the ceiling. Suddenly there were colors cascading on the window beside the door. I was drawn to it. Could not help myself.
Mam would not like it! Yet I moved towards the window until I was staring at this haggard looking woman. “Mam?” I moved closer as did the woman. Her hands raised as did mine.
Then I remembered. Mam had passed years ago. The drawn face staring back at me was my own. A reflection of life not yet lived. Not all wounds heal with time. Her abuse kept me hidden. It was time to open the door!
About the Creator
C. H. Richard
My passion is and has always been writing. I am particularly drawn to writing fiction that has relatable storylines which hopefully keep readers engaged
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Keep reading
More stories from C. H. Richard and writers in Horror and other communities.
Alpha Mosquito
I start with a cracked window and a simple bath, leaving the warm water to sit longer than usual. A single mosquito emerges, small and inconsequential. Another appears soon after. They breed, proliferating the room over the weeks as I observe in fascination. I procur steroids and bulk fuel to add into the water. The next mosquito is slightly bigger. Their sentience grows alongside their size - I force them to fight to the death for nutrients, the biggest and smartest survive and continues their blood line. A Roman coliseum of these creatures' strongest gladiators.
By flutterfryyy5 days ago in Horror
Bruce Lee and The God of War: Kuan Ti
It starts with love.. The Power to the God Of War and Wealth Walk into a Chinese restaurant (even in Oklahoma, USA), a Chinese police station, a kung fu martial arts studio or even a Chinese temple and you often see a red faced warrior holding a heavy quan-do (spear like weapon).
By WILD WAYNE : The Dragon King6 days ago in Chapters
Comments (9)
😱 Absolutely amazing!!!! WOW! How profound! BRAVO!!!!
Heartbreaking 💔💔 I hope she finally gets to live hwr life. You're right that time doesn't heal everything. Belated congratulations on the top story! Excellent entry 👻🎃👻
Beautiful story
This was a great twist - really loved the build-up. Great entry - good luck. Oh and congratulations on a brill top story too.
Interesting twist to this story of an abused person. Congratulations of top story. I am subscribing to you,
Oh, this is a fabulous entry. Congrats on the TS.
Magnificently penned!!!❤️❤️💕
Nice story, the abstract scene of an abuse victim opening up to the world was v clever. this was a good line, "There is comfort in familiarity even when there is pain. "
well written story👌