We Never Did
Spooky Microfiction Challenge.
There was one rule: don't open the door.
That one rule overshadowed our lives since we had moved into our makeshift annexe of a home—not that our lives were much at all. Pariahs, outcasts, we were designed for destruction and existed for experimentation and extermination. Though we lived in fear of our sorry mortal coils being unwound, we tried to live positively.
My dear son, Hal, provided much of the light relief during the most trying times. His smile warmed my heart and yet sent a chill down my spine. For me, the end was inevitable. Those who sought to snuff us out were on their righteous warpath. The safety our brave and loyal friends offered would not protect us for long.
Still, Hal and his sister Marta would write beautiful poems and stories to entertain their dear mother, Annah, and me. Annah felt blessed by their nature and would weep. At night, we had a reprieve from the terrifying silence of daylight hours. Movement and everyday living were restricted. Our appetites were ravenous when darkness fell, and our protectors presented us with rustic but charming fare of meat dishes and stew with freshly baked bread. Never had I enjoyed bread more than before that time or since. We laughed and danced. But hatred and death hung over us.
Don't open the door—such a simple rule. But it was more for us and many other families and individuals in similar situations. It was a reminder of how limited our freedom was. Beyond the door, the ugliness of hatred and fear. The worst humanity can do is turn on its own without rhyme or reason. So, we never opened that door.
We never did.
But they did. Then—they—my world, were taken.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: 298 words per Vocal's counter. Picture for inspiration purposes only. For what is likely my last entry into the Spooky Microfiction Challenge, I decided to write a serious one.
Though inspired by what is undoubtedly the sad and horrific truth for a lot of people in history, the characters depicted here are fictitious.
Here are some other things:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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More stories from Paul Stewart and writers in Horror and other communities.
Comments (40)
There was such a powerful message buried in this. Great job Paul
Oh, this is much more than spooky. Well done!
what an amazing story
Amazing work.. very haulocaustic..
well written lovely story👌
The emotional depth and haunting atmosphere you created were incredibly powerful. Your ability to convey the complexities of regret and longing really struck a chord. I was particularly moved by your use of imagery; it painted vivid scenes that lingered in my mind long after I finished reading. The characters felt authentic and relatable, adding to the overall impact of the narrative. I’d love to hear more about what inspired you to write this piece and how you approached such profound themes. Looking forward to seeing more of your work! Best, Jason
Oh, so sad. Congrats.
Wow, very well-written!
Paul, congrats on third for most popular story!! 🎉
Congratulations on this very well deserved TS your words flowed so easily
This is very beautiful ! You did absolutely incredible, it stands out and it’s also brilliant and impressive. Good job.
This is absolutely incredible, Pal! You did amazing work here—truly brilliant and majorly impressive. I’ll eat my shoe if this doesn’t place! Congrats on the top!!! ✨💫 *read yesterday and meant to come back and leave my adoration!
"Amazing" doesn't quite say it. Incredible work here, pal. Congratulations on the TS. Well deserved!
Reality is the monster, such as people . You created such loving details about stories being told and the bread, honestly during the Holocaust it was these details that kept spirits alive and hopeful. Brilliant and beautiful job
I felt this deep in my soul. What a beautiful tribute to those lost to the blind hatred of others
It’s terrible that real life is scarier than fiction. So well written and portrayed. Congratulations on your top story
Very moving. Having to hide yourself away from others of your own race who would harm you? Terrible.
Good work man. This felt very 1942. You did a wonderful job creating a sense of space and time. Well earned TS.
Good stuff! ⚡❤️⚡
I felt this deep in my soul. What a beautiful tribute to those lost to the blind hatred of others. Thanks for the great read.
Love this Paul. That sense of longing for freedom, not from the room but from the judgment of the world is sooo relatable!! Great work and congrats on Top Story!!
I could almost see the family, trying to hold onto little joys while everything around them fell apart. It reminds me how strong people can be in the worst times. Congratulations on your Top Story!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This was such a remarkable piece of writing. I read it twice I loved it so much. This felt like it could have been written by some of the greats from the early 20th century, which is as big of a compliment as I can give! Well done, really. And congrats on the Top Story!
Heartbreaking and well-deserved top story, Paul. Wow, you took a different direction than any entries that I've read. Very poignant.