If Squeezing Was Enough

~ Nortina S.

Pa winds one arm, dives under the rushing wave. I follow the ripples in the water as one foot kicks sporadically and the other glides behind.

Since his stroke, Pa wakes early each morning and swims against the tide to build strength in his left side. Some days he struggles, rising from the sea, hand on heart, coughing up salt water and gasping for air.

Today he’s slipped under twice, but the handprint left on my cheek from the last time I tried to help keeps me planted in front of the window wringing soapy dish water from the sponge.

word count: 100

—Nortina

kitchen-windowFriday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge where you must write a story in 100 words or less using the provided photo prompt as inspiration. Click the froggy icon to ready other stories and add your own.

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22 thoughts on “If Squeezing Was Enough”

  8. Beautifully done – what an imaginative take on the prompt. I feel for your narrator and even a little for her father; sounds like the stroke might have wounded his pride as much as his strength. Nicely done on creating some really three-dimensional characters in just 100 words!

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Powerful glimpse into their relationship and struggles The father shows one kind of strength by persevering alone, and the daughter shows another, in restraining herself from helping when she knows he might falter.

    Liked by 1 person

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