Ten frayed-collar tops, folded;
nine crumpled dress pants, stacked;
eight pairs of faded socks, balled;
seven sets of misshapen underwear, rolled;
six shabby pajamas, bundled;
five exhausted, knee-length dresses, crammed;
four dingy skirts, stuffed;
three ancient earrings, wrapped;
two wobbly suitcases shut, snapped;
one illusory love story, concluded;
zero regrets.
Sudha Balagopal’s recent fiction appears in Fictive Dream, Adroit Journal and Does It Have Pockets among other journals. She has had two novellas-in-flash published by Ad Hoc Fiction: Nose Ornaments and Things I Can’t Tell Amma. Her stories have been included in Best Microfiction and Best Small Fictions. She is Series Editor, Wigleaf Top 50.
Well done, Sudha! Well done indeed.
Thank you so much!
Superb.
Cleverly crafted!
Loved it, Sudha! Congratulations!
Thank you!
Brilliant 👏👏👏
Thank you!
Powerful. What a story!
Thank you, Shanti!
Gorgeous imagery . . . especially the “three ancient earrings” to indicate some loss somewhere along the way. Beautiful writing.