You can do this, he told himself. He repeated three times the three sentences he would recite to himself while on patrol: I am a warrior of courage. I train in the middle of the fire. I go to the places that scare me.
Then he climbed out of bed.
Donald A. Ranard’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Flash Fiction Magazine, 100 Word Story, Byliner, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and elsewhere.
What I appreciate and enjoy about this story is that I personally interpreted it in three different ways.
As a young boy whose maybe afraid of the dark or scarred and has to get up to use the bathroom or such to face his fears.
A vet suffering with PTSD who has to pep talk himself into getting out of bed to do simple tasks/ errands.
As a person with anxiety whose well, severely anxious about the world around him.
That’s just my take on it. Thank you for the story.
Thank you for your comments, ToJo.
Good one š
Thank you, Louella.
Really think this is strong. Very insightful. With appreciation.
Thank you, Kathleen.
Excellent story!
Thanks, Kay Rae–much appreciated.
An emotionally evocative prose haiku.
Nicely put, Holly. Thank you!
Beautifully written–so evocative. I agree with Holly that it’s an emotionally evocative prose haiku. So much in so few words. Thank you!
Thanks for your kind words, Pat–much appreciated!