Her mother told Mary she wasn’t hers just before she died. Blurted out the words like some sort of confession. Learning it though, suddenly made her whole life – all those sixty-five years – make sense.
Her grandson posted information on a few adoption search websites, but she knew it was hopeless, searching for birth parents who would be in their nineties, if they were even alive.
A few months later she received a newspaper cutting through the post. Anonymous, no note. Creased and faded as though kept for years: Police Still Searching for Child Abducted from Playground.
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This is a Friday Fictioneers story. Write a 100-word story inspired by the picture above (this week supplied by Sandra Crook) and share. Click here to read more or join in.
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It’s been a few months since I’ve written a Friday Fictioneer story, but I have been writing. My third book, Bitter Orange, will be published in early 2019. Click here to read more.
Welcome back, Claire. And what a tasy little chiller you served up
Thanks Neil. Happy to be back!
That raises an interesting consideration. What is the point of being told the truth when it’s probably too late for the victim to do anything about it. How cruel is that? To take away what someone thought was reality, with nothing to replace it. Good one.
Very cruel of her mother, indeed. Thanks for the picture, Sandra. It looked to me like that vertical branch was beech when the rest of the tree is oak.
Always the sting in the tail…
Impossible to resist..
How could she ruin her faith and love after being her mother for more than 6 decades? She didnt want to die with the burden of guilt, perhaps.
And, of course un- love could only make kidnapping possible in the first place.
A sad story, beautifully written.
Thank you! Must have been guilt I suppose.
An actual gasp at the headline reveal. Great work, and congratulations on your upcoming 3rd novel.
Ah, that’s good to know. And thanks.
The story is tragic on so many levels. Absolutely well done.
No wonder she waited until she was on her death bed to confess.
Yes, exactly.
A half confession at her death bed… what a chilling conclusion of her background, and just when she was ready to retire..
So nice to have your writing back at the fictioneers this week.
Thanks Bjorn. Good to be back.
Ouch! Why tell?
Welcome back. Will you stay awhile?
Guilt I suppose. I hope to stay awhile. Thanks Alicia.
Was she so full of guilt that she just had to confess before she died? What a story–and completely possible.
I know, not a nice thing to do.
Splendid story, Claire.
Thanks!
Superb. Gave me a shiver.
Thank you!
What an awful thing and not beyond the realms of possibility. How sad for Mary.
Thanks for reading.
You’ve written the story convincingly, and it is persuasive. It leaves me with questions, though…
Thanks! I like leaving readers with questions…
Creepy and leaves you wanting more. Perfectly executed.
Thanks!
There is completeness in this story, despite the uncertain tone, and that heart wrenching last line. Glad you’re back, Claire. Hope all is going well with your novels and their sales.
Thanks Kelvin. Glad you enjoyed it. And happy to be back.
Oh my word! To discover that about your ‘mother’ when she can’t answer any more questions. Brilliant.
Dear Claire,
This sent shivers through me. What a thing to find out at 65. Beautifully told. So much emotion in few words. Glad to see you back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I cannot imagine what that must feel like. Excellent.
Click to read my FriFic!
Thanks Keith!
Well, if that’s not the openin to a crime novel, I don’t know what is! Wonderfully done, Claire
Absolutely agree. 🙂
Hah! It could be…
Very evocative. Answers one question, but raises many others. I want the rest of the story. 🙂
Thank you! But I don’t know it!
What a nasty discovery! Bad enough to think that you were adopted, but to realize that the woman you called mother had abducted you? How could you ever get closure on something like that?
I agree, impossible. Unless you try and work out who sent the newspaper cutting.
What a great story, although devastating for Mary. I’d love another chapter.
Yes, devastating. Thanks Irene.
I think I know a similar story to this. Well done in bringing up memories of old!
Really?! How intriguing.
So much heartbreak and pain. Flawlessly written as always. Great to have you back.
Thank you!
Intriguing!
Thanks Dawn.
Wow Claire, this is amazing, jaw-dropping.
Thanks Elly!
That’s a brilliant first line Claire, you hooked us right from the start. And the last line has answers but still so many questions. Excellent writing
Thanks so much Adrian!