© Shivangi Singh
Savannah hated to see the old tree taken down, but the thunderstorm three nights ago had broken its trunk, and it was a danger to her home and family.
She’d lived in the same house across from the park since she was a little girl. She had fond memories of climbing in that tree. She remembered the summer when her Dad built her and her brothers a tree fort.
She was just starting to encourage her own three little ones to explore the adventure of the tree when the storm took it away.
The tree was also a symbol of everything else Savannah had lost. Her husband Jeremy walked out of the house and family. He said he couldn’t handle the responsibility anymore.
Savannah has been divorced for four months, and in those months, she became stronger than Jeremy would.
She and her babies had lost the man they thought was their tree.
The broken tree wasn’t gone, just transformed.
Savannah’s life had been transformed, too. She would always be her children’s strong, nurturing tree.
I wrote this as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, in the range of 125-175 words with 150 being ideal. The story is based on the weekly photo prompt. For more information go to Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit InLinkz.com.
The word count is exactly 175.
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A fine piece of writing, I am so glad Savannah found her inner strength,
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Thanks. I appreciate the complement. Sometimes fire tempers instead of destroys.
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Lovely response, so well done.
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Thanks, Michael.
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Wonderful story! Very sad but has a happy ending when Savannah gains her strength for her children. You haven’t been here for awhile – it’s nice to have you back!
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Thanks. In these sorts of situations, the kids have always got to come first.
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That’s very true James. She has to put the kids first.
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Women are very resilient creatures. Thank you for this story and great angle on the prompt.
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You are quite welcome, Joyfrida. Thanks for the complement.
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Similar theme as you said, James, with a much more positive outcome. Nice one.
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Lovely realistic but optimistic tale well told.
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Weakened trees or dead trees can be replaced with stronger, healthy trees….. and she has proved to be a great replacement and her children will surely benefit from it. Wonderful story.
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Thanks, Lucky.
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The power of positive thinking.Time for some calm after the thunderstorm. Delightful.
Click here for my FFfAW
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Thanks, Keith. I just read and commented. I don’t normally approve of unsolicited links from readers I don’t know, but the link to all the FFfAW submissions is at the bottom of the blog post, so people could find your story anyway.
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I’m glad Savannah found the inner strength to become the nurturing tree her family needed. Sometimes the deadwood has to be removed first! Good story. 🙂
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Thanks for the complement.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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I love how you brought the story in a full circle and made her the tree for her children where once her husband was the tree for her. The symbolism is beautiful.
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Thank you for your kind comments, Jade.
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Children can be resilient when one parent shows them strength is gained through love and respinsibility – loved the story – an encouragement in hard times definitely.
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Thank you, Singledust. Children need at least one strong and compassionate parent to guide them and to model from.
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