Painting by Donna Matthews with a Let’s Make Art Tutorial

I’d wanted a baby for so long and I couldn’t believe we were finally here. Walking up the path, the tall winter grass brushes against my legs. The house, falling into despair with neglect looked haunted with her busted out windows and tall dark spires. I think I even spotted a gargoyle on the south corner roof peak.

The little boy, a little stranger, to be frank, looks out the front window as I approach. The social worker had told us he’d been left to defend himself for weeks after his foster mother died.

Reaching the door, it opens before I have a chance to knock. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before…the little boy stranger stands in the hallway. His dark eyes boring into me, measuring me. I take a tentative step forward into pending motherhood when the door behind me slams shut.

Author’s Notes:
Tonight’s entry is Day 2 of 31 Nights: A Walk Through The Valley of Death and in response to Brave and Reckless’ October’s Monster, She Wrote Writing Prompt Challenge of Little Stranger.

The above piece is also written in response to Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen Quotable Poe October Writing Challenge. This is week one and I choose “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before” from The Raven

Today’s entry is in a category known as flash fiction. There are many other names (micro, mini, nano, etc) and a variety of different lengths (one-word stories, six-word stories, 100 words, 500 words.)

Hey y’all, thanks for visiting the Go Dog Go Cafe; I hope you enjoyed reading today’s selection. I am Donna Matthews, a born and bred Texan who can usually be found writing, painting, taking pictures, or traveling the world on foot. I’m all about love, people, sharing, and doing life together and would love to get to know you. I host two blogs…the first, The DJ Ranch, documents my personal adventures while the second, Slay The Chaos, focuses on mindsets, technology, productivity and organization. Come on over for a visit sometime 💙