Jade's Fiction

[Flash Fiction] A Different Planet

Jade M. Wong56 Comments

Her little fingers pressed each key carefully. “Daddy, when is mommy coming home? I want her to hear me play.”

Her voice was as melodious as the simple nursery rhyme she was practicing on the piano. “Not for a long time, sweetheart, but Daddy’s listening. ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’, right?”

“It’s mommy’s favorite.” She paused at the off-key note.

“G note, sweetheart. Remember where that key is?”

“Oh yeah.” She pressed the right key and smiled at the sound. She had her mother’s smile and his heart ached. The music stopped and she swiveled her little body on the bench to face him. “Daddy, where’s mommy?”

Her mother’s silky black hair framed her face. He didn’t know it was possible for his heart to swell with love and break with pain at the same time.

“Mommy’s far away.”

“Like a different country?”

“Even farther.”

“Like a different planet?” His daughter’s bright eyes stared at him.

“Yes, sweetheart, kind of like a different planet.”

© Jade M. Wong

 Written for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Word Count: 174

There’s a standalone sequel to this story: Pink Cotton Candy.

56 thoughts on “[Flash Fiction] A Different Planet”

    • Aww…would it help your heart if I offer some super-sturdy-super-glue? 🙂 Thank you for reading and leaving a comment, Chris! I agree, her parents’ love definitely live on in her, and that would help the healing process in ways nothing else can ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • I’ll get back to you on that super-glue 😛 I hope the father and the child both heal, after – especially the father! You’re right, it’ll help the healing process the most out of everything. Nothing proves love more than your own child standing there.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  17. “A different planet” is a very sweet euphemism, and one more understandable to some kids than others. When my friend’s Grandad died, she told them he’d gone to Heaven to be with God. They couldn’t get their heads around the concept (too young) but I bet they would’ve understood another planet.

    Lovely story! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Personally, I’ve always found the concept of Heaven to be too much for a lot of kids to understand. What exactly is this infinite space above us? Is there a house on a cloud up there somewhere?

      Thanks for reading, TUS. Always appreciate your thoughts 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  22. this was so touching, the little girl’s voice so distinct and in its innocence so heart wrenching, the dad is his own grief comforting his daughter, painfully sweet – lovely Jade! oh and yes we all have our father’s eyes!

    Liked by 2 people

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