#ThursThreads - Week 100 - Winners

Week 100 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write. And it was wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Anastasia Vitsky for judging this week. :)

Entries:

• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Charley Descoteaux | @CharleyDescote
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Charles Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane
• Jeremy Milburn
• Rebecca R Kovar | @RRKovar

Wow, what an honor and pleasure to read the entries this week! I am new to Siobhan's Threads, but I will make a point to visit when I can. I read all of the entries once, without taking notes. I thought about each entry--Sheilagh's poetry with its lyricism, Siobhan's clean lines, Aightball's sensory details, Cara's energy, Cate's startling last line, Charley's emotion, and Silver's crystalline details. When I came back, I found new entries. Cynthia's mother love, and Jeremy's agony of parents split by their daughter's murder. I read each one several times, as a group and one by one. Thank you to everyone for your amazing writing, and thank you to Siobhan for asking me to judge this week. I hope to see you as a participant in the near future.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Anastasia says: Silver's beginning and ending encapsulated the story with its lovely touches. The "frigid, ice-capped waves" and the radiating dark aura captured my attention from the beginning, and the twist at the end made me laugh. Silver made me care, as Sinjen cares, about Sade who faces her loneliness.

Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil

Anastasia says: Sheilagh's promise of a mother's love that can vanquish all, including distance. I loved her simple, understated love of a mother longing to follow her child.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Anastasia says: Taut and fraught with emotion, Cara's characters' chemistry is electrifying. I don't know what loss they have experienced, but Cara made me hope they figure it out.

Week 100 Winner

Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane

Anastasia says: Cynthia's Red Sox baseball cap along with her impeccable observations of motherhood told a complete story in 249 words. The line about Daniel being "still young enough to allow me the privilege of cuddling him" was spot on. The combination of everyday motherhood with unthinkable sacrifice made me reflect on this story after reading it.

I shook my head as if trying to change what I was hearing through the headset, his words resounding in my ears. Only time for one.

Of course. The gods required a sacrifice, I should've known.

"Roger, that."

I stared as the tiny cave collapsed around us, burying our new found artifacts beneath rock and black dust.

I pulled my son closer onto my lap. He was small for a five year old and still young enough to allow me the privilege of cuddling him. I tried not to look at the hands that were already reaching through the small opening for the one who would be going up. Even now I could feel the need for fresh oxygen burning inside my lungs.

Cold tears streamed down the length of my cheeks and landed on the rim of his dusty and well-worn Red Sox ball cap. I could feel his gentle breathing against my chest as I said a silent prayer that he would be okay.

"I love you, Daniel. Always remember that."

"Mommy?"

"I can’t go with you, Daniel. It's my job to stay here."

His voice cracked. "Your job?" My heart broke.

"My job as your Mom."

My throat constricted so tightly that I couldn't say anything more even if I wanted to as I lifted him up to the safety of the surface.

His tiny hand slipped from mine as he disappeared into the light above. I whispered goodbye, then darkness took back its own.

Congratulations Two Time Winner Cynthia, Silver, Sheilagh, and Cara! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

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