With Colors Like These (Flash Fiction)

Thank you, Priceless Joy, for hosting Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, and thank you, Phylor, for providing the inspiring photo prompt this week. If you haven’t heard of or joined this challenge, please go check out PJ’s blog for more details and entertaining entries. You won’t regret it.

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Now, to the story:

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“Oh, wow, Mommy . . . orange, and yellow, and red. They’re everywhere!” He tugs away from her hand and cannon balls into a big pile.

She laughs and settles down by the shed in their backyard. A gust of wind brushes past, and she leans her face into it, closing her eyes, taking it all in. Especially the rustling sounds of her son leaping and diving into the leaves.

“Mommy! The colors are making me so hungry. I’m starving!”

She smirks and stretches her legs on the grass, crossing her ankles. “Oh, really? It’s the colors’ fault?”

“Yes!” He attacks another big pile. “Daddy always says my eyes get hungry before my tummy does.”

That makes her laugh. Again.

“Mommy?” He pauses his jumping.

“Mhmm?”

“Do you still get hungry?”

She furrows her eyebrows. “Of course.”

“But… but you can’t see anything.”

She gets quiet and stays quiet for a long moment. He’s just a kid. A kid who starts stomping and crushing the leaves, less happy, more angry now. He doesn’t understand why her pale eyes can’t see anymore. No matter how many times she tries to explain.

“Yes, baby—” Her voice cracks. “I still get hungry.”