Image courtesy of Janet Webb
‘You will always be my baby,’ whispers the woman I thought to be my real mum. In her eyes, my own pain is reflected back at me.
‘Why did she abandon me?’
She hands me a cream envelope, a name I don’t recognise scrawled on the front in looping script.
‘Who is Eleanor?’
‘That was your birth name. Before…’
I turn the letter over in my hands. It is heavy. Weighted down with words I don’t feel ready to hear.
‘Can I still call you mum?’ My voice is small.
‘Always.’ She hugs me tight – vanilla and coffee – she still smells like home.
It’s been a crazy week. The Sister is still no.1 on the UK Amazon Store, and has also been no.1 on Amazon Canada and iBooks and is in the top 10 on the USA Today Bestsellers List. I’m so thankful for all the support I’ve received and especially grateful for the WordPress blogging community. A sanctuary where I can step away from the madness that is editing and scribble a few words.
Abandoned was written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog and read the other entries here.
fabricating fiction 
A sad and touching tale. Such a hard thing to discover, so difficult to handle. I’ve known a few people who were adopted and it’s always played a major part in their psyche. Nicely, touchingly written.
Very well done for your ongoing success. Lovely to hear and long may it continue. 🙂
Thanks Lynn. It must be shock to find out you’re adopted later on.
Terrible, I’d say. My dad was told he was adopted when he was 18 and never found out who his real dad was. To say it affected him is an understatement. Great story 🙂
Thanks.
Nicely done. Adoption arouses such complex emotions in all concerned. You got that.
Thanks Sandra. She’s surrounded by love.
This is lovely. And well done on all the success!
Dear Louise,
Sweet and poignant story. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle.
I love the heavy letter. Well done.
Thank you.
Sensitive treatment of a difficult topic.
And congratulations.
Thanks very much.
How well you describe such a difficult situation…Masterfully done. Very happy for your success, congrats!
Congrats on the book! The story is lovely, mother and daughter handle the situation very well.
Thanks very much 😃
A big story packed into 100 words! Well done.
Thanks.
Very well done on your book,
Thank you Michael.
Fabulous tale, deliciously told. Congrats on the book. On my Kindle. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks Graham! Hope you enjoy it.
Yes, I’m still jealous of your stardom. That’s all I have to say…lol.
😃
A lot said in a few words. Kudos.
Thanks Alicia.
I am on chapter 16 of your book and let me just say…if I had nothing to do all day I would finish it. Good story here too..love the title 😉
Thanks Dawn!
Congratulations on your book. This story is well written and certainly has one feeling the emotions of mother and daughter as they read the story. Children are always affected when they learn that they have been given up by their real mother and the way this news is received is very important. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you on both counts.
Brilliantly done.
Thanks!
Very good piece, brought a lump to my throat, well done for this and a huge round of applause for your literary achievement, you are living the dream!
Thanks very much.
Sensitively written. So many emotions when someone finds out they’re adopted – this person handled it well!
Beautiful. Adoption in my family is very close to my heart. On my mom’s side, my cousin, Eldon, was adopted — then my aunt and uncle had two daughters after! Haha! Jane has her own kids, but Mary Kay and her husband adopted three older girls. After that, Mary Kay got pregnant and now they have FOUR daughters. I said, “You’re taking after Aunt Janice [her mom], aren’t you?” What a joy! Those kids have the best parents.
All in all, though, a wonderful and heartfelt story. Sweet, Louise, very sweet.
And thank-you.
What a lovely, special family you are part of.
They are great! I have the best.
As always, you captured the emotions perfectly with this 🙂
Thanks Clare.
great story. she found a home, a place where she’ll always be welcomed.
And very loved 😃
The ending was powerfully sweet!
Thanks!
Very sweet and comforting. Abandoned by one but taken up by another!
Kudos!
Thanks very much!
You’ve captured her feelings of bewilderment and conflict. The ending is wonderful – familiar smells connecting her to her ‘mother’ and home. Sad.
Thanks very much Margaret.
Nice one! Reminds me very much of your novel–good emotional weight. I’ve got my mom reading The Sister now, and she told me today that she’s loving it! Congratulations on your success–well deserved!
Thanks so much Emily. That’s really kind of you x
A sad but also lovely story, Louise. Congratulations on the continued success of your book. That’s just great. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks so much! ❤️