Penprints Flash Fiction Dash 2019

Hey y'all! I am so excited to participate in the Penprints Flash Fiction Dash, hosted by Rosalie Valentine. This challenge always proves to be a fun time and this year is no exception!

I was especially pumped when I heard that each genre was only going to have one prompt, making it especially personalized. Each person has the opportunity to take the prompt and make it theirs. I'm interested to see what direction the others took the prompt.

I signed up to do the Sword and Sorcery genre, as that closely aligns with what I normally write. Will I ever branch out? Maybe. But not today.

Anyway, you're not here to hear me ramble on. You're here to read a story, so here you have it! Enjoy!

The Burden of Remembrance

Heroism and regrets are heavy burdens, but remembrance is unbearable. Heroism is worthy of its weight. Everyone has regrets. But to remember the moment your heroism ran out and your regrets began? Death is a better foe to face.

My hand hesitates over the bottle. The potion inside remains still. Passive. Forgetful. My fingers curl into a fist. I close my eyes and imagine what it would be like to drink it and forget. Her bloodcurdling scream. The life fading from her eyes. Those memories gone. Evaporated into nothing. Peace filling the gap. My heart flutters at the thought.

The words of my friends echo through my mind.

“She wouldn’t want you to forget,” they said.

Why not? She was never cruel.

“You shouldn’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

No, it wasn’t. I carry the burden nonetheless.

My fingers reach out again to take the bottle. Despite the upwards motion, the liquid stays steady inside. Tranquil, just like what it offers. A new beginning, unfettered by the horrors of the past.

With a sideways glance at the potion maker, I flick off the cork and swallow the liquid. No turning back now.

Popping noises sound in my head. One by one, the awful memories fade away to nothingness.

I grip the table as the very last one disintegrates from my mind. With a shaky breath, I look over at the potion maker.

He regards me with kind eyes. “Is it done?” he asks.

I nod. “I think so.” With a frown, I add: “Is it wrong to forget?”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s not wrong.” He walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. “There are some memories too cruel to bear. While no potion can fully erase the consequences of events, it is not always necessary for you to carry the memories with you.” He gently helps me stand straight. “Forgetfulness is often a gift. Not always, but sometimes.”

“How do we know when it’s good and when it is wrong?” I ask.

He inspects the bottle, now empty. “The Maker decides. This potion is impossible to make unless He allows it. He knows that some memories are impossible to carry, so He gives a way to take them away.” He turns back to me. “If He makes it so, then we know it is good. If He does not allow it, then it is a weight you must carry.”

I shudder. “But what if I’m not strong enough?”

The potion maker laughs as he sets the bottle back down. “You are forgetting one important detail.”

“What’s that?”

He smiles at me, soft and kind. “That you are not alone. He carries it with you. Whatever He deems good, He gives the strength to make it so. His graces meets all circumstances. No outcome is better than another, for His will is always good.”

I close my eyes. Always good. Never alone. Peace floods my heart. I shudder. It does feel good. “Will He help me if my memories come back and haunt me?”

“Always.” The potion maker places his hand on my shoulder. “But now go live in peace. Trust Him to lead you in the right path. He will direct your steps.”


I nod and dart out of the cottage. Taking in a deep breath of clean air, I jog home. Whatever burden my memories held was gone. I was free. Praise be to Him who makes all things good!

~~~

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed it! It was really fun for me to write. 

Thank you Rosalie for doing such a great job hosting this challenge! I always enjoy participating! Be sure to go check out her blog on June 11 for the big wrapup post, which will include links to all the other stories submitted for the challenge! I can't wait to see what everyone wrote!