SPARROW REMEMBERS
Stolen from her bed in the cold white darkness of a
Canadian winter, Sparrow’s last sight of home was the sun rising beyond the
grain silo beside her house.
Instead of attending school, she chopped wood,
broke ice for water in winter, suffered mosquito swarms in summer, and endured
nights under a stinking blanket with her captor.
She was thirteen when another little girl appeared –
then she remembered that image.
With the child on her back she trudged east,
scavenging for food, hiding from strangers, focussed only on one thing – the
vision of sunrise over her parents’ farm.
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Dawn Miller's photograph may well have been taken in Canada - it reminds me of the country around my son's home in Ontario, where he lives with his Canadian wife and two small daughters. So my mind instantly put together Canada, little girls, and the photo's focus to create my story.
You can read what other writers made of the image by following links from Rochelle's blog. https://rochellewisoff.com/
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Dawn Miller's photograph may well have been taken in Canada - it reminds me of the country around my son's home in Ontario, where he lives with his Canadian wife and two small daughters. So my mind instantly put together Canada, little girls, and the photo's focus to create my story.
You can read what other writers made of the image by following links from Rochelle's blog. https://rochellewisoff.com/
Dear Liz,
ReplyDeleteHuman trafficking is rampant, isn't it? And we thought slavery was dead. Well done
Shalom,
Rochelle
There is far more of it than we realise, I'm sure. Thans for your comment.
DeleteI hope she finds her way home! Loved this, Liz.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks, Susan - I reckon she's determined enough.
DeleteInteresting that she wasn't able to escape for herself but did so for the girl
ReplyDeleteStockholm Syndrome, perhaps, overcome by the jolt of a new victim arriving?
DeleteLove the final image of her rescuing herself and another.
ReplyDeleteThank you Iain.
DeletePowerful tale, Liz
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, CEA.
DeleteYou painted such a strong picture, great story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Snow!
DeleteWow, a powerful story that cries for more! Does their captor pursue? Do they make it to her home and her traumatized parents? Excellent writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda. In my mind she's determined enough to get there.
DeleteThank goodness the other girl arrived. Had she not she'd still be there. Well done Liz.
ReplyDeleteThank you Keith. Her captor clearly prefers smaller children, so it was inevitable he'd replace her.
DeleteThe thought of it happening to someone else finally gave her the courage to run. Nice one!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was the spur she needed.
DeleteSuch a wonderful story, Liz. You really pulled me into it. I hope they make it back to her childhood home.
ReplyDeleteThan you, Jade, I'm sure they'll get there.
Deletesad situation she's in. hope she could find her way back home.
ReplyDeleteDisturbing to read but unfortunately it's a fact of our world. I hope she makes it
ReplyDeleteThe majority vote is that she will :)
DeleteSad with the state of the world today. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan.
DeleteSuch a sad story, Liz. I hope she gets far away and has a chance to start over!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too.
DeleteI love that she finally escaped!
ReplyDeleteIt took the arrival of the littles one too spur her into rebellion.
DeleteWow...wonderful story. So beautiful that she needs to save someone else more than herself.
ReplyDeleteExcellent writing, Liz. The horror grows stronger in the realization that this does actually happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda - we read about this sort of thing only when it's discovered. What goes on in the dark underbelly of society must be so much worse.
DeleteWhat's worst is that she's discarded when she's not useful anymore. For a living victim, the scars last generations.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you are right, Miles. Thanks for commenting.
Delete