Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: Years Later…

Published on by Yinglan

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Celebrating Chinese New Year the first time in over a decade, she hesitated at her ancestral home’s steps. The outside of the ancient house was decorated in red and gold, symbolizing fortune and wealth, and a dozen red lantern dangled from above.

Since she had returned, her family had not spoken to her. They’d even purposefully refused her call. They still blamed her for her parents’ accident. “If you were here,” her grandmother had sobbed when she called them the first time after she’d left, “they would’ve stayed on the straight and narrow path. They wouldn’t had gone to gamble. They wouldn’t had been drunk driving home. They wouldn’t had died.” After that, her family seemed to had cut off all the communique with her.

Fifteen days ago, she arrived in her hometown and since then, she’d been once again trying to figure her way around the familiar yet unrecognizable town and it wasn’t until last week did she found the address to her ancestral home. Now, here she stands, unsure whether to go in.

(~175 words)

I am participating in Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writer, where we write a piece between 100 and 150 words (more or less 25 words) in length inspired by the photo prompt above. 

30 thoughts on “Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: Years Later…”

    1. Thanks, it is sure sad when one is getting blamed for something that’s not their fault. She will need a deep breath and her head held high to walk through those doors. I hope that goes well too.

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  2. What a sad but somehow hopeful piece. How brave of her to go back, to try once again to recontact her family, knowing how negative they will be. And yet, they are her family, and if she doesn’t do something now, she might lose them too, forever. It is a new year, after all, time for new beginnings, I hope!

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    1. Thanks. In a way, this piece reflects how my mom and I feel about my father’s family. It’s what I’m trying to do with my dad’s family at the moment as well and hopefully, in my case will be successful, like you said, it’s a new year, time for new beginnings. 🙂

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      1. Oh no, I’m sorry to hear you’re dealing with strife and division in your family. I know how stressful that can be. I wish you all the best luck for creating a happier new beginning!

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  3. She is not guilty, and should not be blamed, but as bereaved individuals we often sadly proportion blame. A well written observation of life as it can sadily be.

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  11. Hopefully in the time that’s passed since her parents’ death they’ll have realised that she’s not actually to blame – her parents made their own choices. By pushing her away all her grandparents have managed to do is to lose another member of their family. Good story, Yinglan. 🙂

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  13. That’s upsetting she’s blamed for her parents death. It probably upset her too and she didn’t even have the rest of her families support. Nonetheless, forgiveness is aleayschetter and maybe being at her ancestral home in person, will lead closer to that path. It would be an amazing thing for both her and her relatives. Great job writing Yinglan!

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  15. How sad that she is being blamed for her parents’ death. The accident, or their drinking, wasn’t her fault at all. But she is showing courage in returning to face everyone again, despite what they might say.

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