PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
A lump of dirt presses into Mei’s ribs. Slabs of sunlight between the alley shed’s slats light strips of her hollow-cheeked face as she curls behind old tires. What will Jinn, her ten-year-old son, scout out and bring back to her today? Jinn comes home late after scavenging dumpsters and leaves before dawn each morning, to where he knows which cooks give morsels to hungry children.
Jinn hasn’t returned in three days. Mei drowses and smiles, remembering her mother’s restaurant. So many bowls, always full. Such delicious aromas.
The shed owner found Mei’s body and spat.
“Another stinking refugee!”
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the creative host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Heartbreaking story Li
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Sadje I didn’t intend on writing a sad story but that’s where the muse took me today. Thank you for reading, my friend.
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You’re welcome! I understand the plight of the refugees, and how unwelcome they are often made to feel.
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❤ 😦
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🥲
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I felt your outrage
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Neil, thank you.
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😢😢😢
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Oh, I so did not want to “like” this. So very sad it was. Well written and poignant.
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Bear, thanks much.
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So sad. 😰
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Thanks, Fandango.
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It is indeed sad.
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Thanks for reading.
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Ouch! People can be so unkind. You really captured that.
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Alicia, thank you.
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I could not press like, this is such a powerful story/ well written
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WordPress is in chaos right now, thanks for letting me know. Thank you, Michael.
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If only our billionaires would help out even just a little bit….(k )
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So heart breaking, Ms J. And more so for being realistic. I hope Jinn finds a way through.
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I wondered if anyone would wonder about Jinn. Thank you ❤
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Sad story, Lisa. The plight of refugees can really be terrifying! If one doesn’t have to worry about food and shelter one can easily take these things for granted and forget how privileged we are!
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Christian, thank you for understanding and your empathy for the refugees.
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A rotten story, beautifully wretched, great stuff as ever
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Thank you so much, Shrawl. I wish it wasn’t so.
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Hard to ‘like’ this story. Very real and brutal and a sad reflection on our world today. Very well done.
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Iain, thank you very much.
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Well, that went dark in a hurry. Sad, but well done, Lisa.
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Thank you, Bill. She kept her spirit light to the end ❤
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Not the conclusion I hoped for. A tragic tale well told, Lisa.
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Keith, thank you. I hear you on the conclusion.
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lovely message powerfully told Lisa! 💖💖
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Cindy, thank you much, dear.
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You’re most welcome!@
💖
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A sad story but there’s that glimmer of light, the memory of her mom’s cooking.
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Thank you for reading. I hope that’s where her spirit travels to.
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There is an irony in human waste. A sad truth that haunts my nightmares.
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James, would you care to say more about the irony in human waste?
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Good question. I was trying to convey the idea that poor Mei was considered as garbage and disposable. A waste of their human life, because of their status and who they are.
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Ah, I see what you mean, James. Yes, it is haunting 😦
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Poor Mei 😦
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I know 😦
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Yes, very difficult to lkike. You have so poignantly captured the plight of the refugees, Yes, i wonder what would, or rather how would Jinn make his way around. Very powerful story Ms J.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I also fear for Jinn 😦
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some folks can be so mean that they don’t deserve to be part of the human race.
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Absolutely 😦
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I’m a bit surprised at the numbers of very sad tales this prompt has triggered. I suspect the shed owner who found her body is a relative of The Boss in my story!
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Linda, you very well could be right. Yes, it is surprising as the scene itself looks upbeat.
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I didn’t mean to post anonymously–hit the wrong button 🙂
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Dear Lisa,
This puts me in mind of The Little Match Girl with an added sucker punch to the gut. Well done..
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you very much, and thank you for the comparison ❤
Shalom,
Lisa
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A painful last line because of the truth behind it. Excellent story! Let us all be more aware.
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Yes, Brenda, for sure. Thank you.
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Oh
Oh no
So sad.
You told this beautifully
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Thank you.
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Sad story. Well done Lisa
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Thank you, Vartika. My heart goes out to both mother and her child 😦
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