17 Comments
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Jonah Town's avatar

This story beautifully captures the essence of human resilience and the search for meaning amidst life's trials. It's a gentle nudge to recognize and appreciate the beauty that can emerge from even the most challenging circumstances. Great work!

Explore captivating Contemporary, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Horror, and more stories on my Substack for FREE at https://jonahtown.substack.com

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Thanks. There's not a very large audience on Substack, but I'm trying to entertain the people who are here.

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Paul R's avatar

“The medical examiners came, and only nodded, removed Eleanor, giving Michael a look as though he placed her on the floor on purpose.”

I called out the Community Assessment Team to assess my ex-wife as she had decided to regress to a 14 year old schoolgirl. The CAT team gave me a finger-wagging lecture, as if I was responsible for her behaviour. I had moved out months before.

Your stories resonate with me, Jimmy, as I’m sure they do for lots of readers. It was Kierkegaard who suggested “life has to be lived forwards, but can only be understood looking backwards”.

Perhaps Eleanor’s gift was the spur to be independent? We all dream of easy money, but Michael now knows he has to work hard and suck the juice out of life, as one day someone will try to steal his tapestries...

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

I admire Michael already

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Joe's avatar

If I were single, I'd be a nomad.

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robmusial's avatar

A sad but touching (and well-written) story.

But geez, you must have a humorous or uplifting story in your bag.

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Patty Mallett's avatar

The last line. It says everything.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

In hindsight I wrapped it too neatly. But this was a day in which not publishing was a distinct possibility

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Patris's avatar

The lesson is there.

To paraphrase: We don’t always get what we want. Or deserve. Even when we do the right thing.

But we do get to walk away whole.

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Joe's avatar

We all have the choice to move on.

***should we choose to do so

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Patris's avatar

That is correct.

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Joe's avatar

Really?

I wrote a book in response to this story!

Must have struck a nerve.

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Mark L's avatar

Great Story Jimmy.

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Carol Angel's avatar

Why is it that we feel we need to be immortalized on this earth? Supposedly,we came from dust and that is what we will end up in this universe. Flesh and blood took care of her, not the butterflies…

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Kathi's avatar

Thanks, Jimmy. This one is sticking with me this morning. Brutally tender.

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Joe's avatar

I met a fellow many years ago, very intelligent, had been making six figures in the 70s as a hospital administrator, figured he had a dozen suits in a storage unit in Fresno.

One day he walked away.

The world thinks he's lost.

He was happy living life by the minute and not with stuff.

I'd see him each day reading the paper at the library, and doing stuff about town, then riding the busses after dark until bedtime under a bridge.

And that's the way he lived. No substance abuse.

He's not the only one I've met, either.

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