It began innocently: the little trysts, occasional diversions, that quickly became something more.
Theirs was a secret romance, one that softened the harsh edges of her desperate life. Before meeting him, that life had been a string of gray, hopeless days, wearily punctuated by her son’s inexplicable rages and her guilty wish the boy had never been born.
Believing themselves safe, she became reckless, exulting in the momentary freedom she experienced when wrapped in her lover’s arms.
The boy, single-minded, didn’t comprehend the need for diversion and, tossing the smoking gun near the bodies, discovered it didn’t matter.
© 2015 All Rights Reserved Kate Loveton, Odyssey of a Novice Writer
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Note: This flash fiction piece is written in response to ‘Five Sentence Fiction’ at Lillie McFerrin Writes (found here). The prompt is to craft a five sentence story based on the word ‘diversions.’
Odyssey of a Novice Writer 
Well don! This is what I love about ‘creative writing.’ The use of a few words leaves an indelible mark.
Thank you! (I’ve been working on being a lighthouse! 😀 )
Wow … chilling is certainly the right word! Excellent! I love how you could say so much with so few words. That is inspirational writing for me to read. Brilliant! 🙂
Thanks, Belinda! I’m jazzed that you liked it so much. 🙂
Oh wow, that story certainly ended with a bang! 🙂
Great stuff, as always, Kate! ❤ ❤
Thank you, Heather. We like the creepy, don’t we? Or is it just me? Nah, it’s you, too!
“Ended with a bang…” *groan* 😀 😀 😀
Yep, it’s me too! 😆
Chilling. Makes me think of ‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’ – a book that has stayed with me …
Oh, I remember that book! A friend of mine had recommended it to me a year or two ago. That was a frightening story. I have to say, I didn’t like any of the characters in it, but I couldn’t stop reading it.
I’m glad “Diversions” had a chilling quality. I think what is most chilling to me is the boy’s utter callousness at the end. That’s how I visualize sociopaths.
Phew! Fast and furious
Thanks for reading, Nimi. 🙂
Nice – a bit sordid, a bit angry… A great picture you’ve built here 🙂
Thank you. Felt bad for the mother… she was trapped by the little monster she gave birth to – who wouldn’t need a diversion from her reality from time to time?
Great! Always leave me wishing for more.
Thanks, Deb! ❤
You are welcome! I get a kick out of your ‘dark’ side!
😀 😀 😀
Excellent, Kate! Such power in five sentences.
Jill, thank you! The five sentence challenge is one I like. It’s hard to get a story across in five sentences without awkward, run-on sentences. I spend a lot of time paring these stories down so that the point comes across but the sentence structure isn’t too awkward. Sometimes I think I did it! Then I go back several weeks later, re-read, and end up thinking that I could have done a better job.
This packed a punch, Kate. I felt for the woman, then BANG!
I felt for her, too, Noelle. Must be terrible to be in a situation where your life is forced to revolve around a little monster that you’ve created. I’m glad liked it!
A thriller in five sentences, which even ends with a b.a.n.g.! 😀 😀 😀
Fantastic, Kate.
LOL! You and Heather B definitely belong on the same stage when it comes to humor. She made the same remark. 😀 😀 😀 I’m groaning and laughing at the same time!
So glad you enjoyed it, Tess. ❤
Ha ha ha. Nice to be in such good company. Heather’s funny too.
She is. You should have heard us on Skype yesterday – a lot of laughter!
I can well imagine after your previous post about you two on Skype. 😛 😛 😛
I love it, Kate!
Thanks, Mark!
That was awesome. There are a lot of these online today, but this one was worth a comment.
Wow, thank you! That means a lot!
One word: Chilling.
Oh good! That’s the word I was hoping for. 🙂