2024 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 9

For today’s prompt, write about two people who can’t compromise.

Remember: These prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you.

(Note: If you run into any issues with posting your story, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue.)

Here’s my attempt at a story where two people can’t compromise:

The Red Scarf

They divided their mother’s assets evenly; property, money, all designated neatly in her will. The day they were boxing up their childhood home, they held each other in the driveway and shed tears into each other’s hair. But they marched on. Rachel wanted the fine China tea set; Eliza the collection of nativity scenes. The jewelry was split piece by piece.

When Eliza unearthed the red scarf from a box in the back of the closet, they both gasped.

“Remember the Christmas where Pastor Dave played Joseph and his daughter played Mary?” Rachel asked.

“Mom buried her face in this scarf, and you could still hear her laughing three pews back,” Eliza said.

“She wore it at my wedding,” Rachel said.

“And Teddy’s baptism,” Eliza said.

A silence fell over them as memories swept by, their eyes focused on the well-loved scrap of fabric.

“I want it,” they said, voices ringing as one.