2025 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 10

For today’s prompt, write about peace.

(Note: If your story gets flagged for review, be patient—we will be releasing comments every few hours throughout the weekdays of this challenge. Our system randomly flags comments for review, so just sit tight and wait for us to set it free! If you run into any other 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 about peace:

Snapshot of a Saturday, Late

The mother worked both jobs today, picking the toddler up late from her ex’s parents’ house. “Customers didn’t want to leave the store,” she explains apologetically. Her legs ache; her brain feels like sour tapioca puddling congealed to the bowl of her skull. The toddler should have been asleep hours ago, but instead is keyed up on Frozen and her mother’s appearance. Then, the toddler insists on cosleeping. The mother has no will left to fight her. They fall asleep facing each other, curled together like the stem and leaf of a strange and wonderful flower, one but not quite.