Crooked Smile – Flash Fiction

Crooked Smile

She had known pain.  Living with her like a constant companion.  Sometimes nudging, often poking.  Always reminding her of its presence.

The hurt ever-present. Over time festering in her heart, she would lance it like a boil.  Easing out the poison stopping it traveling to her very soul.  Concentrating on this familiar task helped her through another day.

The pain reminded her she was alive. Without it, dead.  To the observer, she was a hamster on a wheel continuously moving, going nowhere, caught in a vicious cycle.  That is how I remembered her.

Now returning to that place I see her vacant look gone.  Replaced with shining eyes I’d never noticed before. Knowing instinctively what happened to the pain she carried.  She’d had it sliced away, leaving a scar, and she wore it proudly on her face in the form of a crooked smile.

Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Prosery Monday at D'Verse is hosted tonight by Sarah from SarahSouthwest.  She
has given us a line from a poem by Michael Donaghy.
"She’d had it sliced away, leaving a scar"
We are to use it in exact order in our piece of fiction of exactly 144 words.

  25 comments for “Crooked Smile – Flash Fiction

  1. July 22, 2022 at 12:27 pm

    Wow that’s amazing

    • Christine Bolton
      July 22, 2022 at 8:42 pm

      Thank you! ☺️

      • July 22, 2022 at 9:42 pm

        It’s my pleasure

  2. July 19, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    I liked this a lot. Pain can sometimes give us an illusion that it’s all there is. It’s only when you get past it, do you truly feel alive. The shine in her eyes says a lot.

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 4:49 pm

      Yes, my thoughts exactly. Thank you so much ☺️ 🌺

  3. Anonymous
    July 19, 2022 at 11:23 am

    Such a poignant gentle spin on the line, Christine. That last line brought a tear to my eye.

    • Anonymous
      July 19, 2022 at 11:24 am

      This is Lisa/Li not sure why showing anonymous. WP Ghost in the Machine…

      • Christine Bolton
        July 19, 2022 at 4:51 pm

        Thank you Lisa! I pm happy you liked it ☺️💕 Yes those computer goblins are back anonymously 🙁

  4. July 19, 2022 at 10:22 am

    That pain reminded me of mental health…and the damaged smile that conquered it. Nice.

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 4:56 pm

      Thank you Darnell. Yes also any kind of abuse can affect the mental state too. Hope you’re doing well ☺️💕

      • July 20, 2022 at 9:01 am

        I’m okay. Thank you for asking. I appreciate it.

      • Christine Bolton
        July 20, 2022 at 11:08 am

        Of course Darnell ☺️💕

  5. July 19, 2022 at 6:22 am

    Pain indeed transforms us into something we can’t imagine about ourselves❤

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 10:10 am

      Yes isn’t that true Laiba. We don’t recognize what we have become. Thank you ☺️💕

      • July 19, 2022 at 7:51 pm

        Yup! indeed. Welcome❤

  6. July 19, 2022 at 2:22 am

    You’ve written a very relatable story Christine. Excellent

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 10:21 am

      Thanks Sadje ☺️💕 I appreciate it

  7. July 19, 2022 at 2:12 am

    There are some great images here, and a real insight into the way pain isolates. I’m glad she ended up smiling, even if that smile was a little crooked.

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Sarah. Yes! If not a crooked smile, many will always walk with a limp.

  8. July 18, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    Incredible

    • Christine Bolton
      July 19, 2022 at 10:12 am

      Thank you! You’re so kind ☺️💕

  9. July 18, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Wow, that was quite a crooked twist (in a good way). ^_^

    • Christine Bolton
      July 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm

      Thank you! Happy you liked it

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