This broke me in the best way. The tenderness, the trauma, the small hands holding hope and fear all at once. It’s stunning. You didn’t just recount a childhood memory; you resurrected a moment that still breathes through every sentence. Your mother’s strength, your sister’s urgency, your childlike confusion… it all lingers. Thank you for honoring your story and hers with such care. You reminded me why we write.
Christopher, your words touched me deeply. It means so much that you felt the weight and tenderness of that memory as I did while writing it...I... I’m humbled that it reminded you why we write. That's why I shared it, anyways, right? Thank you for seeing not just the story, but the heart behind it.🎖️🎖️✨
Wow, Mark. This was a powerful perspective written reflection. It stopped me dead in my tracks. It read like a poem. and by no means do I mean it as a criticism.
Leo Tolstoy says something about being stopped in his tracks, while reading poems, and asking "Now why did the poet do that?" This happens all the time. It's part of the code-breaking. When a word or phrase appears that's arresting, it does two things: it challenges my perceptions of seeing/hearing/feeling, and it moves me into new territory. By this I mean an altered state of awareness that's akin to an extended daydream, where all my senses conspire to provide fertile and syntactically engaging words or lines. It happens rarely, but when I'm there I tend to make the most of it, for days sometimes.
I do believe that you are a powerful thinker and that you have you mad skills. And because of this I wish for some sort of correspondence with you. I am going to kick it off by subscibring in the hopes you do the same. This will keep me accountable and motivated to leave comments such as this on your subsequent and previous posts. I imagine our bonded will power with these exercises will bear much fruit. Mark; do keep me on your long distance radar. in the joy of eternal collaboration from shore.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and detailed response, Connor! I really value readers like you who engage deeply and share their own perspectives. Honestly, it makes the conversation around this story(Only Time Will Tell!) so much richer. You’ve raised some great points that give me more to reflect on. I'm not the most powerful writer, but I appreciate the way you've connected your ideas,...about the poem with what I wrote. 🎖️
I just hit the subscribers button, and be sure to find the notification popping on your phone. I hope we can keep this exchange going, because it's voices like yours that make this space meaningful.🎖️🎖️✨
What moved me here wasn’t just the drama of the moment - your mother collapsing, the rush for help - how it was told through the eyes of a child, both furious and frightened. That mix of anger, confusion, and desperate prayer felt real in a way polished memory rarely does.
And then the ending - HOPE tapped into the keyboard like a promise. It’s not just a family story; it’s a reminder that survival itself can be a kind of inheritance. What your mother carried, and what you now carry, is the insistence that tomorrow has to mean something more. That struck deep!
Thanks so much, Joakim, for your thoughtful words. I'm grateful you took your time to write such a detailed comment...it adds so much to the conversation . You have definitely unravel the mysteries I had thought, I have hidden in the story. Thanks once more🎖️✨
Child expressed so well (difficult to do as an adult), the wisdom that resulted from the experience, the harsh reality of certain places that we in the comfort of our middle class life can’t even comprehend, it really touched me bigly. Very well written.
I'm overjoyed by your kind words, Nobby! They really mean a lot to me. I'm also glad the story hit deep on your end, I'll lie if I say it wasn't meant to do so. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🎖️
this was such an emotional read, i felt my emotions aligning with the child. it’s written so incredibly, at such great speed. i have no words for it but omg u are a great writer. you have a way with words. i hope ur doing better now
Mark, this is such a powerful and tender story. I could feel the child’s anger, fear, and helplessness, and then the immense relief when your mother opened her eyes.
The way you weave memory with emotion makes this not just a family story but a universal reminder of resilience, sacrifice, and hope.
Thank you for sharing something so raw and deeply human, it lingers long after reading.
I really appreciate your kind words, Priya. Your words truly mean a lot. That moment with my mother has stayed with me for years, and writing it down was a way of keeping hope alive. I'm grateful it connected with you in this way.
Great piece
Thanks Gideon, I hope you enjoyed it!
This broke me in the best way. The tenderness, the trauma, the small hands holding hope and fear all at once. It’s stunning. You didn’t just recount a childhood memory; you resurrected a moment that still breathes through every sentence. Your mother’s strength, your sister’s urgency, your childlike confusion… it all lingers. Thank you for honoring your story and hers with such care. You reminded me why we write.
Christopher, your words touched me deeply. It means so much that you felt the weight and tenderness of that memory as I did while writing it...I... I’m humbled that it reminded you why we write. That's why I shared it, anyways, right? Thank you for seeing not just the story, but the heart behind it.🎖️🎖️✨
Wow, Mark. This was a powerful perspective written reflection. It stopped me dead in my tracks. It read like a poem. and by no means do I mean it as a criticism.
Leo Tolstoy says something about being stopped in his tracks, while reading poems, and asking "Now why did the poet do that?" This happens all the time. It's part of the code-breaking. When a word or phrase appears that's arresting, it does two things: it challenges my perceptions of seeing/hearing/feeling, and it moves me into new territory. By this I mean an altered state of awareness that's akin to an extended daydream, where all my senses conspire to provide fertile and syntactically engaging words or lines. It happens rarely, but when I'm there I tend to make the most of it, for days sometimes.
I do believe that you are a powerful thinker and that you have you mad skills. And because of this I wish for some sort of correspondence with you. I am going to kick it off by subscibring in the hopes you do the same. This will keep me accountable and motivated to leave comments such as this on your subsequent and previous posts. I imagine our bonded will power with these exercises will bear much fruit. Mark; do keep me on your long distance radar. in the joy of eternal collaboration from shore.
Sincerely, Cc
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and detailed response, Connor! I really value readers like you who engage deeply and share their own perspectives. Honestly, it makes the conversation around this story(Only Time Will Tell!) so much richer. You’ve raised some great points that give me more to reflect on. I'm not the most powerful writer, but I appreciate the way you've connected your ideas,...about the poem with what I wrote. 🎖️
I just hit the subscribers button, and be sure to find the notification popping on your phone. I hope we can keep this exchange going, because it's voices like yours that make this space meaningful.🎖️🎖️✨
Nice of you to say, Mark! Thank you.
What moved me here wasn’t just the drama of the moment - your mother collapsing, the rush for help - how it was told through the eyes of a child, both furious and frightened. That mix of anger, confusion, and desperate prayer felt real in a way polished memory rarely does.
And then the ending - HOPE tapped into the keyboard like a promise. It’s not just a family story; it’s a reminder that survival itself can be a kind of inheritance. What your mother carried, and what you now carry, is the insistence that tomorrow has to mean something more. That struck deep!
Thanks so much, Joakim, for your thoughtful words. I'm grateful you took your time to write such a detailed comment...it adds so much to the conversation . You have definitely unravel the mysteries I had thought, I have hidden in the story. Thanks once more🎖️✨
I loved this story, the POV of the small
Child expressed so well (difficult to do as an adult), the wisdom that resulted from the experience, the harsh reality of certain places that we in the comfort of our middle class life can’t even comprehend, it really touched me bigly. Very well written.
I'm overjoyed by your kind words, Nobby! They really mean a lot to me. I'm also glad the story hit deep on your end, I'll lie if I say it wasn't meant to do so. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🎖️
Touching! I like the way it's written: quick and immediately understandable. 👈
Thanks so much, Marco! I'm glad it resonated with you in that way.
Touching! I like the way it's written: quick and immediately understandable. 👈
This is beautiful🫶🏽
Thanks, I really appreciate you taking time to read :Only Time Will Tell! I hope you enjoyed it✨
Very moving and well written!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, Husain! 🙏
So heartfelt. ❤️
Thanks Brenda, I'm so glad it resonated with you that way.
I LOVE this!! It reminded me of my own delulus about randomly running away when I was like eight 😅
Thanks for reading this, Marisa! I'm convinced now that I was the only who did that in my childhood 😂
🤣🤣🤣
This is just fascinating. The way you were able to capture the chaos that never was. Very well written and indeed a lesson to me in creativity. Kudos!
Thanks, Barkibir! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
This is a great memoir of childhood. So inspiring and well written.
Thanks, glad it resonates with you in that way!
this was such an emotional read, i felt my emotions aligning with the child. it’s written so incredibly, at such great speed. i have no words for it but omg u are a great writer. you have a way with words. i hope ur doing better now
Thank you so much! I'm glad your emotions aligned with the child...honestly appreciate your thoughts on this story!
Mark, this is such a powerful and tender story. I could feel the child’s anger, fear, and helplessness, and then the immense relief when your mother opened her eyes.
The way you weave memory with emotion makes this not just a family story but a universal reminder of resilience, sacrifice, and hope.
Thank you for sharing something so raw and deeply human, it lingers long after reading.
I really appreciate your kind words, Priya. Your words truly mean a lot. That moment with my mother has stayed with me for years, and writing it down was a way of keeping hope alive. I'm grateful it connected with you in this way.
I really liked it.
What a scare. I was right there in the story as I read it. The love you have for your mother is strong and beautiful. 🥹♥️
Thanks soo much for such a touching comment. It means a lot to me🙏