father and son

The Pain of Things Left Unsaid

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Unspoken words don’t disappear—they echo in the heart as regret.

“Much unhappiness has come from things left unsaid.” Leo Tolstoy

I have an acquaintance who a few years back, lost his father. He shared with me how he rarely connected with his father because of his work demands. My acquaintance took his father’s death hard. When I occasionally connect with him he reminiscences about his childhood and his youthful relationship with his father. In between all of his spoken lines I recognize he is trying to find a way to say the things that he left unsaid to his father. He’s not unusual. So often we take the people close to us for granted until it’s too late. My acquaintance is filled with regrets regarding his relationship with his father. Let those you love know how you feel about them. You’ll find yourself living a life without regrets and filling with pleasant memories.

Have you ever wished you had said something to a loved one before it was too late? What would you say now if given the chance?

Flash Fiction Prompt: Deadly Waters: The Gulf Excursion Gone Wrong

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A father-son fishing trip drifts into dark waters when the skipper’s secret call reveals a sinister “cargo.”

First Line

The salty breeze carried laughter until a single overheard word—“cargo”—changed everything.

Flash Fiction Prompt

The sun shimmered across the Gulf of Mexico, painting the waves gold as a father and son cast their lines with childlike anticipation. It was supposed to be a perfect afternoon—fish on the hook, memories in the making. But then, as the boy leaned against the rail, he caught the skipper’s voice drifting from a cell phone call.

“We’ll drop the cargo overboard before dusk,” the skipper said, his eyes scanning the horizon.

The boy froze, his small fingers tightening on the rod. Cargo? He looked at his father, who smiled, oblivious, untangling a fishing line. Was he the cargo? Was Dad? Or was this boat carrying something darker—drugs, weapons, something that could drag them all into danger? The boy’s heart raced as he weighed the choice: tell his dad, or keep silent and pretend nothing happened.

The line on his reel suddenly jerked. Fish—or fate?

3 Questions for Readers

  1. How would you escalate the suspense once the boy overhears the skipper’s call?
  2. Should the “cargo” be the father and son—or something illegal that endangers them anyway?
  3. How would you end the story: escape, rescue, or a chilling twist?

Feel Good Tip of the Day

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A Feel Good Happening

On my way out of the gym, I stopped to talk to a friend. He was in between sets working on his biceps, He was beaming about his son. His son just received a big promotion. My friend was exercising his bragging rights. He felt good. I wasn’t about to steal his thunder. The moment was his. He was basking in his son’s success. He went on to tell me that he was proud of his son’s success and even prouder of the man his son had become. I like hearing feel good stories. The world needs more of them.

New Story, ‘Searching for Dad,’ Begins in 7 Days

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A New Story

Searching For Dad

Begins in 7 Days

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