Are Monsters Real?

by Capital "W" Writer (LoA's Geekus Awesomeus)

“Mommy. Mommy!” he cries, shaking, still feeling the fear from his nightmare.

His mother rushes in. “What is it, sweetheart?” She sits beside him, tucking him back in and stroking him gently.

“I had a bad dream.”

She kisses him on the forehead. “Shhhh. It’s okay, my boy. It was only a dream.” She sings him a lullaby that always brings a smile to his face. When she’s done, she says, “Go back to sleep, sweetie. You have school in the morning.”

“Mommy,” he says. “Are monsters real?”

“Oh, no, honey. Monsters aren’t real. They’re all in your imagination.”

He smiles. “Thank you, mommy. Can you ask gramma to come kiss me good night?”

“All right. Good night.” She stands up and leaves.

After a minute, his grandmother comes in and sits beside him. She gives him a kiss and a hug. “Gramma,” he says. “Mommy says monsters aren’t real. Is that true?”

Her face grows sad. She touches her arm, as though she can feel the numbers tattooed there through the sleeve. How does she tell him that, yes, monsters are real?

Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Are Monsters Real?

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 5 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    A touching moment that turns terrible in all its grim reality. It tells a lot in very little space. Well done.
    LoA

  2. Are Monsters Real?

    Squiddums' Buddy Icon Squiddums

    Posted 5 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Really nice and simple, without totally spelling anything out.

  3. Are Monsters Real?

    thebetweenspace's Buddy Icon thebetweenspace

    Posted 5 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Everyone has their own interpretation, right? Mine was that maybe the grandmother was a victim of one of Hitler’s extermination camps that lived through the experience.

  4. Are Monsters Real?

    Blusparrow's Buddy Icon Blusparrow

    Posted 5 months ago

    I agree with thebetweenspace, I think it was a jew hurt be one of Hitler’s horrid camps. There are mosters in this world. Heartless people.
    LoA

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