He slept on her floor night after night to protect her from the monsters that she believed lurked under her toddler bed, just waiting for an opportunity to snatch her away. There never were any monsters, but she didn’t know that.
He slept on her floor because she had asked him to. She’d never asked to be sick, but life isn’t always fair.
He slept on her floor to spend as much time with her as he could. There would come a time, all too soon, when he wouldn’t be able to. She was his world, and he would be lost when she was gone, but until then the greatest gift he could give her was his time.
He slept on her floor because he loved her.
—
Written for The Short Story and Flash Fiction Society’s Flash Fiction Contest #6. I was going to write a horror story for the contest, and in a sense I guess I did just that, just not the horror I had originally planned. I seem to have gone with a real life horror instead.
December 20th, 2014 at 2:32 AM
<3 this!
December 21st, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Thanks. :)
December 20th, 2014 at 6:45 AM
Adam, That was really lovely. I think it’s my favorite of everything I’ve read of yours. — Susan
December 21st, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Thanks, Susan.
December 22nd, 2014 at 9:44 PM
Time given is indeed a gift. Nice story.
DJ
December 28th, 2014 at 3:55 PM
[…] Congrats to Adam Ickes (@AdamIckes), the winner of our 6th flash fiction contest! If you haven’t already, go read his winning story He Slept On Her Floor! […]
January 1st, 2015 at 11:10 AM
What a touching story! I love what you’ve accomplished and look forward to reading more of your work.
January 9th, 2015 at 8:16 PM
Well done. Love it.