Time Thaws the Torment

I became immersed in silent peace with Dale’s photograph, along with its seasonal touch of the inviting Christmas tree lights. The picture shows a thaw in the weather and a respite from the hard frost; but for how long? Winter can be mild or hard, and in the Spring, we forgive the past harsh weather as the appearance of flowers lighten our mood.

This week, I have taken my inspiration from Franz Kafka.

The German novelist Franz Kafka writes about his father in “Letter to My Father.”

“What was always incomprehensible to me was your total lack of feeling for the suffering and shame you could inflict on me with your words and judgments.” 

Thank you, Rochelle for this week’s prompt for Friday Fictioneers, other stories can be read HERE.

Time Thaws the Torment

I took the shortcut from the railway station along the path I used twenty years ago.
It was then I vowed never to return, but here I was.

Sat on my heavy rucksack, I looked across at the place, my childhood home once full of boyhood adventures.
I loved this country and our family’s farming life.

Come home, my mother said. It’s Christmas. He’s gone, bless his soul.

Was it him who drove me away, or my stubborn pride? A lifetime of agony and tormented pains.

Forgiveness lightened my backpack as I strode with definitive certainty.
I had returned home. 

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40 responses to “Time Thaws the Torment

  1. The mother certainly seems to believe it was the father who drove him away. An atmospheric piece, James

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Dear James,

    How sad when there are rifts in families. I’m glad your story ended on a hopeful note. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  3. very poignant with just a lovely uplift at the end – perfect for the time of year and especially in the times we are living through. I am waiting for the uplift.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Dark shadows might still be lingering around.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Ahhh, the relief and release of forgiveness. It certainly lightens the heavy load we carry without it.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. He may never know the answer to that question. Wonderful writing and I definitely feel the Kafka in it.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. It is especially painful from an immediate family member so it is understandable if his ability to forgive only kicks in so very slowly

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Not all families are loving and understanding. Good for him and his mother that she reaches out. Great story, James.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. A perfectly heartwarming Christmas story, James.

    Like

  10. A lot of emotion in 100 words. Nice work!

    Like

  11. It’s like he’s come full circle. Life is strange.

    Like

  12. How sad that his father died before the son grew up enough to forgive him.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Full of feeling! Families are the source of much love and much pain.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “Forgiveness lightened my backpack”…I love that.
    Good story, perfect any time, especially Christmas. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. The past is a hard thing of which to let go. Forgiveness is a big step.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Christmas should be a time for mending bridges, not building them, but so often …

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Reads like lines from a literary novel! Happy Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I like what you did with this, James. My first thought would have been Bukowski, but Kafka works as well. Well done. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. somehow i could relate to this story. well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. What a beautifully written tale of coming home, James. Loved this.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. It was definitely him. Mother knows best. Home is where the heart is (even after many years). Nice one. 👍

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Beautifully written, James, lucid, full of insight and deeply humane.
    Kudos

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Oh this is lovely. A moment of indecision and then a definitive choice. That with wslking the path… a terrific piece about inner turmoil and families.

    Liked by 1 person

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