“Whole Again” – A Mother Spirals Into Despair – Short Story Review

“She was brave and strong and broken all at once”

~ Anna Funder

A mother and her young daughter have a long trip home. During a brief stop at the gas station that sees the nine year old make an extravagant purchase of snacks and trading cards, it leads to an argument. Words said in anger come back to haunt the mother when a freak accident changes everything. “Whole Again” from THE DROWNING MACHINE AND OTHER OBESSIONS by author Emma E. Murray explores the terrifying aftermath of a mother spiraling into despair that transforms into a macabre miracle.

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The Plot

An unnamed mother and her daughter, Cora, are traveling late at night to get home. Cora is a self-assured nine-year-old but still immature and naïve. When the mother stops at a gas station, her tiredness leads her to absently send Cora into the station to buy a snack. Cora’s naivete results in her purchasing three bags full of treats. The little girl isn’t aware of the financial implications to her mother of her rash actions. The mother leans into her exhaustion and frayed nerves with a verbal outburst directed towards the young girl. The mother regrets her actions but sets that aside when yet another situation to address presents itself.

Shortly after continuing the journey home, the low tire pressure light alerts the mother, and she pulls to the side of the road. Another financial decision she must make is whether to attempt changing the tire herself or call a roadside service. As she contemplates her options, Cora gets out of the car and asks her mother if she needs help. The mother snaps at her.

As Cora plays with her trading cards, one falls to the ground. The mother sees the headlights, but Cora doesn’t. The result is the mother’s mental breakdown until a miracle occurs…

Little by little, Cora returns to her.…To read the entire blog, head to Killer Shorts Review.