I rather liked this one! Introducing my flash fiction for the prompt on August 30, 2023.
This, this was much better.
The breeze calmed as the boy kicked his feet over the ledge and relaxed into the fall leaf-covered bench.
The boy’s eyes fluttered shut as nature’s sleep caught him. His legs stilled, and he slumped over onto his side.
But there were no peaceful dreams for this boy. Voices whispered in his mind, calling him, begging him. Promising him fun and adventure.
He tossed and turned, the leaves crunching beneath him but never waking him.
He knew something was wrong, that this must have been some dream, but he couldn’t open his eyes.
A new voice cut through his dream, a panicked woman calling his name. Recognition ripped through his fitful rest, and he sat up abruptly, large leaves clinging to his hair.
“Mom?” he mumbled as he took in his surroundings. The voices in his dream remained, fading but angry.
His mother gasped, her shoes clattering on the sidewalk as she rushed to the boy and swooped him into her arms.
“Baby, baby,” she cried into his neck and hair, kissing him.
He squirmed, but her grip was too tight, too strong. He couldn’t escape.
“Never again,” she pleaded. “Not here. The ledge…beyond it…it’s only safe on the bench. Or they’ll find you again.”
The boy nodded then clung to her. The voices were finally gone.
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