Writerly Wednesday Picture Prompt - The More We Know, The Less We Know

The More We Know,

The Less We Know.

            My twelve-year-old daughter and I stood staring at the graffiti on the wall.

            “What does that mean, Mom?”

            “Well, I think it’s referring to this novel series called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. A science fiction parody with this supercomputer that mathematically decides the answer is 42.”

            “What’s the question?”

            “What’s the answer for life and the universe.”

            My daughter snorted. “And the answer’s 42. That makes no sense.”

            I laughed. “Apparently, the computer malfunctions because of events that happen in the story. There’s no definitive answer.”

            She studied the wall and turned towards me. “Mom...that is the answer.”

            “What is?”

            “That there’s no definitive answer...at least for us. Why would we want to have the answer? We wouldn’t need to dream, or think, or learn. We’d lose the magic to life.”

            Sometimes we need to listen to our kids.

*** 

Flash fiction prompt provided by: 
 http://www.writerlycorner.com/writerly-prompts/writerly-wednesday-1272016

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Weekly Wednesday Flash Fiction - The Rings

Today is Writerly Wednesday. Here's my flash fiction story for this week.

Flash fiction prompt provided by http://www.writerlycorner.com/writerly-prompts/writerly-wednesday-392016.

The Rings

            The rings had a story of their own. A lifetime of stories—full of promise, expectations, family. Good times and bad. And death.

            She picked them up and studied each ring. They’d worn well over the years; no loose diamonds or breaks in the band. Forty years and it seems like yesterday we were driving to California in our old Volkswagen van for a honeymoon.

            When he died, she didn’t think she’d make it. But here she was five years later. She sighed, kissed the rings and placed them back in the jewelry box.

            She looked at her reflection in the mirror, remembering his last words. I’m the one dying, not you. Promise me you’ll keep on living and find happiness again.

            Her eyes slid to her hand and the new ring covering the indentation the old ones burrowed into her skin over the years.

            She smiled.