‘Fifty-nine dead. Five hundred injured.’ Hannah says it more to herself than anyone else.
‘Terrorists again?’ the young girl playing on the floor asks her.
‘Just a man with a gun.’
‘It’s never going to stop, is it, Mum?’
‘It hasn’t stopped since time began. All this violence toward each other,’ she shakes her head. ‘All of it senseless.’
‘Then there is nothing we can do to make it better.’
Hannah looks at her daughter and sees the look of fear.
‘No, we never give up. We never let the violence win. Get your paint and some paper.’
Hannah helps her paint the word ‘love’ in bold blue letters. The ten year-old adds love hearts.
‘Come,’ Hannah says. They go out into the street and walk to the town centre, carrying the homemade sign.
Hannah lights the candle she brought with her and stands holding her daughter’s hand. The small crowd grows, standing together in peaceful remembrance and defiance.
She looks into the innocent brown eyes staring up at her. ‘Hate never wins.’
Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
IAIN KELLY 
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