Member-only story

Sink or Swim

Gloria Lucas
1 min readMay 20, 2021

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This story falls under the microfiction category as it’s 97 words long. It has been submitted to a microfiction challenge that required a story of 100 words or less.

CW: domestic violence and pregnancy loss

Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

His grip tightened around her neck. “You’re gonna trick me into loving you, then leave? Fuck you!”

Love, anger, violence. A cycle she couldn’t escape until violence ended the promise of life. Bright red blood stained her thighs.

“I’m leaving.”

She struggled for air. A memory flashed. Her, treading water, drowning. Her mother, eyes worried, fist against mouth. Her father, laughing. “She’ll either sink or swim.” She grew to fear water.

She refused to drown. Her husband was drunk. She pulled his gun.

Bang.

One year later, she met her swim instructor. She smiled. “I’m ready.”

Domestic violence resources

Domestic Violence Hotline

If you cannot visit the website, please call 1–800–799-SAFE (7233)or text “START” to 1–800–799-SAFE (7233)

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Gloria Lucas
Gloria Lucas

Written by Gloria Lucas

I write about trauma and mental health. Sometimes parenting. Also, short stories. Daydreamer. Always behind on laundry. She/her

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