Prompt

Who Killed Mrs. H?

Inspiration challenge: form #3 — flash fiction

Photo via mcall.com altered by Denise Shelton

This is the third in a series of stories inspired by something I saw on my morning walk. You can read the first in the series here. Unsure what form my story should take (poetry, flash fiction, etc.), I decided to use as many different vehicles as I could and see what emerged. What about you? Has something you’ve seen or experienced inspired you? How many ways can you tell your story? — Denise Shelton

January 2019

The investigation began almost immediately. There were two bodies in the wreckage of the burned house: a 97-year-old woman and her 61-year-old son. They found them in the basement garage. The woman’s car was parked a few blocks away. In speaking to the media, the authorities used the phrase “suspicious circumstances.”

Neighbors supplied the following information:

• The old lady was bedridden and lived alone
• Her son, who lived out of state, was visiting for the holidays
• The son visited several times a year and used his mother’s car when he did
• Home health aides who usually assisted the woman were absent during her son’s visits, as he took care of her himself