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Please be considerate of 70 or more participants and keep your story to 100 words. Thank you.
The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
Copyright – Adam Ickes
Another week of reruns. This is a story I posted 5 years ago 13 December 2013 Click the link to see who was with us then. A few of you may have written a story for this prompt. If so, feel free to post your own rerun.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
UNEXPECTED GIFT, UNEXPECTED TIME
Charli’s hiking boots are caked with dried mud that defies my cleaning efforts.
From her first cry, I dreamed of dressing my firstborn in pink pinafores with ruffled lace. But, before she turned two, Charli made it clear she detested pink.
Since then, I’ve given birth to another tomboy and a son who happens to love pink. Go figure.
After the accident on her thirteenth birthday, the boots were the only part of Charli I didn’t sell, toss or donate.
I listen for the doorbell. In a moment I’ll meet the girl to whom I gave my daughter’s untamed heart.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Complex, layered, and achingly beautiful, Rochelle
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Thank you so much, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A moving piece of parental love and understanding. Everyone to their own, their aspirations and way of life. What irritates me is when people try to transfer their unhappiness onto to others, particularly when you understand. Working on the positives enhances life’s expectations. Just my opinion.
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Dear James,
I think we’re of similar opinions. There’s nothing that brings a body down than being around another whose outlook is always negative. Those types suck the life right out of you.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Always appreciated. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This story contains both sorrow and hopefulness, Rochelle. You’ve taken us from smiles to tears and back again. Good writing as always. —- Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
When I wrote this five years ago I was influenced by a true story. Recently I saw a similar story on the news. What a selfless thing to do. I cannot even imagine the emotions. Thank you so much for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful Rochelle. You gave us a child and you gave us the parental grief at her loss but brought us up knowing that her death was not in vain and another gained life because of it. There is annecdotal evidence that someone receiving a donated heart will take on the donors characteristics. Perhaps Charli’s untamed heart will continue to run amok.
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Dear Irene,
I’ve seen so many reports of unselfish parents who donated their children’s hearts and later having the privilege of listening to the hearing them beat in another chest. Thank you for your kind comments/compliments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very moving. Beautifully told as usual, as only you can.
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Thank you for such lovely words, Indira. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You have such a unique style, dear.
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This was heart-achingly beautiful, Rochelle. No parent in the world should go through such traumas.
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Dear Varad,
I agree. No parent should outlive his or her child. Thank you for your kind words. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Superb effort, m’lady.
This touches the heart without ever becoming maudlin, not always an easy task.
Chapeau.
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Dear CE,
I noticed your pink friend made a similar comment the first time around. 😉 Thank you for such an encouraging comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perhaps he and I are more alike than I thought, m’lady
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😉
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What a moving story, sad but tinged with hope.
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Thank you for such an affirming comment, Ellie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A heart touching story with mixed emotions, Rochelle. Thanks for the beautiful prompt. Here is my take, after a long time.
https://syncwithdeep.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/in-my-moms-shoes/
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Dear Deepa,
Thank you for such a lovely comment. Good to see you back. I hope you’ll post your link in the inLinkz list.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oops.. Sorry Rochelle.. Will do it right away
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She is soon to meet her new daughter. Her heart beats on!
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Dear Danny,
A great way to look at it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Her daughter will always be there in her heart and in the memories of the other family too. Her daughter may not be physically present but her heart still beats…
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Dear Ira,
That seems to be the way parents of organ donors see it. It takes a selfless person to make that kind of sacrifice. Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Touching story. In a way, Charli will live on…
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Dear Trent,
Yes, Charli’s untamed heart still beats. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful Rochelle, such a powerful 100 words.
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Thank you so much, Iain.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There is so much in this short story. The heart will go on, and giving that person Charli’s boots is a beautiful affirmation. Loved it.
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Dear Linda,
Actually the mother kept Charli’s boots as her only reminder. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heartbreaking yet so beautiful.
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Many thanks, Dahlia.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful and poignant story of a mother’s love and kindness.
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Thank you for such kind words, Anshu.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such an amazing close to your story, Rochelle. Beautifully written. Best wishes, Jilly.
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Dear Jilly,
Thank you for such a warm and affirming comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heartbreaking piece, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Josh. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So many layers in this piece, Rochelle. And beautifully executed in a mere 100 words. Well done.
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Dear Sandra,
I’m glad you still found it so after all these years. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had to read the last line twice. I’m not sure I could do that as a parent, meet the recipient I mean.
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Thanks for reading, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a sad yet beautiful story. To lose a child would be a trauma no parent could recover from, yet to know her daughter’s heart gave life to another would be a tremendous thing. Gracefully written, Rochelle.
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Dear Brenda,
I can’t imagine losing a child. You hear for these selfless parents often these days, though. They have my utmost admiration. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A complicated story to tell in 100 words but you did it. That last sentence is a stunner.
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Dear Liz,
I couldn’t ask for a better compliment. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I started a year after you first posted this one. Until then I had been part of a wonderful community called Fiction Friday 55 in which we were to tell a story with no prompts in 55 words. That hub fell apart, leaving me adrift. You and the other Fictioneers made me feel welcome. I really appreciate that.
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Dear Alice,
It sounds like an interesting prompt challenge. I’m pleased that you found us to be a welcoming group. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Once more I’ve left a comment on your story, Alice. And once more, it disappeared. You might check your spam folder to see if it ended up there. 😉 Cute story.
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Actually, they are all arriving. Just not quickly. I was hoping this latest WordPress update would fix it, but instead it broke a bunch of other things. But I’ll keep plugging at it. Sorry for the delays.
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Dear Rochelle,
Such a beautifully told story. I’m with Charli’s mom. In every aspect.
I really loved this piece.
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I imagine Charli’s mom to be a lot like you. (If she existed. 😉 ) Thank you for swinging by to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So do I 😉😘
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There is so much to love in this story… the gender roles, the tragedy and the gift of having a part of her still living…
Somehow I saw another alternative in the reading… and maybe a hopeful one where Charli is still alive and the girl coming to visit is her lover who took her away… somehow there could be an acceptance of lesbian love as well… but reading the comments I saw the other way of getting that untamed heart.
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Reading too quickly, I also thought for a second, that it was a ‘Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell’ tale. Then I realized that it was a much more generous story. Well done as usual. A real grabber. 🙂
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Dear Archon,
Glad you realized what was going on in my story. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Björn,
I’m glad you caught the deliberate nuances. At any rate, not much chance of Charli being alive. Nice thoughts, though. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heart rending and beautiful and loving and touching in so many ways–thank you for that! As someone who knows someone who is alive today because of the kindness of others in their time of greatest heartbreak, I know the enormity of this gift–to the giving, to the given.
I’m copying here my contribution (already left on the linky-thinky). A different–or perhaps not fully–kind of memory.
Na’ana
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Dear Na’ama,
My story is based on a number of true ones I’ve seen and read about. Amazingly selfless thing for a grieving parent to do. Thank you for your affirming comments. 😀 They mean a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed among the most selfless things I can think of, and truly the most profound gift. Literally the gift of life for many.
🙂
Well written, my friend.
Na’ama
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Touching, uplifting and sad all at the same time. It makes my heart ache.
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Dear Barb,
Compliments don’t get much better. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a wonderful gift given through grief and sorrow.
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Dear Di,
I can’t imagine the selflessness this kind of gift takes to give. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I am so sorry. I forgot this was 100 word story; this is almost 300 words even without the comment. Is there a way for me to delete off the blue frog? I guess I’m getting too many irons in the fire. Delete me if you can. If I delete from my end it will not delete the frog, will it?
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Hi Oneta,
Deleting you off the frog list is no problem. It won’t effect the list in the slightest. When you have a story that’s 100 words it’s a simple matter to relink. In fact, as I write I’ve already deleted your link. I’d challenge you to take that 300 word story and cut it down to 100. I know it can be done as I’ve done it many times with longer excerpts from my novels. The challenge is to keep the essence of the story and trimming off the fat if you will. 😉 Let me know if I can help in any other way.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. I’m embarrassed. One of the reasons I like your challenge is that I can read so many entries just because they are 100 words. The other is that I like the challenge of writing something worthwhile in only 100 words. I still have some time to re-enter. But the Christmas company is on the way, so I might miss a week or two. Thanks, again. 😀
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Enjoy your company, we’ll still be here after the holidays. 😉 Hope you read and liked my story while you were in the neighborhood. Thanks.
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I did; it was wonderful. Serves as a promotion for a very worthy cause. I do not have time to change my submission so I removed it from my blog. I did have some likes from my regular readers who did not know how I goofed. 😀
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That was your call, Oneta. If your regular readers liked it it’s all good. 😉
Thank you re my story. Always nice to hear.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a beautiful and touching story! Loved the story, Rochelle.
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Thank you so much, Priya. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it’s nature’s call, we can’t mess with it. 🙂
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I’m not sure I understand your comment, Plaridel. At any rate, thank you for reading.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i think i misread your story after rereading it. it was very touching.
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Thank you, Plaridel. Glad you went back for the second read. 😉 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Her daughter’s heart still beats on in a different body. Nothing greater than giving someone the gift of life, Wonderfully done.
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Dear Subroto,
Exactly. There’s no greater gift is there? Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very touching story. In the girl you will see your own daughter. Because her heart is beating. Very nice story.
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Dear Abhijit,
In more than one of these stories I’ve seen the donor parents with a stethoscope listening to their child’s heart beat in someone else’s chest. Very touching, indeed. Thank you for your kind comments re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was such a powerfully poignant tale Rochelle. Very moving, and great ending.
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Dear Anurag,
Thank you for your very sweet and kind comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very moving, reminds me a little of Louise’s novel The Gift. I hope this recipient has an easier time of it than Louise’s heroine, though.
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Beautiful and moving story of not only love, but acceptance. Very well done..
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I had to read this several times before I understood the meaning and read the word heart literally. At first I thought it was a tale of acceptance of her own child’s sexual preference, or perhaps of the death of one daughter and the sexual preference of the other. But with the idea of donating a heart to another, the title and everything else made sense. A deceptively thought-provoking tale.
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Such a poignant story that turns into one of hope and a bit of joy. To know her daughter’s heart saved another one’s life. A resurrection from sad to joy in so few words. You are a master wordsmith M’luv. The image of the boots on the porch evokes many stories and images.
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Dear Jan,
As I’ve mentioned in other comments, the selflessness of grieving parents in these stories blows me away. Thank you for the high praise, M’luv.
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A really depressing take. Too real.
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Dear Stu,
There are a lot of these stories out there. One life saves another. Depressing indeed but hopeful. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A deeply moving story, Rochelle. You tell it with such subtlety and nuance, Heart felt writing.
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Dear Francine,
Thank you for such a lovely and affirming comment. Happy Holidays
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully sad story Rochelle. Nicely done!
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Thank you so much, Russell.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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a bit complex, i felt so
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Life can be complex, Arora. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice story, Rochelle. My apologies for being little irregular here.
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Dear Piyali,
Life happens. No apologies necessary. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is so tragic but at the same time elevating, a deed only parents can achieve through their noble, selfless acts. You, dear Rochelle, have once again shown why you are the best flash fiction writer I have had the privilege of knowing and reading.
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Dear Neel,
As always, your comments elevate my spirit. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This brought tears to my eyes. Nothing more painful than losing a child but not more loving than giving the gift of life to someone else. Charli’s beautiful and untamed heart is beating. What a touching and inspirational story.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child. I admire these selfless parents who give their child’s organs to save another human. The ultimate gift. Your tears are my compliment. thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Queen Lurline,
One of my best friends lost his son (age 40) this summer in an accident. The young man had signed his organ donor card and a good number of people of living better lives today because of it. It will be up to the recipients if they want to contact the family later on. I hope they do. I know it would mean a lot to the family.
Ho, ho, hum,
Edward Everett Red-Nose
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Dear Edward Everett Red-Nose,
I can’t imagine the pain your friend felt and is still feeling. What a selfless gift. It would be nice if the recipients contacted them. They might feel awkward about it. Who knows. Happy holidays to you and the rest of the Gayer clan.
Merry Christmas to all,
Queen Lurline W(T)F
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So much to learn from the way you write, Rochelle.
Regards,
Moon.
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Dear Moon,
That’s a high compliment indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m lost for words. Poignant, moving, typically Rochellian.
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Thank you for such a lovely comment/compliment, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this story! Thanks so much. Great having the audio, too.
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
You’re the first who seems to have noticed the audio. I guess that would be helpful to you. I will try to remember to do that from now on. Good practice for me anyway. 😉 I’m not in a position to do it this week, though. Glad you loved the story. It’s one of my favorites from back in the day. Happy Christmas, my friend. To you and the lovely Diva.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is beautifully moving. A gorgeously crafted piece.
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Thank you for such a wonderful comment/compliment, Lisa.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is just beautiful Rochelle. Such heartfilled emotion
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Thank you so much, Laurie. Merry Christmas.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a rich emotional landscape you’ve painted in 100 words, Rochelle. You’ve endeared me to the protagonist, who seems to have coped very well with the disappointments and surprises that life has thrown her way. I love the way your tale ended on a hopeful note.
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Dear Magarisa,
Your affirming words warm my morning. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So glad to hear that. 🙂
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You wrote an emotional piece for my parental heart. A mother’s loss is the hardest to bear. I loved the positive ending, and that her daughter lives on in both the boots and the still living heart.
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Dear Fatima,
I agree with you. No parent should outlive her child. Some parents make the supreme sacrifice when they donate their child’s organs. My hat’s off to them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful and very moving story, Rochelle.
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Many thanks, Maria 😀 Merry Christmas
Shalom,
Rochelle
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