26 Comments

Great metaphor there at the end, yes!

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Thank, Linda, for giving this little story another look! I know it is second time around for you. Happy day to you!

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I feel ya, Malachi! And it takes a minute to build that wall! Great little read, Sharron!

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Thanks, J. Mud, I think we all feel a bit like Malachi from time to time. It is scary to open up your insides to strangers!

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Malachi will build a fine wall, he's good at building walls. A touching and powerful vignette, Sharron. Bravo!

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Thanks, Jim. You can imagine as well as I, how a negative response to our stories could hurt. Our writing is self exposure, down to the very core. I am so grateful that the readers and writers on Substack are as kind and supportive as they are. It is a perfect place to experiment and grow.

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Love watching you experiment, Sharron. The stone wall metaphor was just lovely. And worth building on!

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Thanks, my hero.

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Stay the course, Malachi! Really fine, Sharron!

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Awww. She will help him get over it. If you are going to be a writer, you have to develop a thicker skin. You put yourself out there, you better be ready for the response! Right, James?

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Yep, one needs a thick skin - Armadillo thick! : )

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Don't we all build walls to shield us from the sticks and stones that are thrown our way...

Malachi is fortunate to have you behind that wall with him.

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Criticism hurts, no matter how much you protest, especially when it is of something you have created - like a story or a child...

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So true, Sharron.

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“...when does love ever walk away?” Painful and sweet.

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Thanks so much, Amie, for dropping by to read 🍁Leaves!

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A lovely metaphor explored absolutely beautifully, Sharron.

This line is so special: 'I am still his biggest fan after all these years.' ♥️

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Thank you,Rebecca!

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Niiiiiiiiice !!!

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"Or a metaphor for piecing together a successful marriage." It hit me hard. I don't think the pain will ever diminish.

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If pain does diminish, it does so very slowly. Personally, I believe we learn to accommodate it, to just accept that it will be with us as a part of our lives. Not sure it ever goes away, but it does get easier when we stop fighting it.

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A wise thought. I need to learn how to STOP fighting it.... still, though, I am is complete disbelief about how the whole shebang came down into pieces in record time////

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Sounds like the trauma is still very fresh. Sorry to hear it.

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What a powerful story, Sharron. I feel for Malachi and hope he can let some of the criticism go...it can be enough to drive a writer mad! Building a wall around himself is a great metaphor.

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Well.. yes. We writers want so much to be OUT THERE, and yet the risk of public embarrassment or ridicule or criticism are always lurking. I have wanted to crawl behind a wall a couple of times. ha ha ha!

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Haha! You’re not alone, my friend. Me too. 😄

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