Manerra remembered Tackta's grunts as he swung and the acrid stench of Tackta’s sweat, but not the pain of the blows.
After the beating, Tackta staggered away, leaving him curled on his side with his face in the sand. Matera crept to him and with a tentative hand, wiped blood-adhered sand from his brow and cheek. Her expression, her blood, terrified him. He sniffled and she lifted him from the ground, clutched him to her breast and rocked--without words and without tears--as if shock were communication and empathy enough. Only then did he feel pain: an excruciating hurt.
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This >> "as if shock were communication and empathy enough" is an amazing line! I'm intrigued as to what brought them to this point ... and where they go from here. Great suspense!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I'm so amazed by your response. Thank you so much.
DeletePoor Manerra. He's such a lost boy.
ReplyDeleteHe makes his life harder than it needs to be.
DeleteLove your six! What a touching scene, coming on the heels of a beating.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorraine. Matera's a remarkable woman, which explains much about her son.
DeleteWow, such an emotionally powerful excerpt. Really poignant and well written!
ReplyDelete~Joyce
I'm so glad you shared that. It's hard to judge how fragments taken out of context will be perceived by readers.
DeleteIntriguing six! Leaves me with so many questions! Nice job!
ReplyDelete