Welcome to Week Three! Can you believe we’re at the halfway mark for the challenge?
You all did so well with your stories last week! There were so many interesting and unique ways you interpreted the prompt. It’s now the third week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have aliens? Zombies? Maybe it’ll have a dragon in it! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Three Prompt – The Starting Sentence Prompt
Write a story that starts with the
following sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Wait…what’s a “Starting Sentence” prompt?
A sentence prompt is a prompt that uses a particular sentence. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place, who’s in it, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must start with this sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
Will you notice if someone is like 1-25 words over the 1000 word limit (asking for a friend hahaha)
what if i accidently posted my story as a comment last week lol? does it still count?
Hey Izzy and Ava,
If you accidentally post your story as a comment instead of an answer, you should get an email to alert you! It will still count for points for your team, but no one will be able to vote for it.
And, to answer your question for your friend 😉 As far as word count, for your story to count for the challenge, it does need to be 1,000 words or under. Great questions!
Team Herbert
So this is what drowning feels like.
Months ago, I learned that my husband, the father of our children, hurt our son. I cleared the hurdle of getting a protective order. He wasn’t allowed near us, with the exception of a few supervised visits per week. I even had those restricted: no food, public spaces. Food is a trigger for him. That’s what initiated the response that took us to that point. I wasn’t home when he left a mark across our kindergartener’s neck. This sweet boy and his sister are who told me that it was from daddy grabbing his t-shirt and twisting it to pick him up by it. It bruised his tender neck as he cried, his sister screaming for daddy to stop.
I thought I was drowning then. I was wrong.
I have no family here but had close friends who drew near and lifted me up, not only in prayer but also by bringing me food and watching my young ones while I attended to the tedious task of maintaining the protection order. I begged them to order domestic violence classes. They did not.
As the months went by, the children’s anxiety leveled. They grew confident in their ability to make decisions for themselves. They became less aggressive with one another. They laughed more. So did I.
The problem is he believes his lies. He believes what he says to be true and is angry when it is disputed with facts. He also hates for anyone to disagree with him. Sometimes his response is physical, while other times it’s verbal or mental.
He persuaded one of the supervisors of his innocence. He convinced his attorney that I was trying to take his house away from him. He continued to see the counselor we’d both been seeing previously. He appealed to her with his desire to be with his family, prompting her to write a letter on his behalf.
A mere five months after the order was put in place, the judge lifted it. That was four months ago.
I thought, Now I know what drowning feels like.
I was wrong. Again.
He returned to the house. He sleeps in a different room. The kids are happy to reunite with daddy. They don’t understand everything I’ve done to keep them safe, to help them be emotionally and mentally healthy.
Three months later, I’m in the house working on a project, then both children come running and screaming inside, locking the door behind them. I’m afraid there was a wild animal chasing them outside. They’re crying hysterically and when I ask why, the older one tells me that little brother had thrown something at her and it hit her on the head.
I hug her while wondering why her brother was also crying.
“And then Daddy hit him with it!”
Oh. My face fell as I take in the situation. I have no idea what to do.
Suddenly, there’s pounding at the door as he tries to get inside. The children run to separate rooms and lock the doors.
I slowly walk to the front door and unlock it. He stands there, face purple and angry, fisted hands shaking at his sides. He confesses what I’ve already been told and starts inside. “Where are they?” He practically shouts at me.
I do my best to not cower. “They don’t really want to see you right now,” I say as calmly as possible.
He throws his hands in the air and storms into a different room. I grab my phone and visit the bathroom, where my son is hiding. I knock softly and he yelps. “It’s mama, can I come in?”
He lets me in quickly, then proceeds to lock the door back up. My tenderhearted little boy hugs me tightly, tears streaming down his face. I ask him if I can see where daddy hit him. I take a picture. I promise to take him to his meeting that night.
I visit big sister, who tells me more about what happened. I’m in tears and tell her to get ready, as she’s going with us. On our drive, she tells me that she had told daddy that the badminton racquets weren’t for spanking – and he had raised it at her and started toward her. She grabbed her little brother’s hand then and ran for the house.
I later talk to Child Protective Services. I am the protective parent, and I have to make the call. I file a police report, scared that he will find out and kick me out of the house and then no one will be there to protect my kids. When they ask if I want to press charges, I’m afraid to say yes because of what he will do to make me pay for it.
I was wrong before. This is what drowning feels like – waving your arms, hoping someone will see and help you, but being unable to draw a breath knowing it will take your life, even as you sink to the bottom.
Wow. Immersive. Unfortunately truthful as to what can happen in these situations. Great job 💜
Very emotional and deep truths. Raw feelings are brought forth. I won’t watch TV shows that display this but reading kept me involved and had me pulling for her.
Wow. A lot of triggers in this one. The saddest part is how true a situation like this can be. Being a foster parent in two different states, I can tell you this happens and so much worse. We just have to call out for Jesus in moments like this. 🙏
Wait so if we like accidentally post our stories as a comment here, will it count or be ignored?