NHWP member Michael J. Brien earns bragging rights for winning the NHWP Writers’ Prompt Challenge for the second consecutive month. Join us in congratulating him. Give his winning submission a read.

Chances

By Michael J. Brien

She never had the chance to stand in line. Nick gently held her small, bony hand, being careful not to bruise her papery skin. He thought,“She’s the same age as my Mom. I can’t imagine either of them passing away alone.” Nick sat at the edge of the hospital bed and looked up from her gaunt face and up to the window at the line of leafless branches outside, and jacketed men and women standing in rows waiting for their Covid-19 shot. They had been in the cold for hours, each step bringing them closer to community healing, to herd immunity. Nick looked down into the woman’s sunken eyes and whispered in her ear, “I’ll stay with you until the end.” She blinked once, the pupils grey where once he imagined they were a bright blue. “Your family loves you very much.” She nodded, her fingers intertwined in his. She closed her eyes, breathed in deep and let out a sigh. He waited for another breath, but there was none. He folded her hands on her chest. Looking up at the lines outside the window, they still had their backs turned to them.

Check out April’s image on the home page and NHWP Facebook on Monday April 5, 2021. Sharpen your keystrokes and compete!