Persuasion: A Narrative Fiction

A single tear fell down the woman’s face as the smoke disappeared from behind her reflection. She looked down at her scarred hands one last time. Most would think they were a mark of physical pain, a reason for sympathy, a reason to be sad. But she saw them as a representation as not only the physical pain, but the emotional. They her strength, in her time of weakness. They were her family, forever walking by her side. They were her

Stomping up the stairs Nia yells, “ You’re not the boss of me!” And slams her bedroom door shut. Heavily breathing Nia grasped for air. Trying to control her breathing, she places her hand on her chest. Tears ride down her face quickly like a river flow. Not knowing how to stop Nia constantly wipes her face.

"Honey........ sweetie." a older voice echo though out the hall. " are you okay? you not …...hurt... this time?" sighing under her breath "it going to be okay" she whispered softly, not wanting her son to hear. as a single tear drop slide down upon her rosy red cheeks. "sniff........sniff....sob" softly escape with every quivering breath. covering her mouth, afraid he will hear. wiping every loose tear, to late, water droplets staining her dark blue denim skirt. exposing her worry, her

“This won’t hurt at all, just stay still,” the nurse said while holding the cynical weapon in her hand. It’s sharp point came closer and closer to its victim, me. “Ayesha, calm down, it will be quick,” my mom said while trying to comfort me with my stuffed animal. Wanting to win this battle, I fidgeted in my mom’s arms by kicking my feet and flailing my arms, and finally, cried.

He heard the light click of shoes on the footpath and his head jerked to the said. Through the blur of tears caught in lashes he could make out the face of a woman. He held up a hand hoping she would understand that there wasn’t any need for her to come closer. He appreciated the sympathy, but it hurt his pride to be seen in such a state. His legs felt weak and he put his hand back against the wall.

"No, it's not going to be alright Jon. That's what I thought for a while, but he came back and almost killed me," she sobbed. As much as she wanted to say that it was all over, it never was, and it never will be. "I just wish that everything would work out for once."

His tear-filled eyes gazed across the room finally landing on his mother passed out on the floor with a beer bottle in hand. He sighed in relief knowing he wouldn’t have to face her wrath for at least a couple hours, but was also furious about the situation he was in because of the aftermath of the incident. He was just a kid, and yet he has been through more than the average adult.

Rose didn’t know what to do, so she hung up. Different emotions hit her all at once unable to control the tear, she let them come out. They came out like a waterfall she laid down on her bed and covered her face with her blanket. The soft, silk-like material soaked up her salty, uncontrollable tears. She wasn’t close to her mother but they had been, before their argument. Mason knocked on her door but rose didn’t bother to open it. Rose stayed in bed and told him to go away. He knocked harder and harder but she couldn't hear them no longer because her eyes started to close and her ears gave in.

Instead, she stood up and faced her mother. She felt a vicious battle inside of her. Her darkest secret slipping from her burning eyes bursting through her veins and clenched in every muscle. She looked at that woman who had given her life, that woman that now stood five steps away looking at her both like a stranger and a long known enemy. They both looked at each other's eyes screaming hate and violence both ready. She knew her mother was not ok and she knew better but she could not help herself anymore.

What if he started talking to Steve again? What if they caught up? What if they made up? What if he let Steve in again? That terrified Bucky because he was certain if he let any of those things happen again, Steve would disappear again. Bucky took a deep breath to calm the burning in his eyes. He had cried enough for Steve over the past ten years. He sighed and got up to get in his actual bed. He didn’t want to deal with this right now.

That night… the memory was vivid in her mind. She had been heading back to her home in the heavy rain, when she saw him soaking wet, and bleeding out. The wound in his side was gleaming red in the dim light of dusk in the rain. Though he had almost no strength left, he pleaded to her not to call an ambulance. His voice was strained. Any of the ragged breaths he took now could be his last.

“Sorry about what happened to your mom. I kind of know how you feel,” I said, thinking about what had happened to my family.

“Oh, well, I’ll be in my room if you need anything.” Came the soft reply from Liz. Almost as if on cue, Sally burst into tears. She sat down on the bench just below her and wept into her hands, until her eyes were swollen and her nose was red. Liz just kneeled down next to her and tried not to seem scared when all she was thinking was, oh no, oh no.

Tears began to well in her eyes as she threw her hand over her forehead, reciting the harrowing details of her ordeal. Her trembling voice evoked pity and pathos as she detailed her narrow escape to freedom.

Based on the tendencies upon which people act and make decisions, it is up to the individual to determine when and how they allow themselves to be persuaded, because as strong and powerful as persuasion can be, there is also another powerful tool that individuals tend to lean on when they have to make a decision and that is intuition.