I wheel by this park every day and see the same boys playing soccer. It makes me wish to be young again – young enough to get out in the middle of the park and run and kick a ball.
I use to play soccer when I was younger. I wasn't the star athlete on the team but I was pretty darn close. Well, kind of.
But that was years ago – before my accident. Before the young man ran his car right into my door because he was texting on his phone. Before they had to amputate my legs.
(100)
Thank you Yinglan for our photo prompt!
This is my 100 word submission for the flash fiction challenge, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. We are given a photo prompt and approximately 75-175 words with which we create our stories. It's fun and everyone is invited to participate. For more information, click HERE.
To read all the stories submitted for this challenge, click on the blue froggy button below:
BEAUTIFUL WORDS 
OH Pj, you made a powerful statement with this story! Good job!
Thank you so much, JR! I appreciate your comment!!
Oh my, what a tragedy PJ. I love how you spoke about a very important topic in this brief story without stating it out, “don’t text and drive”. 🙂
Thank you so much, Ameena!!
could be a commercial for texting while driving. so sad
Yes, come to think of it, it could be. Things like that truly are sad. Thank you so much Jodi!
A very sad ending. I can’t believe it when I still see people on their phone while driving even with all the laws and the accidents.
Yes, I agree with you. It is aggravating to see people talking on their cell phones and driving especially because of all the information out how dangerous it is. Thank you Ali!
Great tale Pj, took me from wistful thoughts of childhood to cruel tragedy in 100 words.
Thank you so much Iian! I appreciate you reading and commenting!
Good message in your story. Sad but too true.
Thank you so much!!
Oh dear, such a careless act costing someone else so much.
Great message here.
Thank you so much! You are right, it cost him his legs for someone else’s carelessness.
I don’t blame the narrator for wishing to be young. I had similar thoughts when I was watching those boys that day. Great story.
Thank you Yinglan!
My pleasure.
:o)
How sad, but true in many cases.
A litte tragedy, Joy. I wonder how people cope when they lose part of their bodies and something they enjoy too – heartbreaking. Well told tale 🙂
Thank you so much, Lynn! It is terribly sad. 😦
People can be so brave when they have these things thrown at them, though. Astonishingly so 🙂
Yes! You are right! People can be very brave!
A nicely told short story with a powerful message.
Thank you Angie!!
Short but not sweet, somehow bitter and powerful. It says so much in few words.
Thank you Graham! Hopefully, it is a powerful message.
Well it punched me 😉
I hope it punched you in a good way!
We were driving Sunday and passed a semi trailer truck. The driver was texting. Couldn’t believe it.
Oh my gosh! A SEMI truck no less! That is soooo dangerous! I sure hope he doesn’t end up hurting someone!
Such images that you painted for us your readers, very well done. Mike
Thank you so much, Mike!
It still shakes me up to see people doing this.
Yes, me too! I received a comment from someone that said he and his wife saw a Semi Trailer Truck Driver driving and texting! Dangerous!
How ridiculous for anyone to think that is a good idea 😦
Absolutely ridiculous!
This was so sad and realistic. A close friend’s husband died in a car crash where the other driver was talking on a cellphone and ran a stop sign. This was almost a decade ago – still, people will talk or text and drive not realizing that they may be addicted to their electronic devices but some of us are addicted to life!
Well told – moral and all.
Ellespeth
That really is sad and I’m sure there are many more that have died because someone was on their cellphone. Thank you so much, Ellespeth, for reading and for your wonderful comment.
that last line clenched my heart hard. geeez. this is a lovely lovely piece yet so sad. ❤
Thank you so much Rosey! It’s a story that makes a statement. Anyway, I hope it does. Thank you for reading and for your comment!
It surely does!!! The message is so clear. It hits the heart hard. ❤
Thank you! Sorry it hit your heart so hard. 😦
it’s okay dear. 🙂 it’s a sign of a great write, when it affects the reader. 😉
Oh! That’s good to know! Thank you!!!
you are most welcome dear! 😀
Oh my, this one is very heart-wrenchingly sad and realistic PJ… Sigh. It’d feel worse if the man was playing Pokemon Go. I see them on the news. Such irresponsibility.
I haven’t heard much about Pokemon Go on the news, are people that are playing it causing traffic accidents?
I saw one headline with a car hitting a tree. Although, I think I may have to verify the link if it’s a true story…
Oh no! That’s terrible and all over a silly game!
True. It could be a fun game, as long as we remain responsible players… Here’s the news PJ. Apparently it wasn’t a tree but a kerb. http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/car-driver-was-swiping-gadget-accident
Oh my gosh – all over a game!! Ridiculous!
Sad, yet great for being grateful for what was
Thank you Joan! That is true, he is grateful for what was.
Oh dear! Sad.
So gripping PJ! Sad story that surprised me for sure. You always bring something unique in your stoeies! Xxx
Thank you so much, Lynn!! Thank you for reading and for your comment. 🙂
Most welcome
Sad but true, PJ. We see more of these tragedies every day. Wonderfully yet poignantly written!
Thank you so much Terri!
I wasn’t expecting that kind of ending. It’s so sad and a reminder that everyone should not be texting while driving. It takes only seconds to end up in an accident and cause such traumatic changes in peoples life. Great story for the prompt.
You are so right, Jessie. It only takes a second of distracted driving to change your life and other people’s lives forever. Far too many accidents have happened and continue to happen. Thank you so much for reading and for your wonderful comment.
Oh how sad. Great writing.
Thank you so much, Sally! 🙂
That’s really horrifying and sad 😦 We all wish to be young again, we all have regrets but that’s the absolute worst 😦
On the black humour side – at least he was texting and not playing pokemon go
Yes, we do all wish to be young again! You’re right! At least he wasn’t playing Pokemon Go. Hahaha! LOL!!
Powerful piece PJ. Tragic and sad twist in the end. Loving a sport but probably hit by a soccer player or somekind of sports players texting on his phone, not knowing he ended the main charscters soccer days forever. Hope you are well this week my friend 🙂 💕
Thank you Mandi! I hope you are well this weekend too!
Im pretty good PJ. Weather is a bit muggy, makes one more tired. But it’s okay, we need rain 🙂
Rain makes me sleepy too. 🙂
Great twist in the story. It really changed my view of what it was about. Poor guy. 😦
Thank you so much! 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂
:o)
love it
Oh so sad. Great story and message PJ. 🙂 KL ❤
Thank you so much, KL!
Oh my! Driving and texting don’t go well together. A great lesson in this. Well done PJ.
Thank you so much, Jacqueline!
What a tragedy! You’ve conveyed such an important message in this story.
Thank you so much, Margarisa!
Oh my how unpleasant, but you are so right about drivers who text, they are putting our lives in danger and for what!!
Yes, that is so true! Driving and texting is nothing but an accident about to happen!
Exactly and yet so many do it! UGH!!
Yes and you hear about all these people that are injured or killed because of it.
Yes, such a waste and so sad.
I completely agree!