I am my mother’s daughter – short prose by Gabriela Marie Milton #flash fiction

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I am my mother’s daughter – short prose by Gabriela Marie Milton

I am not who you think I am. My loves are the result of my interiorities in which meanings lie. “Outside” is an illusion. I do not seek the attention of the cup bearer. I am the cup bearer.

It was evening. I was five years old. Mama wore a beautiful dress, pale lines of fresh green dripping on her body. Curves, rose scents, pearled skin. She looked ravishing.

Phlegmatic look on his face Papa smoked Arturo Fuente cigars. He said: That dress is too short.

Mama did not answer. She entered the house. I followed her. She went in the yellow room. The room had a large French tapestry on the left wall. She took a pair of scissors and cut her dress shorter.

The next morning, she looked even more ravishing.  

The thought came to me in the afternoon. A big smile appeared on my face. I ran into my room and took out all my little dresses from the wardrobe. Armed with a scissor, I proceeded to the terrace. One by one I cut all dresses trying to make them shorter. I was ecstatic. I thought of how happy Mama would be. I swear I saw the roses dancing in the garden.  

I am my mother’s daughter.
My sweet love, should I cut my dress shorter?

MasticadoresUSA update

Congratulations to my fellow editors of the Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and other editions of Gobblers/Masticadores on their performances.

May I please get some help? There are several new poems up at MasticadoresUSA. Please visit the site here and support your wonderful fellow poets. Do not forget to follow the site.

Thank you.

@Gabriela Marie Milton

147 thoughts on “I am my mother’s daughter – short prose by Gabriela Marie Milton #flash fiction

    1. Haha! Thank you for sharing and for reading Darren. Have a great day ahead 🙂

    1. Thank you from the bottom of my heart sweetheart. You are a gem. Sending love.
      xoxo

    1. Aw… Thank you so much hon. Love and hugs to you. I hope everything is well.

      1. I know sweetheart. Please take good care of yourself. Be safe.
        xoxoxo

  1. I can’t answer that question until I’ve seen how short your dress is 😉

    But I know you shouldn’t cut your writing shorter – it’s perfect just the way it is!

    <3
    David

    1. Haha! That’s a good one David. Thank you for the compliment too.
      You are there. I am sure your daughter has her own mind for a long time.
      xoxo

      1. she’s 6! she hasn’t even thought about cutting her dresses shorter, and I think her mother would kill her for ruining her clothing if she even tried! 😀

      2. Mama did not “kill” me. The shock she was in may have prevented her 🙂

      3. I was five. I remember Papa laughing at the sight of the “killed” dresses. I think Mama was in shock 🙂

  2. Fantastic! I love the action I f cutting the dresses: so liberating! No one can shape us but ourselves 🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  3. In some ways we become like our mothers without realizing. Your short prose demonstrates the early stage of learning defiance. 😊 Cheers! 🍷

    1. Thank you for the comment. I think you are right. Cheers to you too 🥰🌹

    1. I believe you John. That wonderful photographic talent of yours helps. Hugs. Have a great day 🙂

      1. I remind myself of my dad in the latest video. It’s funny how we become our mothers and fathers.

    1. As always you are so kind to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🥰❤️🌹

  4. Beautiful..
    I am ‘me’ ..I will do what I love to….she did not use the scissors to cut the dress but to cut down a mindset… thats what your mother conveyed by that single action. That’s what you are doing… Doing what you love .
    Stay blessed always 🙏🌹🙏

    1. Thank you so much for your comment. Indeed she used the scissors to cut a mindset.
      Thank you for the blessings. Stay blessed and loved too 🌹

  5. Wow what a story! Gabriela you conveyed in such a few paragraphs, a pastel portrait of both your mother and yourself! Your mother taught you well..with her lesson of scissors and believing in what one believes in. You believed too and I do believe, your mother would not scold you for following her lead..she would smile at the proof that you were smart and independent…just like herself! I so enjoyed how you did this, so easily and with the grace through your voice, so innocent and malleable. ❤️🤗🙏🔆

    1. Karima, my dear, I am humbled by your beautiful comment. Indeed, it’s a story about having the courage to stand up for what we believe in.
      “so easily and with the grace through your voice, so innocent and malleable. ” That is really so kind of you to say. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
      Love and hugs to you sweetheart.
      xoxoxo

  6. Gabriela..as always…you are Queen of Poets….when i read :

    “Outside” is an illusion. ”

    It was like punch, thank for that, maybe we live in illusion, in holograph, in some simulation..but live ,,in” with You,
    is….very, charming, magical, beautiful. Im armed with your words.

    Now before me they are hard days…your words give me courage , thanks for that !

    And… Your words they are Island of roses on oceans of darkness, stay…Gabriela, stay You, please!

    1. Hello, my dearest friend. Thank you for the compliments. You made me blush.
      “so easily and with the grace through your voice, so innocent and malleable. ” I am glad I can do that.

      “Your words they are Island of roses on oceans of darkness” I am sorry to hear the word “darkness”. Make your days shine. You can do it. Write, read, love, be loved.

      I am here. I am staying. I am not going anywhere.

      Have a fabulous rest of the week and thank you again for the compliments.
      xoxo

  7. I am in love with this snippet piece of writing! What is short is not necessarily too short or in need of being cut shorter, but the independence and small rebellions in your words are excellent!

  8. love this story Gabriella and we do become our mothers alright. This is one we would all aspire ton with the beauty, sexy, and fun whimsical at the same time story. Go shorter and cut the dress..
    Love it💖💖💖💖 Beautiful job

    1. Thank you for the beautiful words, Cindy.

      “Go shorter and cut the dress.” Haha! I keep saying you are an angel and you are.
      Lots of thanks and love to you.
      xoxo

      1. Thank you Cindy. May you have a wonderful day filled with love 🥰🌹❤️

  9. Wow, Gabriela, I adore your prose. “I am the cup bearer,” that is so powerful, and lovely. I also love the resistance in this piece that is passed down between mother and daughter. Profound. I love it. ❤️

    1. Jeff, thank you for finding the time to read and comment. Your words are lovely. I am deeply grateful for each and one of them. Lots of love and good wishes to you and to your family.

    1. Thank you so much Francine. I am happy I put a smile on your face 😊❤️🌹

  10. Oh my Gabe! This is just next level.
    I just love the upbeat vibe. It’s so short (pun intended) yet brilliant.
    I appreciate how you have woven so much together in these words. There is nostalgia, there is defiance, there is a little bit of passion.
    You certainly have a way with words, like I find myself telling you.
    Beautiful.

    1. Thank you for your beautiful comment my dearest friend. I am so glad you liked the piece. I hope your summer is going well. Sending you lots of love.
      xoxo

      1. My Dearest Shanyu,
        I do not know how this comment ended up in my spam folder. I am glad everything is going well. My shoulder is healing, thank you for asking.
        Stay safe. Enjoy the summer.
        xoxo

    1. Thank you so much Navin. You are too kind 🙂
      Much love to you too.
      xoxo

  11. Dear Button,
    I thought of my own daughter dressing like Madonna the first day of middle school. She came out of her room and I was shocked and worried that someone would laugh at her but I took a picture and told her how beautiful she was. I also thought how brave she was and I was so proud of her. You took me back to that day with your beautiful story filled with love, admiration, cleverness, passion, and a young-child that was already determined to do her own bidding. Precious this gift in the form of a gorgeously written story.
    I love the details about your parents. Thank you for sharing this lovely rebellious story about you as a child. Love ❤️ honeybun
    PS I was without a computer until yesterday so I responded to your email late but yesterday.
    ❤️🤗💕🌹

    1. My dearest honeybun, thank you for your sharing your story and that of your daughter with me, and thank you for reading my story. Your comment made me happy.
      I saw your email. Thank you for your kindness and your understanding.
      Have a beautiful and blessed evening.
      Love and huge hugs.
      xoxo

      1. You are so welcome your work is so beautiful Button. Thank you for reading and responding to my email. It is such a precious thing you shared. I could see the whole thing in my mind.
        You have a beautiful and blessed evening too. Thank you also for introducing us to some amazing poets on MasticadoresUSA. Such a wonderful way of meeting talented poets.
        Sending lots of love ❤️
        and warm hugs 🤗
        Honeybun
        ❤️🤗💕😘🌹🌷💝🌺

      2. My pleasure and thank you again for everything honeybun 🥰❤️🌹

  12. Enjoyed the thought of the way the daughter thought her mother would be happy to see her wear short dresses. Beautiful flash fiction.

    1. Thank you so much Kritika. I am glad you enjoyed the story. Sending love ❤️🥰🌹

    1. Hi, Basilike. Thank you. Thank you. Hugs and love right back to you 🥰🌹❤️🤗🌹❤️

    1. Thank you so much Diana. I certainly did not understand what was I doing.
      Sending love.
      xoxo

  13. Such freeing imagery with defying expectations, which I say—HELL YEAH!

    Beautifully and amazingly penned, dearest G. I always love reading you!

    1. Thank you so much Lucy. I am so glad you liked this piece. Always happy to hear from you.
      xoxoxo

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