The Promise by Jon Park.

from MOTHER: a PUNK NOIR Magazine series

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The Promise

by

Jon Park

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Ben had made the promise to his mom. Sure, he knew he wasn’t the brightest tool in the box, but he knew a promise was a promise and couldn’t be broken.

At forty-two, Ben couldn’t remember a day without his mom. For the last two years he’d cared for her as her health deteriorated.

Suzy, his sister would occasionally visit then hurry back to her life in London, leaving him to do all the heavy lifting.

Ben knew it would be her who’d try to break them up. Break the promise he made to his mother, that he would never let them be parted.

He’d stopped answering Suzy’s calls weeks ago.

Now here she was screaming at him through the letter box. Asking what the smell was. When he wouldn’t answer the door, Suzy had come to the front window. Ben knew he should’ve done something about the flies.

Suzy lost her shit when she saw them swarming over the inside of the windows.

Now the police were kicking in the front door.

Ben held his mother tight and raised the kitchen knife up. Ready.

No way was he breaking his promise.

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Bio:

Jon Park lives in the North East of England. He is inspired by the work of Cindy Rosmus, Paul D. Brazill and the Ramones. His favourite film is Get Carter starring Michael Caine. Jon loves his mam who started it all.

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