Review: You Called Me by Avra Margariti

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Review of You Called Me by Avra Margariti (999 words)
Flash Fiction Online, October 2019 Issue : Read Online


"Guilt bursts citric-sour in her mouth."
Sentences like these really make me vividly visualize things, which I always appreciate. And to find it in a short story, no less!
This is a story about a fourteen year old girl who is a minor deity and is called by the people who believe in her. Her mum worries, like any teenager's mum would, and their relationship is beautifully portrayed with very few words. It's a special skill and something I definitely appreciate.
They are distant as the story starts, and the mother, Carol, works hard to maintain the peace and have a semblance of a working, healthy relationship. We soon discover that this is not entirely the case, and Carol herself is pretty hurt. Janie doesn't call her mom.
By the end of the story, we understand where the distance, hurt, and resentment comes from, and how things might change just yet.


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