
Literary FictionarcShort Story
Withered
John Michael AlaiaGriefDepressionMental IllnessBullying
A woman sits alone, stripping petals from a dying rose.
This quiet ritual becomes far more than the act itself; a deep meditation on grief, guilt, and the devastating weight of love that couldn't save those that needed it.
This quietly devastating novelette explores the silent inheritance of grief and how it moves through families, reshaping everything it touches and leaving behind a stillness that must be survived.
Withered is a story about the ones we couldn't keep and the ones who stayed behind to carry them.
This quiet ritual becomes far more than the act itself; a deep meditation on grief, guilt, and the devastating weight of love that couldn't save those that needed it.
This quietly devastating novelette explores the silent inheritance of grief and how it moves through families, reshaping everything it touches and leaving behind a stillness that must be survived.
Withered is a story about the ones we couldn't keep and the ones who stayed behind to carry them.
Content Warnings: Death • Emotional Abuse • Suicide/Suicidal Ideation • Self-Harm • Depression
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Due Date: May 4, 2026