Behind the Pen: “A Promise of Solitude”

Riley Shell’s piece, “A Promise of Solitude” is a story of love and loss. It represents the delicate, tender relationship between a mother and daughter and tells of the beauty in life’s impermanence.

In describing her creative process, Riley notes that the story was originally an improvised piece that she crafted in Yale Young Writers’ Workshop. However, when the magazine sprung forth, she realized that the piece could easily be incorporated into the theme.

Riley states that “A Promise of Solitude” depicts “a series of flashbacks from a mother at the end of her life as she waits between heaven and earth for her daughter. This piece encapsulates a bittersweet sorrow as her life sets into something new and unknown.”

Moreover, she illustrates the summer’s sunset theme through metaphor.

As Riley indicates, in the mother’s first flashback, she was left waiting outside her daughter’s kindergarten beside a bed of roses “ wilting under the sun.” Riley used this rose bed to “signify something beautiful… bring corrupted from misuse, as well as a sense of a summer that has gone on too long.” She adds that “[t]he relationship between the mother and daughter is important, but the reliance each feels for the other has almost grown toxic in its strength. There is also the mention of a literal sunset as the daughter returns to the mother’s side and any toxicity left melts away with the setting sun.”

Regarding the story’s impact, Riley notes that although “the story is a sad one[,] [she hopes] readers are able to find some of the joy sprinkled into the piece, as well.”

Through it’s bittersweet premise laced with metaphor and allusions to the summer’s sunset theme, “A Promise of Solitude” serves as reassurance that although life is short, love is everlasting.