The Fullers had long discovered that being forgotten was to their advantage. It meant no one bothered them any more.
After the drowning incident when their youngest had been discovered in the dam and the family blamed for neglecting their children they had withdrawn from the community content to live on the edge of town and away from the glare of public opinion.
It also afforded them the opportunity to grieve in peace, if such a thing can be done. The death of their sibling had greatly affected the surviving four children who in the first month after the death of their sister refused to say her name for fear of the pain generated within them.
They shut themselves behind the wooden door to their house, windows and curtains were closed permanently and they spoke rarely to any neighbour who came near them.
As time went by and the grass grew over the path to their front door people stopped worrying about them, the feeling was they had made a decision to isolate themselves and ignore the goodwill offered to them.
Within the Fuller house though there existed grief like they never thought possible. They had been a close-knit family, they did a lot together, the youngest child had wandered and why no one noticed was never realised other than it was a day when the family was occupied in a game they loved and didn’t notice the youngest one slip away. By the time one of the older children asked about the youngest it was all too late.
The family were devastated by the death and doubly so when stories emerged in the local press about how the children were neglected and left to roam free.
None of that was true, but it hurt the parents immeasurably.
Written for: https://scvincent.com/2019/06/20/thursday-photo-prompt-forgotten-writephoto/
Morpethroad 
Wow! This is really a powerful story. It’s one you want to continue reading as though there is more to come, something more to learn behind the door. Bravo!
Thanks so much Laura.
Something about this story tells me it’s based on truth. But perhaps that’s due to the power of your writing, and the details provided that seem … too real.
It is too bad that the Fuller family was not able to get connected to the internet behind the door, as that might have cut down on their grief.
You’re all about the internet today, Jim.
I think they needed time together more than distraction.
What a sad family. Great story telling.
Thanks Sadje.
Pleasure!
Another great story, Michael
Thanks so much.
You’re welcome!
A very sad and tragic tale.
Yes it is, thanls for stopping by.
How terribly sad…but grief needs time and privacy, not blame.