A Girls Name

I've been working on some Flash Fiction lately and this was a quick piece written with the prompt "A Girls Name".

Soren was sore all over. Bandages wound too tight can do that to a person, make them struggle for air until they suffocate under society’s harsh gaze. Soren made his way down the corridor to his mother, who was sitting in front of the T.V, the news filled Soren’s ears as anxiety began to bubble inside him. Standing in the doorway, hands ringing, Soren cleared his throat and went to speak but was interrupted. The suited man on the television spoke concisely,

“The man was beaten severely and thrown in front of oncoming traffic. Hours later paramedics could be seen pulling the now deceased man from beneath the undercarriage of a truck. Matthew Palmer, born Elizabeth Palmer will be in the prayers of many tonight.” 

Soren’s throat was tighter than it had been and his body went numb at the sound of his mother’s voice.

“Disgusting, if you ask me she deserved it.” Soren’s mother flicked her cigarette butt into her now empty beer bottle turning to Soren once she had done so. “What did you want to say sweetheart?”

Soren shook her head and smiled as wide as she could, “nothing Ma, just wanted to say I was going to bed that’s all.”