Structure

The short story “Field of Tears” by Declan J Connaughton has a non-chronological structure. The story follows a meeting between Rita and her grandfather, who lives in a nursing home, but the narrative jumps back in time when the old man recalls an event from his youth. 

The story begins in media res, with Rita interacting with one of the nurses from her grandfather’s nursing home: 

Rita stiffened as the nurse at the reception desk looked up at...