Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
Today’s illuminating photo by © Roger Bultot certainly lit up my morning.
And a little light bulb of an idea popped up.
To be sadly extinguished, almost immediately.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Roger Bultot
Click here to hear me read this 52-second story:
The Window
I love living here.
I decide to pay her a surprise visit, just to say hello.
It is only a 30-minute walk to her house, and the views of the Med, shimmering in the moonlight, are magical.
I let myself in the side gate, and smile.
She is listening to the same music when she is alone as when we are together.
Then I see the car in the driveway.
I recognise it.
It is not possible, is it?
I look through the uncurtained window and know the truth.
I don’t love living here that much.
Time to move on.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Awww…I feel for his broken heart.
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Nah, well deserved, never there, totally untrustworthy, you know the type.
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I feel bad for him but he seems a bit cut and dried in his readiness to move on. Anyway good for him in his maturity … I think.
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You think he should have stolen the car?
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oh dear, I knew when I heard the music it wouldn’t be good. At least he decided to move, not remove any of her body parts 🙂
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Laughing again, some of you ladies expect too much violence and bloodshed!
I can be subtle, too.
Although I didn’t mention the home invasion and other atrocities committed on the way home.
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of course you can be subtle…I fully expected the body parts to be disposed of subtly….
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Light turned to darkness, stars turned into black holes, sad!
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Well, a bit upset, yes, but…
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What? Where’s the body?
I’m thinking she’s not such a prize after all.
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She is if you get there early enough!
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That’s why I call before I show up.
As usual, you set it up easy-peazy and knocks the reader out with a sucker punch.
Good story.
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Thanks, Em, I will try to learn from your wisdom.
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Nicely turned at the end. Sad indeed
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Thank you, Michael.
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Unrequited love is the worst kind of love. Such a shame for him. On the plus side, he didn’t kill either of them. Unless of course they were the ones from this week’s “The Path” story.
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Yeah, well, life happens!
No, different characters, they survived
Did you get my email?
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I just checked and there it is. WIll reply now
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Pingback: Shadows | unbuttoned or undone
Poor guy. I’ve got to admit I half expected her to end up dead. Good writing, C.E. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Laughing.
Oh Suzanne, you know me too well!
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I wonder what’s better: living unhappily with the truth or being happily deceived. I know what I would chose… Great writing, there’s always that bite in your soundbites.
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I wonder…
So what would you choose, ignorance is bliss, or folly to be wise?
Thank you, even in 100 words I try to give my stories some teeth.
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I would always want the truth for anything that goes beyond a fantasy.
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Ha, he’s a stalker, stalkers her at her house and when she finally has a real person with her (not him hiding) he’s upset. Hope he leaves, leaving her in peace.
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Amanda, how cynical of you!
But I love your alternative interpretation.
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It fits if you think about it 😉 lol.
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Best to pull the shades I always say.
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Is that really what you always say, Tracey?
Doc, I have a sore throat.
Best to pull the shades…
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What are you talking about? It was talking hiding illicit activity. (actually I’ve never said it but that’s beside the point). ha ha ha
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If, as they say, laughter is the best medicine, then you are a great physician!
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Yes, love can go from something to nothing in an instant. Well done!
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Thank you, you are so right.
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Oh how sad!
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Just life
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Things can change in the blink of an eye can they?
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Sometimes they can and do.
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how swift love changes and we can suddenly live without…
Randy
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Sometimes we have little choice…
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Yes, but as your piece indicates, we do adapt and move on, rather than sit on a pity pot.
No?
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powerfully moving piece ..and the music was perfect addition 😉
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You heard music?
Wow, I am much better than I thought!
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LOL Sorry, I meant to say the “Use” of music was a perfect addition. It brought an atmospheric feel to the poem. (see how one word can change everything) 😦
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Just teasing, Morgan, actually delighted that the story touched you so much.
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Crying game moment?
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Movie or song?
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The moral? Never, ever go home when you’re not expected – there’ll be something you’d rather not see. Great tale, C, though truly melancholic. Super stuff
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Thank you, Lynn, life can throw up the occasional unpleasant surprise.
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Very, very true 🙂 My pleasure, C
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So sad, you tugged at my heart strings. 🙂
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Happy to hear it reached you, Michael
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Oh, that one hurt. Nice job. You always get us at the end.
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I do try!
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How very sad. It brought a lump to my throat. Expertly crafted. 🙂
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Sorry about that.
And thank you.
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I think that leaving is the best option… I wonder if it meant loosing a friend as well as his love.
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Well spotted, Bjorn.
Double betrayal.
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Awwww poor fellow.
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Indeed!
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Well, at least he knows when to walk away. Very sad, but nicely done.
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Yes, indeed, there was a clue on the other side of the window!
Thank you.
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Love the dreamy pace you set, though I knew there would be something to break it. Poor fella, having his bubble burst like that.
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That’s what bubbles are for.
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Lovely.
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Thank you.
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Dear CE,
Such a bittersweet story. It went for the heart and hit its target. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes bad things happen to people, whether they are good or bad.
Hugs for your poor heart.
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Another nasty twist at the end, just when I was relaxing into a nice image of a sunny stroll through the Med! Excellent stuff.
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Yep, life and stuff by C E Ayr!
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A twisted fairy tale for adults
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If you like…
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