Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
This week’s photo is provided by Al himself, and looks to me like an interestingly different view of the celebrated White Cliffs of Dover.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Al Forbes
Click here to hear me read this 80-second story:
The Tiff
The holiday is perfect.
Our time together has been full of fun, full of laughter, full of adventure.
We have swum, dived, hiked and climbed.
Now, on the penultimate day, we have a tiff.
Not even an argument.
Just one of those silly moments, a word misunderstood, a reply too harsh, an offence taken.
She marches off, hair flying.
I sit scowling.
Minutes pass.
She is out of sight through the trees.
I immediately regret every stupid response.
I follow her, take a few minutes to spot her.
She is standing in long grass, staring out over the water.
I go to her, an apology on my lips.
As I touch her shoulder, I see the wires of her iPod.
She has not heard my approach, jumps, startled.
She stumbles, misses her footing, and I see the cliff edge at her feet.
I grab vainly for her despairing hands as she slips towards the rocks far below.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Oh wow this one is sad. They have a fight, they work it out, she’s not paying attention and her ears are full of what I would think is loud music. One of those terrible accidents as she falls off the Cliff and he tries to hold onto her. Terrible for them both, perhaps him more having to live with what happened, how the fight started it. Great piece CE, conveys helplessness. Hugs as always my friend.
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Hmm. I see everyone doubts the way it’s played out, knowing your reputation. I am, however, going to believe it’s an unfortunate accident…for the moment.
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Bad whoops! Well done.
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Hmmm … an accident? I giess we will never know the truth. Great story.
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Oh don’t you start, I never bliddy touched her, okay.
Straight up, guv, she just tripped and stabbed herself 3 times, then accidentally drank the poison, before her head got caught in that noose, and I was never near the shotgun when it blew her stomach out, an’ that’s the truth, so help me…
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AHA! Got you1 You didn’t deny the acid on her feet.
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Oh, I am not believing for one second that she just slipped, Ceayr. Although, I’m sure that’s the story he’ll tell the police. 🙂 Haha Great story, as usual.
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So young, so pretty, so cynical.
Sigh…
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Enjoyed! The modern technology wiht the ancient lore of the buildings… nicely done.
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I am in the happy position of understanding this comment not at all!
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I enjoyed how you took a picture of what I thought was an ‘ancient’ house and mixed it with the tourists and technology. Sorry I was so vague.
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No, it’s all good, I just didn’t see any building in the photo, that’s all.
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Ouch. That got me right in the chest. Well-thrown javelin, Sir.
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At my advanced age I try to get through my days with as little thought as possible to ladies’ chests, dear Kecia, and then you thrust yours into the forefront of what passes as my consciousness.
I will sleep happily tonight, thank you.
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There are times I absolutely detest ear buds. You can’t communicate with people using them. I’ll get halfway though a sentence before I realize my wife has them in because she’s come back from her walk and is finishing listening to her podcast.
At the gym, it’s even worse when I have to ask if a person is done with a piece of equipment and they’re in their own little sound bubble.
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Terribly interesting, old bean
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I knew someone was in trouble as soon as I saw the cliff…………
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Yeah, it was kinda obvious, wasn’t it…
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I don’t normally leave a lot of comments because I generally agree with what everyone else says and don’t want to sound repetitive.But for the record, I am a big fan of your stories and style. And hearing them with a sexy Scottish accent doesn’t hurt. Well done!
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Thank you for your very kind words, Susan, I am happy to have at least one fan.
As for ‘sexy Scottish accent’, shucks, lassie, I am quite embarrassed!
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Unintended consequences are a b***!
Well done killer!
You know that’s a joke, right?
Right??
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That’s not how you spell ‘b***’, Em!
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Hmmm. I’ll let you spell it out.
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That was certainly an apology gone wrong! Well written, as ever.
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Sometimes bad things happen to good people, Angie.
And to me!
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What a frightening end was that. You really can up the ante when it comes to telling with such relish such horrifying ends, DWlel
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Thanks, Neel, happy to horrify!
But ‘DWlel’?
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