Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture below, which this week is supplied by myself.
© C. E. Ayr
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Paris
I remember the little hotel in Montmartre.
The street artist who drew our caricatures.
The weekend we couldn’t afford.
Which was the best of my life.
We stayed together for some years after that.
Then you left, of course.
We both knew you were too good for me.
The speed of my decline surprised everyone.
But not me.
I had nowhere to go except down.
You weren’t my first love.
But you were my last.
For me, there could never be anyone else.
I hear again Mr Bogart’s immortal words.
We’ll always have Paris.
And I throw away the photos.
When my mum and I went to London and Paris, someone drew her caricature and offered to show her the sights of Paris. Sad tale.
Ronda
He will always have the memories. Sad, touching and poignant.
Thank you, I am glad it reached you
Wonderful job. I was grabbed, and wanted to cry “Don’t throw them away!” But you made him so real, I can believe he will.
When I make a reader care so much in 100 words I am more than happy.
Thank you, Eugenia
‘Of course.’ Good one. Thanks for the photo this week, CE, got a story out of me.
Sometimes it is ‘of course’.
Cheers, Ted
She really got to you, didn’t she – perhaps throwing away the photos is cathartic?
Pure fiction, Liz.
Probably.
Perfectly captured bitter sweet, elegiac and moving.
Very kind words, much appreciated.
What no body? Oh, you left Iain to do it this week.
I guess it doesn’t matter who does the killing as long as we finish them off.
Sorry to disappoint, Russell, but there hasn’t been a death here since Red Riding Hood’s Grandma back in January.
Beautifully told and very sad. I don’t think throwing the photos away will rid him of the memory though. He’s cursed to always have that.
Thanks, Michael, I’m pretty sure you’re on the nail there.
Some memories are slow to fade
When we’re young we always think of first loves. We forget we will grow older, and one day that romance might be the last. Bittersweet. Thank you for the intriguing prompt!
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. I am happy that my words prompted such musings.
As for the photo, your story does it more than justice.
Beautiful and sad at the same time. He is resigned to having her for a time knowing she would one day leave. It was worth being with her. Excellent writing, C.E.!
Sometimes it is impossible to walk away, even when we know it will end in heartache.
Thank you, Brenda
Pain just seeps out of this one, C. E. A masterful study of heartbreak.
Very kind, Thom, I am almost blushing here!
I agree with Neil – these lines are very strong. But the tone is what I love. The narrator’s life is hopeless, but they’re resigned to it. Almost as if they were expecting all along. A tragedy in the truest sense.
I agree, Lynn, matter of fact is sometimes more effective than melodrama.
Thank you as always for your thoughtful critique
It’s what Hemingway went for, I guess, that spare prose. Always a pleasure
Very sad, very well written.
Thanks, Ali
Ah, sometimes letting go is the braver step.
Sometimes it requires more courage than we have…
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henry miller once said the best way to get over a woman is to turn her into literature. there you go.
Hmm, I thought it was to turn her into food for the fishes!
Every one seems like the last one. “I’m not doing that again.” You captured that melancholy well.
And then ‘Why not, in for a penny…’
Thank you, sir
Exactly!
Beautiful poignant story, CE. I feel for the guy. A shame that memory wasn’t enough for him; at least he’d experienced the love of his life.
Oh, And I meant to say super photo for the prompt. So much ambiguity in it made it really stimulating.
Remember to thank our hostess, she picks them every week.
But when I saw that scene, and snapped it, I knew it was made for FF
Thanks, Penny, sometimes memories just bring pain…
Incredible story! And as always, the reading brings it to another level.
Thank you for both comments, maybe the hoarseness helps!
Such a great piece that captures the depth of a broken soul.
Thanks, James, I’ve been listening to Blood on the Tracks recently!
Beautiful. Each line packs a punch.
Thank you, Alicia, I am happy that it worked for you
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Yes, this was damn good. Very impactful story, Ceayr.
Thanks, Neel
Nailed it, NAILED it, CE. I loved that line of “We both knew you were too good for me.” Best one in the house.
I’m trying to figure out how to use this thing after two years, so double comments everywhere.
Thanks, Kent, five out of five gin joints for this comment
Nailed it, nailed it, CE. That line about the both of you knowing she was too good for you …. hilarious! Seems it’s Casablanca week at FF.
You have an interesting sense of humour, Kent…
I also turned my head sideways to figure out the picture! Lovely story.
Well, I hope it didn’t fall off!
Thank you, Trish
Very nice. I had a similar thought, but ended upbeat instead. As Iain said, too good of a line to not be used again….
Decided I was all out of funnies this week, reverted to my ol’ familiar comfort zone…
Dear CE,
Beautifully written. Poignant, touching and sad.
Shalom,
Rochelle
You are too kind, m’lady
Palpable sadness and despair. Beautifully constructed, CE, as always.
Thank you, Linda, glad you enjoyed
Very punchy, impactful lines. Nicely done, CE.
Thanks, Varad
Last love.
You can’t forget her any time. Photos can be thrown, but memories live on!
Always the way of it, Anita…
That was really beautifully done! (And thanks for supplying this week’s pic!)
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you, Susan, and it is our leader’s choice, of course
Moody, broody and poignant. You do this well.
I’m just happy to be good at something!
Thank you, Sandra
We had the same thought – it’s too good a line not to use. Our main characters could be related 🙂
Probably the most famous line from any movie, it often gets played again!
So much to unpack with so little words. What a great character.
Thanks, Tannille, glad he spoke to you
I loved the lines “You weren’t my first love. But you were my last.” Cracking stuff!
Sometimes the simple truthful words hit hardest, hmm?