Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Birthday
Sometimes life can be confusing.
You waken, restless, your sleep was unusually disturbed.
You realise that today is a birthday, one you’ll never forget.
The birthday of one of only three people in the world you love unconditionally.
The one who, for reasons you don’t fully understand, no longer speaks to you.
All three live in different countries, different worlds from you.
You ponder your life.
Regrets?
Unlike Piaf, some.
Guilt?
Hmm…
You sit in the warm morning sunshine on your balcony, gazing out over the Mediterranean.
Your eyes drift to your phone.
You consider the time difference.
Oh well…
really moving and sad – I sure hope they pick up that phone – swipe it on and send a bday message –
Well done. I enjoyed listening to the reading. Very heartfelt.
Guilt, regrets and possible pain – all in a 100 words. Nicely done.
Very touching piece. Yes, it is hard, especially with the people we love the most.
Hmm, indeed… birthdays – for me, I can take them or leave them.
Excellently done, CE.
A pitiable piece indeed. The audio is perfect. Well done.
Funny how even with so many ways to communicate these days we can still make excuses for not doing so.
Thoughtful piece.
The line “for reasons you don’t fully understand, no longer speaks to you” stood out to me. I’ve known families like that with a huge communication rift. It’s tragic but hopefully this character can bridge the gap at last.
Voicemail, voice via text. Reach out, drop a sweet & maybe you get a return, maybe not. But you will have made a difference. 🩵🩵
In our modern world, distance is no longer an excuse to not making an immediate call, but urges and feelings can create lightyears between people when emotional thoughts struggle to be resolved.
We always find a reason not to call- and then one day we can’t call anymore. Just do it.
Dear C.E.
Touching story. Went right to the heart.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Poignant story!
This is one of the beautiful, but ‘Ouch’ ones.
You have a delicate gift for communicating powerful emotion in an understated way.
I think you should give yourself a ‘chapeau’ for this one.
Masterfully done, this piece of tristesse