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:
La Libellule
From the bridge I gaze wistfully down at la libellule, the dragonfly, and marvel at its beauty as it skims across the surface of the still water.
So vibrant, with its great wings propelling that slender, electric-blue, almost other-worldly form at astonishing speed, it’s nonetheless vulnerable to the swooping hirondelles, or swallows, that frequent this calm pool between the high reeds.
The libellule, like the water, seems to shimmer, graceful, almost invisible, in the morning heat, as though it might just disappear.
And I remember the promise I made you, the one I didn’t, I couldn’t keep.
Before you disappeared.
Lovely, descriptive read.
Mm, interesting.
Laughing here, Chris. ‘Interesting’ is generally accepted as code for ‘I can’t think of anything nice to say’!
such a feeling of guilt. i don’t think he’ll be able to recover from it.
As Willie Nelson says, Some things you don’t get over, some things you just get through…
Poignant
Thank you
Poetic.
Thank you.
Dear C.E.,
Lovely descriptions building to a whistful ending.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Happy you enjoyed, m’lady
Disappeared under the water perhaps? Sounds sinister.
The reader often finds something the writer did not intend.
Contemplating nature often gives such insights. Good story (and language lesson.)
Some creatures just touch us with their beauty.
As do some people.
I like the foreshadowing – describing the dragonfly as ‘vulnerable… as though it might just disappear’, you’re preparing us for the loss – beautifully done 🙌
You’re very kind, thank you
Lovely use of the scene to embody the regret
Thanks, Neil
A magical scene you create there, light – like the libellulle – and ephemeral.
Like the promise, it seems.
Regret…
Yeah, well, some promises should never be made…