‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge 2021.’ Week #40 Entry Part 7) by Kirsten Nairn @KirstenNairn #FlashFiction #WritingPrompt #WritingCommunity

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 7)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021” Week #40.

Today I’m featuring contribution Part 7) By Kirsten Nairn

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Kirsten’s contribution.

Mr. D Bruce.

Chairman of the Hillside Bowling Club

Hillside Bowling Club

29 Nairn Road

Newton Hillside

Dear Mr Bruce,

Re: Masked ball

Firstly, please accept my apologies for my non-attendance at the committee meeting last week. Unfortunately, I was called away to attend to old Mrs Duncan down the road, who had once again misplaced her reading glasses (all four sets), hence she could not locate her lower dentures, which turned out to be in her chest of drawers in the spare room; alongside her glasses.

Mr Bruce, I have to say I was utterly flabbergasted and left somewhat speechless when Mr Davidson relayed the news to me that, instead of this year’s annual fundraising afternoon tea, a decision was made to hold a masked ball instead. I actually found myself for one moment doubting whether Mr Davidson was in full control of his faculties, but unfortunately Mrs Cartwright confirmed the news.

I fear my suggestion to wear masks at the annual fundraiser in order to show solidarity for our NHS workers may been taken out of context.

A masked ball? And a venetian style one at that? I am not sure if you are aware Mr Bruce, of the flirtatious nature and sexual undertones of such balls? Undertones which I feel are entirely inappropriate for the bowling club members, most of whom are Octogenarians at the very least. I fear too much ‘excitement’ will be detrimental to their health and may unmask (if you pardon the pun) feelings which have lain dormant for many years.

And as for the masks themselves? Have you even considered how this will work? Most of our members require glasses, often several sets of varying prescriptions. Do they wear the glasses under or over the mask? Or God forbid, not at all?

Have you thought about the chaos this might cause? Our members wandering about aimlessly, bumping into the glass trophy cabinet, knocking over the bowling green diorama, and very probably unable to recognise each other. Many of them struggle to remember names as it is, referring to each other quite simply other ‘lad’ or ‘lass’. Lord knows what they will make of one another hidden behind peculiar, bejewelled, slightly horrifying looking masks which were originally produced to ward off disease.

Mrs Cartwright is already discussing making her own ball gown from a pair of heavy drape velvet curtains she has kept in the attic since 1954. She is planning on stitching it by hand. All it needs is one person to stand on the dress by accident, or for it to become snagged on a piece of furniture as she walks by, and the whole thing will unravel. Can you imagine? She is also planning on painting her toenails with No.7 Blood Lust Red.  I am almost certain she has not bent down that far since she was in her late 60s and I very much doubt her ability to get back up again unaided.

I realise there has been an injection of young blood into the committee membership, by way of the recently retired Mr and Mrs Youngson, and with this young blood, comes new ideas. They are considered well-travelled and very bohemian in their ways. I believe they brought their own home-made gin to the committee meeting, which I fear may have strongly influenced the decisions made, almost invoking a devil-may-care attitude amongst some.  I feel the committee have been swept away on this new wave of ideas.

I urge the committee to reconsider the decision on the basis of the;

Sexual undertones and possible resulting uncontrollable urges it might release.

Visual challenges

Additional levels of confusion amongst an already confused group.

Accidental exposure of Mrs Cartwright

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes, as always,

Mrs Boosomly-Smyth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow Kirsten Nairn on 

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Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17042903.Kirsten_Nairn

Amazon: https://www.amazon A sorry Affair

***

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‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge 2021.’ Week #34 Entry Part 1) by John Howell @howellwave and Suzanne Burke @pursoot #IARTG #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 1)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge 2021.  Week #34.

Today I’m featuring contributions from entry 1)By John Howell and Entry 2) My own contribution.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

This one-line contribution by John Howell.

“Mama. What does the elephant in the room mean?”

John Howell can be reached here …

Visit at Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

 Twitter:

Author Blog Fiction Favorites:

Here is my own contribution.

ELEPHANTS.

Extinction. Level. Event. Protected. Habitat. Animal. Nursery. Transition. Stage. Identity #R47. 2046.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. What you are about to witness is an historic moment. Your questions will be answered after the demonstration. For now, I ask that you utilize the ear pieces set for each of you and simply watch and … listen.”

***

“Move into the water, my son. There is nothing to harm you here. We will drink, and cool ourselves, then we’ll move into the depths of the shadows come nightfall.”

“Will there be others in the shadows, mother? Will there be more males of our kind?”

“Only in the memories we have of them, before they perished. I haven’t seen another male since my father was murdered when I was very young.”

“I don’t understand it. Did the Great Mother ordain it to be so?”

“The Great Mother of all things gave us droughts and flooding rains, but she never handed us more than what our kind could recover from. This was not in her plan. Your great-great grandmother shared her stories of survival with us, she spoke often of the times before our world changed.”

The young male heard the cry in her voice, “Was it so different then?”

“Yes, my son. For she spoke of our kind stretching in herds across the veld as far as the eye could see. She spoke of the dust clouds they caused simply because of their numbers. She shared her memory of the herd searching for water in the midst of the great drought, she laughed at the happy thoughts that finding it caused her. There was time made for play and celebration. Their only predator back then were the hunters, they came looking to inflate their ego’s by felling the largest animal on the planet. The killed many of our kind, but not in numbers sufficient to threaten our existence as a species.”

“Was it the ones you call poachers? Did they cause this event to come about?”

“They are directly responsible. They did not hunt for sport. They did not hunt to save their own offspring from starvation, they trapped our males and butchered them after only the tusks of Ivory. They hunted from Greed.”

“What is Greed?”

“It is when someone takes far more than they’ll ever need to survive. They would kill and keep on killing because there were others of their species prepared to pay them for the precious ivory.”

“So, this Greed is a human trait?”

“It appears that way, I know of no other animal that kills unless it is necessary to protect and feed themselves or their offspring. It seems that is reserved for the human-kind.”

“Aren’t these humans the same as the ones who are now trying to save us?”

“Yes, they are. I’m beginning to learn that this Greed thing is not present throughout their entire species. Our caregivers are proof of that. They appear to have made the survival of our species their life’s work.”

“But why?”

“I think it may be partly born from guilt that their own kind had brought us to extinction. It weighs heavily upon their collective conscience. But more than that I believe they want to return their world to a time before the innocence was lost forever. They cling to a belief that man can and must learn from his mistakes.”

“Is it only our kind that have reached extinction level?”

The young male watched the tears slide from her eyes as she shook her head, “No, son. There are many others.”

“Can they hope to save all of them?”

“They live with that hope. I’ve seen it in their faces as they’ve watched you grow.”

“You told me I was not born of your body. I don’t understand that. You see me as your son though. I know it.”

“You are known as a replicant in their language. I only know that when they brought you to me you had yet to take your first independent breath of air. It was I who helped you to stand for the first time. Your diet was supplemented by the humans but you became my son from that moment and forever after.”

“I’m thankful, mother.”

“As am I, my child.

***

“Question time, ladies and gentlemen.”

“Those voices we heard they were some sort of voice over app. Yes?”

“No, sir. We now have the capability of listening to them and translating what they communicate into a language we can recognize.”

“Are they aware of that?”

“They are an intelligent species. I believe that they do know.”

“How many more Replicants like this one exist?”

“This one is number 47. We still have a long way to go before Elephants can be removed from the Extinction Level Event category.”’

“The world will now be watching and waiting.”

“They have always watched and waited. We need them to do more than that. We need them to pray.”

~~~

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‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ NEW IMAGE Prompt. Week #24 Join In The Fun! #IARTG #FlashFiction #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts @pursoot

Hello everyone and welcome to my weekly “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!”  WEEK #24.  Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Please put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at My email address. by DEADLINE: 4pm EDT on Thursday, NOVEMBER 12th, Subject: Fiction in a Flash Challenge. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be much appreciated.

 I’ll be sharing all entries received, and, my own contribution here AS I RECEIVE THEM.  Thanks to everyone for the amazing support.

Here is the week #24 Image Prompt.

Image by skalekar1992 from Pixabay

I hope the image inspires you! Come and join in the fun.

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‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #20 Entry 8) By Jan Sikes @JanSikes3 #IARTG #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 8)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #20.

Today I’m featuring the contribution from entry 8) by Jan Sikes.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt.

A Message from Jan.

This is my contribution. I want to give you a little background on this poem. When my late husband was dealing with such a difficult physical decline, during one of the many hospital stays, he developed pneumonia and I feared he might not live until morning. I held vigil throughout that long night and this poem came to me. I remember searching for pen and paper to get it down, and I remember the tears that fell as I scribbled it. I felt that I had to give him permission to let go and I did it through this poem. He lived for a few more weeks after this incident and did recover from the pneumonia.

I cannot tell you the reason this image invoked this memory, but it did, so I am sharing.

Surrender

There is no shame in surrender when it is time

Like General Lee, you’ve known when to lay low

and when to climb

I’ve watched you suffer for so many years

Your life seemed destined to one of pain and of tears

Yet you fought on – the valiant soldier in fierce battle

You sang your song, rode tall in the saddle

You’ve now come down to the last battle call

You’ll hang up your sword, tired and weary you’ll fall

But know that you’ve left many good marks behind

While you learned how to love and how to be kind

Taught lessons to all who shared your many paths

That will be remembered long after you have passed

There is no shame in surrender when it is time

~~~~

CONTACT JAN SIKES:

All books are available at http://www.jansikes.com

Amazon

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Thanks so much for stopping by.  The Week #21 Image Prompt will be posted later this morning.

Find me at …

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‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #20 Entry Part 1) By John Howell @HowellWave and Suzanne Burke @pursoot #IARTG #WritingCommunity #FlashFiction #WritingPrompts

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Part 1)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #20.

Today I’m featuring contributions from entry 1)By John Howell and Entry 2) My own contribution.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt.

John Howell’s One Line Contribution.

“Keep the faith Trigger. You’re bound to remember where you pitched her off.”

John Howell can be reached here …

Visit at Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

 Twitter:

Author Blog Fiction Favorites:

My own Contribution

DESPERADO.

Lucy stood at the window and watched the sky blaze out its goodnight then turned to her mother. “Can you light the fire. Hank’s back. He’ll be in soon.” She crossed to the bar, poured herself another glass of red wine, glanced at her mother and flinched at the look she received. “Mom I have to do this. I’m bored to death here. I need more than this. I miss the clubs and my old life. I can move back in with the girls from college and you’ll soon find an apartment.”

The other woman’s eyes filled with tears, “You have it all worked out, don’t you?  You’ve barely been married to Hank for six months! You haven’t even tried to make this work.”

“I have, I just hate it here. Hank’s just too old to understand.” Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“I’ve watched that man bend over backwards to give you everything you insisted you needed to be happy. He warned you this place would be nothing like living in the city. He’s not old, he’s my age. But he’s been alone for his entire life. You already know his father died young and his mother ran off with some guy when he was just fourteen. The land is what’s sustained him and kept his hopes alive. He didn’t expect to fall for a city girl. How can you be so damned selfish?”

“I just want more.”

Her mother shook her head sadly. “He thinks you love him, and that’s the hell of it. But make no mistake, he’d be prepared for this to happen. Be very certain of what you want. I can’t advise you beyond that.”

***

Hank hung his hat on the rack and shrugged off his coat. He gave his mother-in-law Jenny a warm smile as he joined her in front of the fire. His bottle of whiskey waited, and he poured one for the two of them, then settled back to enjoy the warmth and the comfort, waiting quietly for Lucy to join them.

“We’re in for a bad winter.” Hank said as his wife seated herself. “The signs are clear already.”

The women remained quiet. He flicked them a look. “So, what’s wrong? Did I miss a birthday or something?”

Jenny stood. “I’m not really hungry tonight. I’ll give you two some privacy.”

Hank turned to her. “Please stay, Jenny. I’m guessing you already know what this is about.”

He looked at his wife, “Talk to me. What is it?”

Lucy reached for his hand. “I’m sorry, Hank, but I can’t live out here like this anymore. I thought I could. But you must know I miss the city. This isolation is boring me to death. I want to move back to New York.”

“I see.” He poured a double shot of whiskey. “I told you what to expect out here. I believed you when you said you could handle it. Seems I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you asking me to come with you, Lucy?”

“What? No! I mean … you wouldn’t like it there.”

“Ah, I see. So, it’s me you’re leaving, not just the ranch?”

“Well … I, um …”

Hank stood then and retrieved a pack of Marlboro from his pocket. “I’m heading outside for a smoke. Are you leaving too Jenny?”

“I kinda thought you’d insist on it.”

“No, you’re welcome to stay for as long as you like. Tell me, what did you say when she told you that she was going?”

“I told her to be absolutely certain of what she really wanted, ‘cause I knew there’s be no takin’ it back once she said it.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll sleep down in the bunkhouse with the ranch-hands till one or the both of you move out.”

“That can’t be all you have to say, surely.” Lucy pleaded.

“I hope New York works out for you. My attorney will be in touch.”

***

One year later.

Hank sat by the fire and poured two glasses of whiskey and handed Jenny hers before speaking. “So, I don’t think this winter will be as hard as the last one.”

Jenny smiled across at him. “I’ll drink to that.” She raised her glass.

He looked at her for a long moment, “So, I’ve been wanting to ask you, what made you stay?”

“I guess I figured it was high time somebody in your life did.”

He looked surprised for a moment, then grinned at her. “So, something sure smells mighty good, what’s for supper?”

***

Thanks so much for joining me here today. I look forward to seeing your comments. I will as always featuring each new contribution as I receive them.

I may be reached here …

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‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #19 Entry Part 4) By Karen Ingalls @KIngallsAuthor #Iartg #TANKA #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 4)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” WEEK #19

Today I’m featuring the contribution from Karen Ingalls.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Karen’s Tanka contribution.

This week’s photo inspired me to write one of many stories or poems, because I lived in Hollywood the last two years of high school. I walked down Hollywood Blvd. to go to school where I had classes with Annette Funicello and Stephanie Powers.

The story within the Tanka Poem is true. I hope you enjoy it. Some happy memories about an amazing film personality came back to me.

HOLLYWOOD WAS HOME
TO THE FAMOUS MOVIE STARS
SOME LIVED IN MANSIONS
SEEN DRIVING EXPENSIVE CARS.
 
BELA LUGOSI
WHO STARRED AS COUNT DRACULA
WAS MY NEW NEIGHBOR
WHO DAILY WALKED BY MY HOUSE
SURPRISED I KNEW WHO HE WAS.
 
HE SIGNED A PHOTO
WHICH I TREASURED ALL MY LIFE
WHILE WE TALKED AND LAUGHED
ABOUT DRACULA’S STORY
NOT LIKE BELA LUGOSI.
 
HE DIED ALONE, POOR
 NOT FROM A WOODEN STAKE PLUNGED
DEEP INTO HIS HEART,
 NOR SUNLIGHT AS TOLD IN BOOKS
ABOUT THE COUNT DRACULA.
 
A HEART ATTACK TOOK
HIS LIFE OF FAME, WITHOUT WEALTH
ENDING IN A GRAVE
WEARING DRACULA’S BLACK CAPE
BURIED IN CULVER CITY.

Unfortunately, I have lost the autographed photo of Bela Lugosi. He was a sweet gentleman, who lived and died in a small apartment three houses away. He was type-cast in the role as a monster or vampire. His career declined quickly once the Dracula movies were no longer in demand. He earned large sums of money which he spent unwisely on alcohol and opiates for his chronic sciatica pain. In those days, there were no residuals.

~~~~~~~

Karen may be contacted here …

Karen Ingalls Blog.

On Twitter:

Karen Ingalls Author Page Amazon

On Facebook

***

I can be reached here …

My author page on AMAZON.

On Twitter.

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By Email.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I’ll be featuring further contributions as I receive them.

‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #18 Entry 8) by Miriam Hurdle @mhurdle112 #IARTG #ASMSG #WRITINGCOMMUNITY

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 7)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #18.

Today I’m featuring a contribution from Miriam Hurdle

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Miriam’s entry.

The Great Symphony

Life is a continuum of a Great Symphony.

Adagio airs a soothing melody of sweet love,

laments the inner sorrow, and

the melancholic soul.

Maestoso pitches the triumph of a noble spirit,

pronounces the victory of a long and

hard-won battle.

Fortissimo frees the shout from the depth of the heart,

proclaims the greatest joy

has ever been told.

Pianissimo whispers to your ears, the faintest sob,

breathes the darkest secret

only to you.

Now and then, it comes the rest, and the rest.

Silence!

What tranquility it is, in the Great Symphony of Life.

 

~

Miriam Hurdle can be reached here…

Author Links and Contacts

Amazon Links

Amazon UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07K1S47W9 

Amazon.com Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1S47W9 

Contact Links

Website: https://theshowersofblessings.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Miriam-Hurdle/e/B07K2MCSVW?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhurdle112

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miriam.hurdle.1

***

I may be reached here …

My author page on AMAZON.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! I look forward to seeing your comments.

‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #18 Entry Part 7) by Karen Ingalls @KIngallsAuthor #IARTG #WritingCommunity #Tanka

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 7)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” WEEK #18

Today I’m featuring the contribution from Karen Ingalls.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here is the image prompt and Karen’s Tanka.

***

Here is my Tanka poem based on the photo prompt below. This was an especially inspiring photo, because I love classical music and as a child I watched and listened to my grandmother play such music on the piano. I invite you to listen to this beautiful waltz as you read the blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=1s9oM_vNlyY

STRAUSS WALTZ AND ROSE

STRAUSS WALTZ AND ROSE
 
Mozart wrote many
Nocturnes, Waltzes, and Preludes
But none could compare
To the Strauss composition,
Roses from the South, a waltz.
 
A Strauss rose exists
Inspired by this special waltz
With blooms like his love
For Adele Deutsch, his wife,
Pure and sweet forever more.
 
The pink bloom is strong
As graceful fingers hold it
Fragrant and perfect
The Strauss waltz and rose flower
Fill our souls with joy and peace.

As you listened to “Roses from the South” waltz, were you smiling, swaying, or did you get up and dance? Did you envision couples dancing in a large circle with women in their swirling dresses and men in tuxedoes? I hope it filled your soul with joy and peace. Please let me know how you reacted to it.

Karen may be contacted here …

Karen Ingalls Blog.

On Twitter:

Karen Ingalls Author Page Amazon

On Facebook

***

I can be reached here …

My author page on AMAZON.

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

‘Fiction in A Flash Challenge’ Week #17 Entry Part 6) by Jacquie Biggar @JacqBiggar #IARTG #WRITINGCOMMUNITY #WritingPrompts

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 6) of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #17.

Today I’m featuring a contribution by Jacquie Biggar.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Here’s the image prompt and Jacquie’s contribution.

Message In A Bottle

By

Jacquie Biggar

The sand is cool and grainy under my toes, a refreshing relief from the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. I’ve been walking this mostly deserted beach for hours, lost in memories of happier times.

I arrived as a visiter, but for the last twelve years this has been home. I’m not sure how I’ll survive without the wash of the waves, the briny scent, or the crimson sunsets, but I must. It’s up to me to continue the search.

Something green glints in the shallows and I pad out to investigate. It’s a bottle, half-buried in the wet sand, its cork pointing toward the North Star sparkling brightly in the evening sky.

Heart pumping, I tug until the sand gives up its treasure with a pop and carefully carry the fragile glass up the beach. Upon closer inspection, I spot a roll of paper inside the luminous green bottle.

“Sam, is that you?”

A wavery voice from my past jerks my attention away from my find.

Could it be?

The woman I never thought to see again, picks up her skirts and runs toward me, her silver hair flowing like a moonbeam.

With a joyous bark, I bound toward her, the aches and pains in my old bones forgotten. She came back.

“Oh, Sam,” she cries, falling to her knees to wrap frail arms around my neck. “I can’t believe I found you.”

I want to tell her I’ve been searching and searching for her, too, but of course I can’t. Instead, I whine and lick her chin in greeting, my tail swishing the sand.

“It was the cancer, boy. I’ve been in the hospital all this time. I thought I’d lost you.” She puts her head to mine and weeps.

A long while later, she slowly rises and, with a hand on my back, follows me over to the green bottle.

“What do you have there, Sam, a treasure?”

I already found my treasure tonight, but I bark and push the bottle toward her.

“Okay, okay.” She chuckles. “I get the message.”

She carefully works the cork from the bottle and tips the paper into her hand. Unrolling the missive, she reads, “Whoever finds this note, know this; there is no greater gift than love.”

As my old friend and I make our way down the beach, I sigh, contented for the first time in months. The bottle is right, love soothes the soul.

~~~

Jacquie may be contacted here …

Blog: Jacquie Biggar- USA Today Best-Selling Author

On TWITTER

Books On Amazon.Com

Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I’ll be posting further entries as I receive them.

I may be contacted here …

My author page on AMAZON.

On Twitter.

On Facebook

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By Email.

‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #17 Part 3) A #Haibun by D.L.Finn @dlfinnauthor #iartg #asmsg #writingCommunity #writingprompts

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 3)  of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” Week #17.

Today I’m featuring a contribution from D. L. Finn.

Last week I set the following Challenge:

Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

This Haibun Contributed By D.L.Finn

THE MESSAGE

The fog penetrated my skin, adding heaviness to my existence. The furious waves crashing against the shore fueled my anger. The salty air was bitter in my lungs, making each breath a battle. Alone, I pushed through the frigid sands, going nowhere, until I couldn’t take another step. I sat down on a flat rock and waited for the pain to end. This went on ceaselessly until I caught a glimmer in the haze. A bottle had washed ashore at my feet.

Foggy depression

A healing message offered

Remember, you’re loved.

~~~

D.L.Finn can be reached here …

Blog site:

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:

On TWITTER:

On FACEBOOK:

Thanks so much for stopping by! I look forward to reading your comments.

I can be reached here …

My author page on AMAZON.

On Twitter.

On Facebook

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By Email.