Photograph © Roger Bultot
The air outside her front door was all bitten through with ice but she stood there anyway, sleeveless and bareheaded, listening as he climbed the staircase.
Inside, he crossed to the window. ‘Orchids in the snow,’ he said, laying his hat next to them. ‘I knew this was your apartment as soon as I saw them from the street,’
‘Oh?’ She poured him the drink he hadn’t had time to ask for and drew off his jacket. ‘It’s been a long time,’ she said.
‘Hasn’t it? I’ve fought a whole war.’
‘And I’m just beginning mine,’ she said, watching him unbutton his shirt.
*
The above is my contribution to this week’s Friday Fictioneers run by the lovely and ever diligent Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like to write your own 100 word story inspired by the picture, click here, or here to read other people’s.
Beautifully atmospheric with echoes dark as red wine, I loved the air “all bitten through with ice”
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Thanks Neil 🙂
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Me, too.
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Something ominous and claustrophobic about this scene. Well done.
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Thank you. Indeed there is. This pair are actually characters in a novel I’m writing and I reckon “ominous” is about right!
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oh, the room must be so warm he had to take off his shirt.
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Guess so! 😉
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This leaves me with questions but I love the atmosphere you created.
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Glad you liked it, Dale. Now I just have to work out the answers to those questions!
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Brooding and moody. A promising way to pick up an old relationship. Good one.
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Thanks, Sandra 🙂
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Dear Louise,
The last line left me rather breathless with anticipation. Wonderful setting of tone and mood.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. Amazingly I knew what to write as soon as I saw the photo. That’s not happened before!
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I want more. Great story.
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Thank you very much 🙂 That’s lovely to hear.
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I agree this has a wonderful tone and feel. Loved the last line.
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Ah, thank you!
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This definitely left me wanting more. Great atmosphere.
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Very nice of you to say so – and good to hear!
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Wonderful! I hope she ends up being the victor, but something tells me she won’t let herself be.
Thanks for sharing.
I found your blog on FF and hope to explore it more in the coming days.
Hope you can visit mine too. 🙂
– Lisa
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Thank you. I shall indeed visit your blog – looking forward to it 🙂
(I don’t think she’ll let herself be the victor, either.)
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Very atmospheric and intriguing, what war is she about to start?
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One with herself, I think…..
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Wonderful , I look forward to reading your novel.
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Thank you very much. I hope one day you can.
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So much powerful writing in such few words. 😃
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Very nice of you to say so – thank you!
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This is lovely, love the payoff.
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🙂 Thank you for the nice comment (and the follow).
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This piece had it all. Suspense, atmosphere, intrigue, subtlety, impactful dialogue. I really enjoyed it! I felt immersed in the scene immediately. Great work!
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