Fading

 

 

She flipped through the photo album. Empty.

She stared at it, wondering again what kind of flower decorated the cover. Her mind tried to find the word for its color then thought about the emptiness again.

Running her fingertips over the delicate petals, she closed her eyes and started humming a lullaby she used to sing to her daughter at bedtime.

Notes floated around her room and she frowned trying to recall the name of the song.

Round and round like the seasons. Cycles of summer, autumn, winter…spring.

Yes. Those flowers blossomed in the spring.

In and out and back again. In the dirt, planting seeds, watering can sprinkles the earth. Stems push through the soil, leaves grow, petals unfold.

Peach. It was peach, that hue. The cover.

Pink.

And the flower, a rose. Carnation. Daisy.

Emptiness. Pink. Flowers. Spring.

With things that are alive trying to sprout from things that look dead.

The album was closed but she knew it was empty. They took the fading photos—black and white memories she was starting to lose.

 

 

#BlogBattle is a bimonthly writing prompt for flash/short stories hosted by Rachael Ritchey 

Join in. Write a story. Read the stories. Vote for your favorites here.

Week 62 Prompt: Photograph
Genre: Drama

Five Photos, Five Stories (Day 5)

 

Growth

Fresh, new beginning

Promised life. While apathy

Crushed all that was left

 

 

My final post for the Five Photos, Five Stories challenge. This is my Day 5 photo, “Spring Equinox Sprout”, with its accompanying haiku. Here’s a peek at 1-4:

Day 1 “Anxiety”
Day 2 “Radiant”
Day 3 “Fragile”
Day 4 “Summer”

Thanks again, Norah. This was a fun week of photos and poems.

 

The “rules” of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:

1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive days.
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. Just have fun.

 

Five Photos, Five Stories (Day 4)

 

Summer

Wisps of sun-bleached hair

Brush my cheek. She lives in light,

I dwell in shadow

 

 

This post is part of a Five Photos, Five Stories challenge. This is my Day 4 photo, “Asteraceae”, with its accompanying haiku.

Day 1 “Anxiety”
Day 2 “Radiant”
Day 3 “Fragile”

Thanks to Norah, for nominating me and allowing me to play with words and pictures while I get back on my feet. I’m excited to nominate ReeDaBee to take on this challenge–can’t wait to see what she does with it.

 

The “rules” of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:

1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive days.
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. Just have fun.

 

Five Photos, Five Stories (Day 2)

 

 

Radiant

Music glides like clouds

His tiny hands move with grace

Over ivory keys

 

 

This post is part of a Five Photos, Five Stories challenge. This is my Day 2 photo, “Painted Sky”, with its accompanying haiku. Here’s my Day 1 Post, “Anxiety”. Thanks to Norah, for nominating me and allowing me to play with words and pictures while I get back on my feet. I nominate Dana Schwartz to take on this fun photo challenge. Will she pick up the gauntlet? If so, it will be a treat. Her writing is beautiful and I’d love to see where she takes this challenge. Will we see some fiction?

 

The “rules” of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:

1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive days.
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. Just have fun.

 

Five Photos, Five Stories (Day 1)

 

 

Anxiety

My mind spins, eyes close,

Heart beats. Wrong. Too fast. Can’t breathe.

Look up. Perspective.

 

 

I’ve been nominated by the lovely Norah Colvin in a Five Photos, Five Stories (in five days) challenge. And I accept. So here is my Day 1 photo, “Look Up”, with its accompanying haiku. Thanks, Norah, for giving me a wonderful way to use my creativity while I get back on my feet. I nominate AJ Prince to take on this fun photo challenge. I might have to send Dracula after her to, um, motivate her but that’s okay. He owes me a favor and she won’t mind.

 

The “rules” of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:

1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive days.
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. Just have fun.

 

The Album

 

She stared at the empty album, wondering again what kind of flower decorated the cover before her mind tried to find the word for the color then thought about the emptiness again.

Round and round like the seasons. In and out and back again. Peach. It was peach, that hue. Pink. And the flower, a rose. Or carnation. Daisy. The emptiness. Pink. Flowers. Like spring. With things that are alive trying to sprout from things that look dead.

The album was closed but she knew they took the fading photos—black and white memories she was starting to lose.

 

 

May 6 Prompt: Spring (Write a story that is a snapshot of spring.)

Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch