Friday Fictioneers – Memories

Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story with a beginning, middle and end in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz (the blue frog) on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

FF - Memories 191016

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Memories

I’m so glad I took that photo. Mum and Dad were standing close together looking down at the selfie on her phone. They were smiling, pointing out details to each other, storing up memories of the vacation of a lifetime.

Then Dad dropped. His knees buckled and he fell.

Pandemonium.

Paramedics arrived within minutes – I’ve no idea who called them. They fought for Dad’s life, but it was no good. He’d gone.

We got the body home, and Dad’s funeral was lovely – but Mum never recovered. She passed away a month later.

I’m so glad I took that last photo.

52 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Memories”

    • Dear Rochelle
      Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right – things can change very swiftly. I love photographs of family occasions, especially holidays, and often look back at those I’ve taken. Some, though, are more precious than others.
      Shalom
      Penny

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    • Dear Keith
      Thank you for reading and commenting. As you say, there are far worse ways of dying. I’m sorry for the mum and the nightmare of trying to repatriate her husband’s body while grieving, too.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Linda
      Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. It’s strange, isn’t it, that we’re always surprised by death even though it’s inevitable? I’m pleased you thought the story was poignant.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Did photos have something to do with their passing away? Or their time had simply arrived? On one hand you should be happy that you photographed them, on the other you may think if you had not taken the photograph what could have been!

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    • Dear Abhijit
      Thank you for reading, and for your interesting comment. In the story as I imagined it there was no feeling that taking the photograph may have hastened dad’s death. But there’s nothing to rule it out, either, so if you, the reader, take it that way then that’s fine. It’s one valid way of reading the text.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear Ali
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Sometimes life can change very rapidly. Enjoy it while it’s good! (And, ideally, enjoy it even when it’s bad – it’s the only life you’ve got!)
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  17. What a tragic moment. I took a photo the moment I first saw my now ex-wife. It was one of many sentimental elements in our story that was cool in itself, but not enough to sustain a marriage of two incompatible people. Great telling here.

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    • Dear Josh
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Now you’ve fascinated me, as to why my story should have triggered such a powerful memory of your ex-wife! You must write a story about it sometime!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear Liz
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, it’s the sort of photo you’d keep in your purse, or your handbag so you could look at it whenever you needed to, isn’t it? Or digitally on your phone of course.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear James
      Thank you for reading and for commenting with such insight. You’re absolutely right that I was aiming for a feeling of consolation in the story, but a feeling that was hidden beneath the surface.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Dale
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, sometimes death can be very abrupt and tragic. Still, memories and photographs bring some consolation, although for many years it’s often accompanied by grief.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Suzanne
      Thank you for reading and for your thoughtful comment. I’m glad you thought using almost the same sentence at the beginning and end was effective. That’s useful feedback – thank you!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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