“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is Ljubljana, Slovenia – or anywhere in Slovenia. I have taken a short bus ride to Lake Bled!
Image by Ales Krivec from Pixabay
Assignation
The sun crept above the horizon, peeping shyly through the winter haze like a bride through her veil. Andrej muffled his scarf closer. His ears prickled with frost. Would she come?
Streamers of mist drifted aimlessly, now hiding the dark waters of Lake Bled, now coyly revealing them. Watching intently, Andrej saw a more purposeful movement. There she was!
The swan stretched her silver-white wings wide, standing on the water. Andrej could see every feather. For a few heart-stopping moments the powerful wings beat, and then the swan folded them and drifted back into the fogbank.
There was a smile on Andrej’s face as he walked slowly back to the village.
Irina met him at the door of their cottage, her white hair gleaming.
“Come in before you catch your death of cold, you silly old man!”
Andrej kissed her.
“Ljubim te močno – I love you so much,” he said.
Autumn Leaves 
Nice one 👍 I would like you to continue the story !!
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Dear Narasimhansrikanth
Thank you for reading and for your very kind comment. At present I am spending most of my ‘writing’ time trying to find an agent to promote my novel to publishers. Perhaps when that’s finished I may continue the story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Lovely vignette. Good descriptions of the cold, too.
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Dear Josh
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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A gem of a story, Penny. I love his reverence. The mirrored image you selected suits the theme perfectly, mirroring the old man’s adoration for his sliver swan(s).
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Dear Karen
Thank you for reading and commenting. I went to see the opera ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ by Janacek on Thursday. The central theme of the opera is about how an awareness of nature can give us a joyous acceptance of every aspect of life, including old age and death. It was a transcendent performance that had me in tears – and it inspired this story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh! First that wonderful picture, then Andrej waiting ~ for what? and then the reveal ~ a swan. The final conversation with his own swan is a gem. One of your best!
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Dear Lish
Thank you for reading and commenting so thoughtfully. I’m thrilled that you identified Irina as Andrej’s ‘swan’. Swans are often symbols of faithful love, of course, but I was by no means sure that this would be picked up.
I went to see the opera ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ by Janacek last Thursday. The central theme of the opera is about how an awareness of nature can give us a joyous acceptance of every aspect of life, including old age and death. It was a transcendent performance that had me in tears – and it inspired this story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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I really enjoyed your descriptions here — very magical and mysterious! And what a gorgeous photo you chose, too; that really adds to the mythical atmosphere.
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Dear Joy
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, there is something magical about sunrise. And Pixabay is a great place to find royalty-free photos.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Makes me smile. You paint a magical picture.
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Dear Crispina
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m absolutely delighted that my story made you smile – exactly the reaction I’d hoped for!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Thank you, and returned.
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Beautiful story, I can just picture it in my mind!
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