Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
At first sight
Standing at the grave-side with my children, I remember a shop on Down Island.
The window held an intriguing mixture of objects; stained glass fairies; crystals; natural remedies; and some brightly patterned kaftans.
Inside, the place smelled euphoric. The man behind the counter was smiling and humming.
“I like those kaftans. Could I try one, please?”
He glanced at his watch.
“Heavens! It’s quarter past one. Sorry, we’re closed. Open again tomorrow morning. It’s Beltane, you see.”
My face fell.
“Come with me,” he suddenly said. “There’ll be some great vegetarian food!”
Forty years we were together.
Goodbye, my love.
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/party/2767a29a0c1640709ba002042b5f4381
Autumn Leaves 
Oh what a sweetly told tale! I’d like to think she’s wearing a kaftan he gave her from their first date even on this desolate day.
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What a lovely thought, Dora! Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Nice. I’m only half Irish so I’ve never heard of Beltane before. I looked it up
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story, Larry!
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Who could resist an invitation to a Beltane meal?
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Shared picnic + shared ideals = compatibility. The food was delicious!
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A lovely tale well told. I find it so interesting where and how couples meet.
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Thank you for your kind words, Christine. It is strange how often couples seem predestined, isn’t it? I met my wife in London, but we discovered subsequently that we could just as easily have met in Cambridge. Even if parts of our history had been very different, we’d still have met, fallen in love and married!
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Wonderful story
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Thank you for your kind comment. Love is marvellous, isn’t it?
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i call it destiny. they were meant for each other.
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Dear Plaridel, I agree with you; it was destiny. Thank you for commenting.
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What lovely way to meet, festival, food and kaftans. 🙂 He seemed like a lovely man. Lovely story, Penny!
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I think he was the sort of man we all dream of in our teenage years! Thank you for your kind comment.
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One should never stop dreaming 😉
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Lovely Penny, a whole romance and life told in that memory. Well done.
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Dear Iain, That’s a very kind and helpful comment. The story was indeed meant to tell about their life together.
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Dear Penny,
What a sweet tale. I love a romantic story with a happy ending…well bittersweet in this case. Well told in few words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m just a romantic at heart…
Shalom
Penny
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So lovely – a tender embrace in 100 words. Beautiful.
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Thank you such a kind comment.
Have you written a story this week? I couldn’t find one.
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Yes – thank you for asking…Number 40 in the queue. 🙂
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It only takes one random moment for true love to kick in
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Your story is sweet and mysterious at the same time. Nicely composed, Penny.
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Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad you thought the story was nicely composed.
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You’re welcome, Penny.
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How lovely and then the hammer blow on the last line, lovely stuff
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Thank you for the kind comments. I’m very pleased that you found the last line so effective.
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Oh!!!! I love this. A sweet romance in 100-words. Thank you.
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Thank you, Lish. I’m pleased you enjoyed the romance.
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From that day Beltane became even more special! Delightful.
Here’s mine!
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Yes, Beltane always held a special place in that household! I’m glad you enjoyed.
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Aw, what a lovely story of love at first sight. And, I might add, a pleasant change from the many stories, including my own, that told a very different kind of tale–horror, bone-chilling. I really like your interpretation 🙂
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Thank you for such a delightful comment. The shop in the prompt reminded me of one in Glastonbury (a rather ‘alternative’ town,,,). I went to the door to go in, and found a hand-written notice saying, ‘Closed for Beltane’. So I went up the tor and joined in the festivities!
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Sweet memories for her, lovely story!
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So many sweet memories from a long life together. But that first encounter can be the most powerful memory of all…
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Such a beautiful story, Penny. Bittersweet ending, of course.
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So glad you thought the story was beautiful, Dale. Bittersweet ending? Yes, I guess – but grief is just one of the faces of love.
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This is true. I know all too well.
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such a sweet story of a forever love. Thank you for sharing.
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Yes, they had the sort of love that you can believe would outlast death.
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So sorrowful to have to let him go. Maybe she can reach him through the crystals or some other Wan practice?
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He was always with her, in memories and in the way he and she had influenced each other, and in their children.
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Wan = Wiccan. The letters disappeared!
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Teehee! Autocorrupt strikes again!
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lol
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For me this began with a sense of sadness and smoothly changed to one of opportunity with a wonderful ending.
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Thank you for your helpful comment, James. You’ve helped me think about the construction of the story.
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What a great story, so much life in it,
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Michael, it’s very kind of you to say so. Life was what I wanted!
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A beautiful story of love in so few words. Nicely written, Penny.
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Thank you so much, Brenda. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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A beautiful story, sad but joyful.
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Dear Sandra,
I admire your flash fiction enormously, so praise from you is hugely valued. Thank you!
With best wishes
Penny
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A beautiful story Penny, sad but a celebration of life.
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Thank you. What a nice comment! Life is good, and it’s right to celebrate it.
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She’s taking solace in memories of their life together. You’ve written this story with such sensitivity, Penny.
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Dear Mags,
Thanks for such a lovely, warm comment!
With best wishes
Penny
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You’re welcome, Penny.
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What a lovely life together… something wonderful about closing time.
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The protagonist has a grateful heart. She will always miss her beloved, but gratitude for the happy memories will console her.
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Sweet and simple story.
She had accepted his invitation, gone with him and stayed together!
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Thank you for your comment, Anita!
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so romantic! ain’t love grand ❤
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Yes, love is wonderful. I have been very lucky in my own life.
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