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!
Dark Matter
Trevor had picked up the letter from the hospital as he left for work; and then forgotten it as he focussed on his application for time on the Keck telescope in Hawaii. It wasn’t until the afternoon tea-break that he read it.
“Sperm count – very low; quality – poor. Conception is essentially impossible.”
Trevor swallowed hard. It was his fault Fiona had been unable to conceive! How on earth was he going to tell her?
Her smiling face as he arrived home that evening seemed particularly joyful.
“I had some wonderful news today,” she said. “We’re going to have a baby!”
Autumn Leaves 
Uh oh! But at least it’s solved his problem about how to tell her. There’s always a plus side.
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Thank you for commenting, Neil. You know, I’m not sure it has solved his problem. It depends on what he wants. He may wish to shut his eyes to any problems and accept the baby as his own without asking questions. Or he may be outraged. Or he may want to be honest but loving. Or, as he’s human, it’s probably a mixture of all the above and more.
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I think he’s going to be a bit grumpy for a while
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Grumpy sums it up admirably! 😉
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Yikes! So, who’d she conceive with? Nice one, Penny!
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Thank you for your perceptive comment, Mason. Miracles do sometimes happen…
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Indeed they do.
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Oh, that’s a tricky one. I hope the child won’t have to suffer for this.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Gabi. I agree it would be tragic if the child suffered as a result. I think though that Trevor and Fiona have a strong enough marriage to handle any likely outcome.
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I see that you wrote a prequel, will read it. 🙂
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Um. Well, I think I’ll just take it as a medical miracle, and wish them both joy 🙂
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Thank you for your understanding comment, Linda. I feel exactly the same way about it!
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A low sperm count doesn’t equal no sperm count: I’m going to take this as a happy ending to an otherwise distressing situation! Great turnaround, Penny.
pax,
dora
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Dora. I agree with you, but first I shall burn the letter!
Pax
Penny
xx
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Well….that was VERY very good!
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Thank you for such a warm comment, Ain.
I read your story, and think it’s first class. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to like or comment on it. I signed up (reluctantly) and then got redirected somewhere else.
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Poor Trevor. I felt his pain reading this story. I hope, for all their sakes, it’s a medical miracle rather than the alternative.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Flower. We may never know whether or not Trevor is the biological father; I can’t see him having a DNA test done, can you?
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No. I think he’d rather believe the best of Fiona. A truly sacrificial love.
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Penny, perfect title. Clever weaving of what shaped up to be a danged complicated situation. There are so many ways this one could go. I, the eternal optimist, believe the baby is his, the god of the universe being kind.
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Thank you for your careful reading and thoughtful comment, Jade. I agree with your judgment that the baby is his.
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You’re very welcome ❤
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Time for a DNA test, perhaps?
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Thank you for commenting, Fandango. If I were Trevor, I don’t think I would have a DNA test. I would rather take the child on trust as a wonderful miracle. But, each to their own!
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Wish he hadn’t got the letter or read it.
The doubt may remain in his mind.
Tests on the baby can confirm whether he is the real father.
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Thank you for your detailed comment, Anita. There are many ways the story could unfold. I like the possibility that Trevor will prefer to accept the child as his own without saying anything to Fiona.
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A tale of mixed emotions. There must be a question or two running through his mind now.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Keith. I agree about the mixed emotions and the questions. I’m hoping he accepts the child as his own without saying anything to Fiona about his fertility test.
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Dear Penny,
It only takes one of those little tadpoles. 😉 Although I see from the comments that perhaps it wasn’t your intent. Either way a good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for your kind comment. As you say, it only takes one. However, you’re right that my intention was to write an ambiguous story. After all, although it only takes one tadpole, it also only takes one infidelity. Deep down, I wonder…no, I won’t say here! I think I’ll write a parallel story that will run with this one.
Shalom
Penny
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Well when you need to put a nail into a coffin might as well make it two. A DNA test will in my opinion prove the hospital’s diagnose wrong. I always look on the bright side, occasionally.Great piece.
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Thank you for your compassionate comment. I think maybe Trevor will take it on trust and not have a DNA test done. After all, what could be a worse way of telling your wife you thought she was unfaithful?
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miracles do happen. let’s keep it that way. 🙂
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Thank you for your considerate comment, Plaridel. Yes, miracles do sometimes happen.
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I was going to say “never say never” but I see from some of the comments that it might not be his… 😦
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Thank you for commenting, Ali. It’s quite possible that Trevor isn’t the biological father; then again, he may be…
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Oh, Penny! How often I wished I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.
Decisions must be made. The comments were also fun reads. So many “want” there to be no hanky-panky. Would it add spice or tragedy to the tale? Great story!
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Oooo, ouch, that bites! What an awkward situation. Great story, though.
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I often read the posts in a ad hoc way. I got to your first post second. So be it
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