An Enchanted Place

I have been nominated by Nowathome to participate in the 5 Day Black and White Challenge and by Lrod to participate in the 5 photos – 5 days challenge.

Here’s my picture for day 1:

 Seeking Shelter

They finally stumbled into the barn, windblown and muddied, as the first droplets of rain began to fall.

“We’re here, Jamie,” Annie murmured into his ear as she lowered him to rest against the wall. “We made it, you hear?”

Jamie’s reply was an unintelligible mumble. Annie sighed, brushing the hair back from his pain-drawn face. She didn’t know how he’d remained conscious for as long as he had. For the last part of their trek she’d carried far more of his weight than was really bearable, but he’d fought constantly to retain awareness, to keep putting one foot in front of the other. His refusal to quit was one of the qualities she most loved about him.

Their day had started so well: a romantic picnic and the question she’d been so eagerly awaiting. It had been pure bliss.

It was as they walked back to town that the nightmare began. Jamie had been laughing, joking as he always did; not paying attention to the route he walked. His foot had landed on loose stone, sliding out from beneath him. Before Annie could even gasp, he’d fallen, tumbling down the slope to land in a crumpled heap below. Blood streamed from a gash on the back of his head. His ankle was clearly broken.

On the horizon storm clouds had gathered.

With his arm looped over her shoulder they made their way to the nearest shelter. It was a trip of barely two miles; it had felt more like twenty.

Annie knew, though, that for her it was not yet over. She had seen injuries like that on Jamie’s head before. He needed a doctor, and fast.

“I need to get to town,” she told him. “I need to fetch help.” She didn’t know whether he registered her words. He mumbled something, his hand tugging weakly at her’s, but his eyes were glassy and unfocussed. Placing a kiss on his brow she rose to her feet and headed out into the storm.

***

Jamie’s body was found the following morning by farmer Oldham as he checked on his cattle. It was several days later before they found Annie. It was generally agreed by all present that she had fallen, lost in the storm.

The gash on her head was identical to that on Jamie’s.

They say that sometimes you can hear them laughing, together, there in the old barn. And that during storms you can hear them weeping.

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I’m not really happy with this story but as I want to get it up today (and it’s already 11.55pm) it will have to do. I’ve been out at work all day today with little time to write – usually I’d spend several more hours editing! Tomorrow I have little to do other than write so hopefully I’ll be happier with my day 2 offering.

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The rules of the challenge are:
1) post a black & white photo daily for 5 days
2) Invite someone different to participate each day.

I have also been nominated by Lrod to participate in the 5 Photos – 5 Days Challenge

The rules of this challenge are:

1) To post a photo every day for 5 days
2) To write a story to accompany your photo for 5 days (this can be fiction or non-fiction, a page, a paragraph or a poem)
3) To nominate a different person each day

My nomination for day 1 is the lovely Carrie at The Shady Tree. There is no obligation to accept the challenge but if you wish to do so you can choose to do the 5 Day Black and White Challenge, the 5 Photos – 5 Stories Challenge or a combination of the two as I have done. Enjoy. 🙂

Just realised that this is my 100th post! Yay!