Here’s this week’s entry into Monday’s Finish the Story flash fiction challenge, run by Barbara W. Beacham. This challenge gives you a picture prompt and the first line and asks that you finish the story in 100-150 words. The given line is in italics.

The Medium
The only residents remaining in the small town of Miners Hill are spirits.
David can sense them, frissons of chill on the edge of his awareness, but still they fail to approach. No voices echo through the veil. Silence reigns.
The spirits used to speak so clearly, passing on messages for their loved ones. He’d built a career on it – with their constant clamour he could do little else.
But then they’d stopped.
After several days without communication he’d attempted to regain contact: only to fail, no matter what he tried. Whispers of ‘guesswork’ and ‘fraud’ began circulating as he struggled to keep business running, touching nerves as never before – but then, such whispers had never before been true.
Visiting Miners Hill was a last resort. Previously the cacophony of voices vying for his attention in such a place might have driven him to madness. Now he just longed to hear them again.
It was hard to remember how he’d begged for quiet.
Word Count: 150
To read other entries or to submit your own, click the little blue frog.
love the irony!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s a very ironic situation. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicely done story. We never know the value of things when we have it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ansumani. 🙂 It’s an unfortunate truth that we take things for granted and only miss them when they’re gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes me think of that saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” I feel sorry for him that he has had to put up with listening to them for years and when he finally makes a business out of it, they leave him. Now, when he stops his business, they will come back. Louise, if you have the time, I would love for you to participate in Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. I’m trying to get this flash fiction challenge off the ground.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you PJ. And I already do – though I never manage to get my FFfAW post up before Thursday! My Mum (Millie Thom) also participates. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh! I didn’t know Millie was your mum! That’s awesome! That tickles me pink because I just adore Millie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and I adore you too Louise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
:o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t know what you got till it’s gone, or so they say. ‘ frissons of chill on the edge of his awareness’ is a lovely line and captures his desperation well. Excellent stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sonya! I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done. I got the “careful what you wish for” thing as well. Cacophony is such a nice word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Nice story…. certainly an example of not appreciating what you have , until after you lose it. I guess they knew he was ungrateful so they left him with his own demise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they probably grew rather bored of his constant complaining. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
He must have done something to piss off the spirits! Well done! I truly enjoyed your story! Thank you again for your contribution and I hope that you will return… Be well…. ^..^
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a possibility. Or it could be that they felt sorry for him or grew sick of listening to his whinging. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great! Very nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely. In a short space, you have packed in lot of stuff. loved the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lata. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
I love the irony of the story!! Great work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good dose of irony can always be enjoyable. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would make my living in another way than going around with tons of voices in my head…:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think David might have to do so! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice story. Once we’re used to something, it’s hard to let it go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is unfortunately true. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
LikeLike
Spirits obviously don’t like being profited done. Love the ironic telling of this tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely not. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
Made me think of so many things I would love to change or ignore. Hope I don’t wake up like David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Be careful what you wish for! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the irony in your story. Poor David. He just didn’t give the spirits the right treatment. They can be touchy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe they’ll forgive him eventually! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
LikeLike
I hope so, especially since his living depends on it — I see a reality show in the future. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t miss your water until the well runs dry. Perhaps he should have found a way to repay them since he was making a living by speaking with dead. Nicely done…as usual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank. 🙂 Maybe he’ll find a way of regaining communication some day and will be able to make it up to them.
LikeLike
Beautifully written, such a poignant story of abandonment when we take things for granted.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
LikeLike
I think David better take up another line of work. Maybe the spirits don’t like the fact he’s using them to make his living. He’ll have to adjust. Well done, Louise. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
He will have to adjust. It doesn’t look like the spirits are going to be speaking to him again any time soon. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
LikeLike