FFfAW: Paradise

Posted on by Louise Bunting

This post if for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. This week’s picture was provided by Sonya O of Only 100 Words. The challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. Here’s my entry.  I hope you like it.

Photo Prompt: © Sonya O.
Photo Prompt: © Sonya O.

Paradise

Even after the heartache of recent events, the beauty hidden beneath the ocean’s surface still brought her peace. Every morning she swam to the reef that encircled the island, where fish darted in streaks of vibrant colour between delicate coral structures. With net in hand and a crudely woven basket over her shoulder she caught her meals for the day.

Henry had called her obsessed, had accused her of loving the sea more than she did him. He was probably right.

She’d developed her fascination as a child, joyously unwrapping the book on marine life on Christmas morning. It was her parents’ final gift before the accident that killed them.

She couldn’t help but wonder what had become of her treasured text. Henry had no reason to keep it. He’d made his feelings quite clear when he left her treading water, their yacht dwindling on the horizon.

The loss of the book was her only real regret.

Other people might find being stranded alone on an island an unbearable situation – to her, it was paradise.

Word Count: 175

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38 thoughts on “FFfAW: Paradise”

  1. Loved it! Especially the ending because it tied everything together and made a great twist! I can easily see her swimming and catching her meals and loving every moment of it. Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Great story! Sometimes the simplest things can keep a person happy. One person’s misery, could be another person’s happiness…everyone has their own idea of happiness.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. What a treasure of a story! Knocked me off my center, that’s for sure! Super Duper! You have definitely been in the Chocolate again, Louise. Took a big morset this time….lol. Great work. Great work.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. The only thing she missed was a book, probably sold in a yard sale or tossed in the trash. I hope the book is recovered as you made the character very alive. The “what 3 things would you bring to a deserted isle” or more specific such as “What music . . ” etc.
    Wonderful character, wonderful story. 🙂
    “

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    1. Thank you! Henry would definitely have got rid of the book, along with the rest of her possessions, as soon as he could. I’d like to think that it might have been found by someone else who loves it as much as she did. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.

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  12. I think I can relate. With enough supplies to live and a collection of books, a life on a desert island might seem more like paradise rather than exile to me. Nice story.

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