Friday Fictioneers: Beating Heart

Posted on by Louise Bunting

This is my entry for this week’s Friday Fictioneers Challenge run by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s picture prompt was provided by Raina NG. The challenge is to write a story within 100 words.

Photo Prompt: © Raina NG
Photo Prompt: © Raina NG

Beating Heart

Mary’s gaze swept the kitchen one final time as she prepared to leave. The room was imbued with a lifetime of memories.

Sometimes it seemed only yesterday that she and Bobby danced to the wireless, newlywed, their future unbounded. Soon children played underfoot: laughing, crying, squabbling; growing through each youthful phase. Years slid by and teenage moods faded into mature conversations, culminating in an emptiness that only her husband’s steady presence eased.

She remembered weeping, lost in grief with Bobby’s ashes clasped to her chest, children and grandchildren surrounding her.

“It’s time,” Bobby whispered. She turned and took his hand.

Word Count: 100

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FIC

52 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers: Beating Heart”

  3. Really sad…I could picture her standing there not wanting to leave and wishing she could turn back time and enjoy those happy times again! She will always have her sweet memories with her though. Great story.

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  7. A grand and beautiful love story with life’s loves centered forever in memories. She is going to be with her heart. So, so nicely conceived and written.

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    1. Thank you, Frank. 🙂 I’m very happy you liked it. I had to work last night so had to rush to finish it before leaving the house. I would have liked to have spent a little longer polishing it – in case you haven’t realised yet I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my writing!

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  8. I agree with the sentiments of all the previous comments. Am wondering, though, is Mary alive and hearing his ghost, or is she dead and going off with him for eternity? Either way, great story!

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    1. I’m happy for it to be interpreted either way ( I like multiple interpretations!) but if I had to choose one I’d say that she’s just died and is saying goodbye to life before joining Bobby in the afterlife. Thanks for visiting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂

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  15. A very moving piece, and I read it as though she had died and was about to move onto the next life with her husband.
    Though life can be described as a giant roller coaster, it can link to another, and form an attachment.

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    1. I love the thought of couples who grow old together – but ultimately there must be a sad ending. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.

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  24. A sad sweet story. Mary and Bobby sound like the perfect couple. After I read the comments I went back to the beginning of the story and thought the opening sentence (preparing to leave) was perfect.

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