This story is in response to the Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, hosted by Alistair Forbes, that asks that you write a story in 100-200 words.
Runaway
Jacob fiddled nervously with his hood as the train pulled into King’s Cross, excitement and apprehension warring in his chest. It was over seven years since he’d last visited London: then a child of eight, secure in his parent’s loving care.
Memories from that day could still bring a smile.
He remembered his mum’s laughter, light and carefree, as Dad clowned before Buckingham Palace’s straight-faced guards. They’d ridden on the London Eye, marvelling at the city sprawled below, and later watched in amazement as Tower Bridge opened for the passage of a tall-masted ship.
A week later his world had disintegrated in a cacophony of screeching metal and agonised cries. Only he was pulled free from their vehicle’s tangled wreckage.
He left the station carried in the crowd’s wake – keeping his head down, avoiding curious gazes. He wanted, needed, the anonymity offered by the city. For too long he’d been the problem child with the scarred face, shunted from home to home, recipient of derisive words and cruel blows.
As dusk settled over the city he took shelter in a doorway, hugging the rucksack containing every treasured possession close to his chest.
No one would be looking for him.
Word Count: 200
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An Enchanted Place 
so sad – but good!
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Thank you. 🙂
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Such a wonderful story but so sad. It tells how things can change in an instant.
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You never know where life may take you. I would have liked to have included another change for the better at the end but I ran out of words!
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I know that feeling! LOL
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It’s such a good written story and very deep! Good job
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Thanks. 🙂 I would have liked to add a lot more but ran out of words! I’m glad you liked it.
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Yes sometimes small posts are the hardest ones to make:)
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A good emotionally painful story. A terrible way to end up living. Especially after the loss of your parents. It great that he could still smile at the happier times.
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He’s not had a happy life. I actually wanted to end on a more positive note but would have needed quite a few more words to get there! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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That was a very tragic story. I was expecting trolls under a bridge or something 🙂
Very well written, I really empathised with him.
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I thought I’d stay away from the fantasy for this one! Thanks for reading. 🙂
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sad for this poor child! His life changed in one second 😦
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He’s not had much go right for him over the past few years and unfortunately it doesn’t look like things will be improving any time soon. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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I really hope! 🙂
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Heartbreaking and very sad. He has to find someone who really cares, there must be someone! Good story
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I’d like to think so. I’d wanted to end with him meeting a person like that but unfortunately just couldn’t fit it in the word limit. You never know, I might revisit Jacob in another story someday… 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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Yes, I know as soon as you are really enjoy writing the story you have to stop because word count is full.
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Exactly! And there’s only so much you can edit out!
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