This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. This week’s photo prompt was provided by TJ Paris. Thank you TJ! The challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. I hope you like it.
Flutterby
Sometimes she forgot that the world kept turning. Her own life had frozen in a single moment of despair. Annabelle gazed out over the bare field, a veil of tears obscuring her view as memories taunted her mind. It seemed only yesterday the place had brimmed with life: brightly coloured wildflowers swarming with insects; long grasses swaying in the breeze. Now the meadow was as empty as her existence.
Only a lone butterfly drifted along the hedgerow.
Nova had always loved to run among the flowers, the tattered wings of her fairy costume trailing behind her as she chased butterflies from blossom to blossom. Her joyous laughter had filled the air. “Mummy look! I’m a flutterby!” she’d called.
Annabelle choked back a sob, trembling fingers swiping away tears. Dark bruises had marred pale flesh. How could she not have known? It was a mother’s job to protect her child – how could she have failed so abysmally?
The butterfly landed on her hand, tattered wings aglow in golden light. “Mummy look! I’m a flutterby!” she heard.
Word Count: 175
I’ve always loved the symbolism of butterflies. Mostly this relates to themes of transformation and movement from one phase of life to the next. They’re also said to symbolise joy and the soul, among a number of other things. This story, however, was mainly inspired by a line on this website that states that in some parts of England the folklore has it that butterflies contain the souls of dead children brought back to life.
The story was also inspired by one of my favourite places to sit and write – the wildflower meadow in the village. This picture was taken in August:
and this was taken two days ago, on the same walk as yesterday’s Wordless Wednesday picture:
It gives a rather different view!
In case anyone didn’t see the note on this week’s MFtS, I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo this year so my blogging will be slowing down over the next few weeks and during November will reduce to only the occasional photography post and writing update. I’ll be working on the first draft of a fantasy novel called ‘Age of the Dragonlords’, an idea that’s been sat in a file on my computer for several years now and really needs writing! If I don’t manage to get to your blog over the next few days, I’m not ignoring you – I’m just distracted by planning out my characters’ exploits. 🙂
Good take on prompt. Disturbing subject, well related in story
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Thank you. 🙂 It’s not a pleasant subject to write about but that line on the website about the symbolism of butterflies wouldn’t leave my mind!
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The subject gives an emotional tie to that butterfly.
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I loved the story Louise! “Mommy, I’m a flutterby.” I felt sorry for the mother feeling like she had failed her child upon seeing the ragged edges of her wings. It is a great piece of writing. It certainly engaged me completely! The wildflower picture is really beautiful! I will understand next month that you are very busy and I wish you the best of luck with NaNoWriMo!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, PJ. 🙂 Hopefully ‘ll be back to the challenge in December! Thanks for visiting.
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I’ll miss reading you stories and best of luck for November 🙂
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Thank you, Madeeha. Hopefully I’ll be back in December. I’ll miss spending time on the blog and visiting everyone’s posts!
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Lovely tale Louise and enjoyed your back up story about the significance of butterflies…..beautifully done…
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Thanks, Michael. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂 I’ve always loved the symbolism of butterflies.
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It was good as I didn’t know about all that, so I learned something new today and its only 8.30 am….
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A day where you learn something new is always a good day. 😀
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I found your story heart breaking. That poor mother, the flutterbye thing was just so cute, I think that would be a hard memory to forget. Thanks also for the additional info it helped a lot with visualizing it. Great job!
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Sorry for breaking your heart. It’s a story that wouldn’t leave me alone. I’m glad you enjoyed it and the extra bits too. 🙂
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A sad tale indeed. I hope she finds a way to forgive herself.
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I hope so to – she doesn’t deserve to carry such a heavy burden of guilt. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Mmm, I don’t know how or when she’ll come to forgive herself, but I hope she does. You kept my attention throughout the piece. This subject beats on my heart (especially with the repeated line of “Mummy, look! I’m a flutterby” :’-( ). I had to reread it to take in every word, punctuation, and space. It’s simultaneously too much but not enough, and I love it! Thank you for writing and sharing this with us, even though you broke our hearts ❤
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Very deep and emotional story. Butterfly with battered wings just like her girl. Well written.
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Thank you, Ineke. 🙂 From the minute I read about the folklore connecting butterflies with the reborn spirits of dead children this story wouldn’t leave my head.
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It is so beautifully written. I had a lump in my throat after reading it.:)
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Thank you, Ineke. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.
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Oh, I love that bit of folklore and how you used it! Heart-breaking stuff, Louise!
I’m participating in NaNoWriMo, too. I’m rebelling this year because I have to finish my Scarlett rewrite…
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Well done with the symbolism. It seems the child met with a tragic end?
I am jealous of the wildflower meadow. It’s dreamy. Good luck in November with NanoWriMo
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. I’ve always been fascinated by symbolism and include elements of it whenever I can. 🙂 Unfortunately the child did meet a tragic end, though I’ll leave the details of that to your imagination.
The wildflower meadow is a beautiful place that is a new addition to the village. It used to be a farmer’s field but was given to the village just last year to be turned into an area for wildlife. There are benches all around the edge of it and paths through the middle. Just behind it is a little wooded area with a stream running through. It’s my favourite place to go. 🙂
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I like reading the symbolism and learn something when you take the time to explain it as well. The meadow looks and sounds idyllic.
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Lovely pictures and a great story too.
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I’m glad you liked it, Norma. I was going to post pictures of the wildflower meadow for the ‘happy place’ weekly photo challenge a few weeks ago but never found the time to put it all together. I was determined to use at least one of the pictures in a post! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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I know sometimes we just have the right picture to share but no time…but then there will be other times. Just keep clicking and enjoying. 🙂
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Mummy am a flutterby. Sad but beautiful.
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Thank you, Chioma. 🙂
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The story is so sad. 😦 Written with emotion that I felt when reading it. I get the meaning and the effect of it, and enjoyed reading it. Best of luck on your fantasy novel. ):
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I’ve always felt that emotion is one of the most important things in a story. I remember reading a novel many years ago (I was probably in my early teens) and crying my eyes out when the character’s mother died. I didn’t even like the mother but it had been so well written that I couldn’t help but feel the emotions of the main character. I decided then and there that I wanted to be the sort of author who could create that effect! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, Jessie. 🙂
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Speaking of that…I use to wonder how a person could read a book and …cry. One day I found out. I read that certain book that had an unbelieveable hold on my emotions and I sat there crying and feeling foolish along with being happy that I was alone at the time. 🙂
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Well, so much for hitting the right keys! ….should show 🙂
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😀
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Beautifully done Louise!! All of the best for this weekend!
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I’m glad you liked it, Aletta. 🙂 And I’ve had a great weekend, thanks – though I spent Saturday (my actual birthday) with a hangover after the night out with my brothers and sister on Friday. They all drink far more regularly than me yet expect me to keep up with them!
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Sad story about an abused mother and child. You made the connections very well between the image and your story.
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Thank you, Deborah. It’s a hard subject to write about but sometimes a story just insists on being written. I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Gorgeous photos and a beautiful story, though so sad
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It’s a story that wouldn’t leave my head until I’d written it out! I’m glad you liked both it and the photographs. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Very sad. Interesting correlation between the daughter’s name, Nova, and that the butterfly’s wings glowing on her hand just before hearing her daughter’s words. Best of luck with your writing next month!!
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I’m very glad you enjoyed it. I liked the name Nova for various reasons – the glow is one of them but I also liked that it means ‘chases butterflies’ in Hopi / Native American. Thank you for visiting. 🙂
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Huh, isn’t that interesting…very clever! 🙂
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Thanks. 🙂 I like to give characters names that have meaning – even though usually I’m the only person who knows about it!
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That’s ok, it’s your little secret to yourself, that’s what makes it so special to you! 🙂
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🙂
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