FFfAW: Creations Studio

Posted on by Louise Bunting

This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy.  The FFfAW challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. This week’s prompt was provided by Uday . Thank you Uday!

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Photo Prompt: © Uday

Creations Studio

The moment Tessa saw the strange doorway her world shifted out of focus. Thoughts stumbled, mired in tar; her surroundings faded to insignificance. She moved through a dreamlike haze, footsteps drawn inexorably closer until fingertips brushed wood. The door opened before her and she stepped inside. 

“What do you wish to create?” a voice intoned.

Tessa’s mind cleared. Heart racing and mouth suddenly dry, she retreated as a figure emerged from the shadows. “I… What?”

“All who find this place have something they wish to create.”

Images flashed, unbidden, through Tessa’s mind: a partner by her side; a child in her arms; a happy, loving family. It was as if the album of her deepest desires was rifled through by curious fingers.

“Ah. A perfect life.” The figure appeared at her side. Bony fingers touched her forehead.

The world dissolved.

+++

“You coming, Tess?”

Michael’s voice jolted Tessa from her revery. Smiling, she scooped their daughter into her arms and hurried to his side.

“Beware,” a voice whispered, “for even a perfect image bears shadows.”

Word Count: 175

To read the other entries, click the little blue frog!

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30 thoughts on “FFfAW: Creations Studio”

  1. Aww, why can’t we have a place like that in the real world? Haha, perhaps one just hasn’t found it yet, like the story says, only those with something to create. 🙂 Nicely told.

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  2. Wow! GREAT story! I really was “into” this story! It pulled me right in. I didn’t want it to end. One of my favorite sentences is, “It was as if the album of her deepest desires was rifled through by curious fingers.” And the ending gave me the shivers. Wonderful story!

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    1. Thank you, PJ! I had to cut a lot out of this one to get it down to the word limit – I was determined not to get rid of that line! I’m very glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

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  5. Wonderful story. A great thing to create your own desires, even if though they may bear shadows. Nothing is perfect, not even if you create it to perfection….there are too many variables in life that change things.

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    1. I’m glad you like it, Jessie. 🙂 Perfection is one of those things that people strive for that remains constantly out of reach. Hopefully Tessa will manage to still find happiness even if her new life isn’t the perfect one she dreamed of.

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  8. Wow! A perfect world – her wish! But “something this way comes!” Great take on the prompt!

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  9. What a wonderful story! You had me from the beginning. I love, too, that it ended with a warning about imperfections in a perfect life.

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  11. I love the note of warning at the end to offset the rest of the story. There may be troubles ahead…
    Now I’m worried about the life she left behind and what might have changed for others as a consequence… 🙂

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