PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
On Christmas Eve morning, Richard heard the iron gates of Ionia Prison slam shut behind him. He walked two miles to the bus depot, then rubbed life back into his now-numb hands before buying a ticket to Montague.
Richard stopped for a cuppajoe, then went to the cemetery, where he visited his folks. He hopped a local bus to White Lake and walked to the gazebo.
Snow dusted the area. He sat down. Without looking, Richard’s hand went to their carved initials on the wall. Noticing crystals forming on the water, he wondered if he’d be able to find her…
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the steady host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Such wistfulness… I hope he does. (Without knowing what crime he committed, of course…)
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Thank you, Dale.
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I’m not sure. I’m kinda hoping he can’t find her…
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I’m glad you caught the ambiguity there.
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Very ambiguous story. The absence of explicit good intentions in your story implies the opposite…I hope she’s nowhere around and that he doesn’t find her! If she wanted to be found, she’d have kept in touch while he was in prison.
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Astute assessment, Penny!
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Well if his intentions are good I hope he finds her…as long as he didn’t stop at a store to buy duct tape and chloroform.
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lol
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Well you didn’t hint much toward dark…I just had to steer it there a little lol.
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I left it open on purpose, for whoever is reading to fill in the blanks. We see where your mind took it ;)
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Yep! My mind automatically does stuff like that…and it gets me in trouble when I don’t filter.
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lol. Just messin with ya.
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A chilling story, Jade. Beautifully and subtly executed
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Neil, thank you very much.
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Intriguing beginning.
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Thank you, Mitch.
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You’re so good at creating the perfect environment for your stories Li.
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Thank you, Sadje, very kind words.
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You’re welcome 😉
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He’s out, he’s done the memories thing and now he’s coming for her…
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I think, if she’s smart, she disappeared from him on purpose. That simple fact that he doesn’t know where she is says that she’s afraid of him, and that he means her no good.
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Yes, Linda, all of the above!
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Dear Lisa,
You leave me wondering if she wants to be found. Vivid details. I could feel the cold in my own fingers.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Shalom,
Lisa
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We don’t know the before, but I hope the after is a good one for all concerned. (K)
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I hope time in prison has given him time to think about things…
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after a long absence, she has moved on. there’s no sense of trying to find her anymore.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Plaridel. I tend to agree with you.
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Oh, he’s up to no good. Great take on the prompt!
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Thank you, Russell! I think you’re right.
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The intriguing start of a great story. engaging and left me wanting more.
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Paul, thank you. It could be a good start, maybe it will.
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Maybe indeed :)
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Mysterious. I’m not sure I want him to find her. I imagine she doesn’t want him to either. Nicely told beginning of a much longer tale! =)
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Thanks Brenda!
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I wonder, would she want to see him?
Intriguing set up here.
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Thanks, Laurie. I’m thinking of continuing the story; if not in FF, elsewhere.
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I like the way you build up the story Jade, I felt drawn in, and wanting to know what happened next. Nicely done.
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Thanks and glad you liked it, WWM :)
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Feels like the start of a much bigger story – so much left to tell! As others have said, a wonderful sense of ambiguity there. Fabulous
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Happy you enjoyed the story, thank you!
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My pleasure :)
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:)
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Ah to many questions, where is she, and why was he in prison..
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Yes and yes.
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Love it. I’m rooting for him. Almost wonder if there’s a yellow ribbon there somewhere . . .
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You never know ;) Sorry for the late response, I just found your comment in my spam folder.
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You’ve told us so much without spelling it out… I feel a chill imagining what he may have done or will do. Excellent storytelling, Li.
Merry Christmas!
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Magarisa thank you :) Happy Holidays to You!
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You’re welcome, Li. Happy Holidays to you too!
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I enjoyed the unanswered question, I believe if she wanted to be found she would waiting outside the prison gate.
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I believe you’re right — if he’s the man he was when he went to prison…
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a great story! Loved it! <3
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Thank you :)
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