#FF — The Reach of Winter Solstice


PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Winter solstice always reaches its fingers out, one hand into the past and one towards the future. I hear a crow’s caw and wonder from which it comes. Eddie’s scent lingers in the closet. His social media status changed back to “in a relationship.” He posts he’s spending Christmas in Mexico with his “new hottie.” Couldn’t he have the mercy to block me?

I’m on my morning walk with Chauncey. The pond isn’t frozen, but a big storm is predicted. If I jump in tonight, they won’t find my body until Spring.

But then who will feed and walk Chauncey?

[100 words]

Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the festive host of Friday Fictioneers.

Advertisement

50 Comments Add yours

  1. Carol anne says:

    great story Li! 🙂 Loved it! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Carol Anne 🙂

      Like

  2. James McEwan says:

    A character driven story that has an emotional dilemma which I have often felt. I relish being an old treasure rather than a ‘new hottie’. I know that refers to a woman, but men feel those depressive moods as well. It is wonderful that a pet dog does provide a sense of comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      James I appreciate your thoughtful comment. I couldn’t be a hottie if I tried these days. I do know that furbabies keep a lot of people going and believe they are angels.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. GHLearner says:

    A wonderful story, Lisa. Hotties are overrated and so is that Ex, but Chauncey saves the day. Pets do that, they don’t lie.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Gabi ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  4. calmkate says:

    wow thank heavens for Chauncey … you painted this so well Lisa!

    Enjoy your festive season 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Kate, furbabies are gifts from heaven. Thank you and you also!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Anonymous says:

    A dog’s love is unconditional

    Liked by 1 person

  6. dorahak says:

    Everybody should have a Chauncey especially for times like this! As long as there’s love, there’s hope. Just the Christmas story we need to hear. Have a wonderful Christmas, Lisa!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Dora, I like the way you think. And the way you feel. Happy Holidays, my friend ❤

      Like

  7. Danny James says:

    Don’t abandon Chauncey!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Sadje says:

    A poignant story Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Sadje, thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Tannille says:

    Sometimes it’s only one little thing that keeps people from falling off the edge. This time of year is hard for many! Potent story L.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thank you very much, T.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Thanks to Chauncey, there is a future.

    Wishing you the Happiest Holidays ever!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Keith, thanks very much. Little Chaun passed on 6 years ago, but his joyful spirit lives on.

      Like

  11. granonine says:

    I’m way past whatever “hottie” days I may have had, but your story brought back memories of heartbreak and sadness that I thought would never go away. The good news? They did!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Linda, I’m glad the story resonated with you. Thank you for your wise and seasoned comment ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Thank god for Chauncey.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. poetisatinta says:

    No don’t jump – read my story see what she did!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      OK she won’t! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Sandra says:

    It sounds as though the dog is an anchor in your narrator’s world. I hope she’s soon able to move on.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Sandra, at some times more than others. I think you’re right, it is time. Thank you for reading and your comment ❤

      Like

  15. Dear Lisa,

    Perhaps she should block Eddie. He sounds like a waste of human skin. Thank heaven for Chauncey. Move on, girlfriend! Well done, LIsa.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Rochelle, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Yes, thank heaven for the little bugger. I hope she listens and decides to move on. Thank you, dear Rochelle.
      Shalom,
      Lisa

      Like

  16. Bill says:

    Great story with an interesting POV. The need to be needed is not so bad. Well done, again, Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Bill, thank you so much, and happy holidays to you.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. notestowomen says:

    A positive ending to what could have otherwise been a tragic one. Your story brings home the fact that God can intervene in our lives through animals as well as people. I agree that this time of year can be sad for many but your story ends on a high note. Have a Merry Christmas, Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      A wonderful and wise comment and totally agree.

      Like

  18. pennygadd51 says:

    Well told, Lisa. Your description of the solstice places your protagonist at the cusp of a decision. Will she act on the past, or look to the future? The crow, ever a bird of ill-omen, sends a shudder through us. Then Chauncey saves the day! And we’ve every right to imagine that she can now move on from the emotional morass in which she has been struggling. Lovely use of setting to emphasize the story arc.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Penny, thank you very much for your wonderful feedback. Much appreciated. Happy Holidays to You.

      Like

  19. Nobbinmaug says:

    Chauncey’s a life-saver. Like the solstice, things can only get brighter from there. I really like the way you wrote this. It unfolded well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Yes he was/is. Thanks, Nobbin.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I love that your stories capture so much in only a hundred words. Chauncey saves the day! Nice one. 👍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Brit!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Your stories are so very slice of lie! In a mere 100 words, you explore and wonderfully so human emotions especially te frailties of humans.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Neel, thank you very much and so happy you find the human element in my stories resonant. As a frail human, I write what I know and feel.

      Like

  22. Dale says:

    Thank goodness for Chauncey. Ain’t no man (or woman) worth dying over… Hopefully she “unfriends” him so she no longer sees what he’s doing. It serves her no purpose.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thanks for your sensitive and wise comment, Dale. She should listen to it and follow it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale says:

        My pleasure. I hope she does. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  23. plaridel says:

    for the sake of chauncey, don’t do it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.