The Message – #Writephoto

I followed the waterline not knowing where it would take me. My mind was ignorant to the goose bumps that covered my body tortured by the cold sea breeze. I swallowed the rage, but in doing so tears brimmed, then in the wind trickled their way down my cheek. I twisted my sleeves then swiped at the wetness. The one tortured word echoing over and over… Why!

 

Blue – Image by Sue Vincent

 

Ten years. Our life together had been ten years. Ups and downs like everyone but ten years strong… or so I had thought. How could I have been treated this way? Rage flashed once more. I looked at the pebbles of the beach. Kicked at one, squatted down and picked up another launching it far into the ocean. The force caused my body to twist until I realised a little further along the coast someone stood watching. They carried a small light barely visible in the gloomy sky. I couldn’t make out the face but I had no doubt the eyes were watching me.

As I stared the stranger raised a gloved hand and beckoned me towards him. Without thinking I started to cover the distance between us. Within a few steps, the stranger had turned and walked further away. I put my head down against the wind and hurried my steps to catch up but the stranger always managed to remain a few steps ahead. Eventually, the sand gave way to a grassy embankment that the locals had put a bench atop of. The stranger seemed to be making his way towards that marker. I ran as fast as I could with the wind whipping against me, finally reaching the bench exhausted. I glanced around to see if the stranger was anywhere nearby but there was nothing.

Exhausted I threw myself down onto the bench. The wind whipped about me chasing a shiver down my spine and I turned around still searching. Looking back out towards the brilliant blue sky, something rustled against my feet. I bent down and picked it up, it was a crumpled up note. I unfolded it and inside were the words “I love you. I miss you. Come home.” Looking out at the blue my hands unconsciously followed the folds of the paper, smoothing them over and over. Then with a heave, I levered myself off the bench and headed home.

 

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My response to Sue’s wonderful photo prompt combined with Daily Posts treat challenge. If you want to give Sue’s prompt a go too, head over to Sue’s Page Thursday Photo Prompt – Blue – and join in the prompt. KL ❤

Nessie – #writephoto

She had left the house, tears streaming down her face once again. But she allowed no noise to escape. She would not feel weak, not feel helpless, allowing the noise to escape would be admitting defeat. She had held it all together, been holding it all together for months as business had got quieter and quieter. Who could blame the visitors, there had been nothing here for years. Sure it was a beautiful drive, and when the weather was hot you couldn’t help but want to be near the cool blue water of the loch.

Science. She could blame science. People no longer wanted to believe in magic, the supernatural, the unknown. When she was a child she had listened in wonder at the stories the grown-ups told, kids these days scoffed and headed to their phones to the internet, they forgot to enjoy the present. That magic could lift your heart just a little even if it wasn’t true. These days it seemed to be gone.

She lifted her legs heavily climbing up the hillside away from the loch. Away from her sleeping, snoring, drunken husband. She blamed him too. Once their little bar had been the busiest on the loch, people loved to stop in for a drink and a chat. She had loved it too, but as things grew quieter her husband’s patience had grown thin and when she could no longer offer him comfort he turned to the bottle. She’d never admit it, but that hurt her too.

She found the quiet place she was looking for and sat down, watching the slow moving fog above the loch. The sun was barely visible. What time was sunrise? She couldn’t remember, yet the darkness wasn’t carrying its usual weight, it felt fresh. The crisp cold air made her salty wet tears sting a little on her face, but she liked it. Reminded her to feel. As her eyes followed the lazy movement of the cloud a lump formed in the middle. She rubbed her eyes, certain the tears and tiredness had got to her, but when a second hump appeared she knew what she was seeing. What she always longed to see. Nessie.

She reached in her pocket and pulled out her mobile phone, her gaze never leaving the shadowed form amongst the fog. Lifting the phone high in front of her she swiped the little screen and the light of the camera came on. Drat! She knew having the flash on wouldn’t work so she pulled the little screen towards her to fumble with the setting, her heart now beating fast that the sight before her would disappear. Cautiously she clicked. Just to be certain she clicked again. Then before her very eyes, the two lumps disappeared, back down into the fog, back down into the loch, back to the legend.

She stood up and raced down the hillside, it was a sign, she knew it. A sign her struggle had been worth it. When people saw her photo they couldn’t not believe. What else could it be? Nessie.

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My response to Sue’s wonderful photo prompt. Sorry Sue, couldn’t resist with this photo, definitely something mysterious about it! I loved it. 🙂

If you want to give the prompt a go too, head over to Sue’s Page Thursday Photo Prompt – Twilight #writephoto and join in the prompt. KL ❤

Circling Above – #writephoto

The sound woke me. My head throbbed as the screeching sounds pierced my brain. What was that? I blinked. The light above me scalded my pupils in the few seconds my eyes were open to the sunlight. In fact, as I lay there with my eyes closed

I became aware that I could see the brightness through my eyelids. And the shadows moving beyond the closed veil. And the noise. The continuous noise continued to screech and echo inside my head. There was no way to block it.

I forced myself to open my eyes again. Longer this time. I had to figure out what was going on. As I looked up at the sky the black shadows moved above me, screeching, and swirling like dementors ready to suck out your soul, I had read about those in a book one time. When? I didn’t know.

With every effort I rolled over onto my stomach, the quick roll gave me a wider view of my surroundings. I was outside, on a picnic blanket, but with no picnic. Yet, I could tell I had been with someone. The fuzzy clouds in my brain parted just a little to offer me a filtered flashback of lying on our backs, looking up at the sky, talking, holding hands, did we kiss, or did I just want to kiss them? I wasn’t sure. Who? I shook my head trying to get a clearer picture of the fuzzy picture, any clue, a face, a name, but it was no use.

I forced myself to roll back over, I had to start moving but that small movement alone knocked the wind out of me and sent my head spinning again. Lying on my back I gave myself a countdown. On three I would sit up, regardless of the pain, I had to do this. I lay there and counted, watching the birds swirl above, then after the slow agonising account to 3. At that moment my world went black. Something had been placed over my head, and my arms had been pulled sharply against my back, my wrists held together buying something tight.

“Who is there?”, I asked but the only answer was the high-pitched cry from the birds. I was pulled to my feet, my arms feeling like they were being wrenched from their sockets, and an overwhelming dizziness struck me making me feel nauseous. The grip on my arm grew tighter and I was pushed forward into a walk.

“Where are you taking me I asked?” A low hollow laugh was the answer I was given as I was marched away, the echoing birdsong disappearing in the distance as I walked.

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My response to Sue’s wonderful photo prompt. The start of something intriguing but I’m not quite sure where I am going with it. 🙂

If you want to give the prompt a go too, head over to Sue’s Page Thursday Photo Prompt – Wings #writephoto and join in the prompt. KL ❤

Take the time…

So, I have been a bit quiet on WordPress recently. Channelling my creative energy in a different manner, supporting a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with a rare cancer. I won’t deny it was a shock and for a while, I didn’t write at all, but my soul aches to put pen to paper (and fingers to keyboard) and it is commonly the best method for me, for dealing with the more complicated emotions.

I have long been a follower of Sue’s marvellous blog and love her #writephoto prompts – so inspiring. This week I want to offer something a little less creative as my entry. The prompt reminded me of this quote.

“But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean. Blue, green, grey, white, or black; smooth, ruffled, or mountainous; that ocean is not silent. Ocean is more ancient than the mountains, and freighted with the memories and the dreams of Time.”

~H.P. Lovecraft

Dealing with these types of illness can be hard. Yet, for some reason, the strangest of things can bring solace. For some reason staring at the ocean waves as they roll in is one of those things. I want to take my relative, who is suffering to his beach to watch the waves roll in. We can both sit and watch the waves for hours, without talking, and it was a terrific way to spend time together. No forced words, no difficult subjects, just relaxation and time, staring at a random, repetitive scene of the sea. The motion of the waves, never quite the same but similar, is mesmerising. Somehow this seems good for the soul. It may be with others, it may be just for yourself but take the time to just stop and watch… you might be surprised by the effect.

Much Love,

KL ❤

Watching the lights – #Writephoto

She stood under the bridge…watching.

Through the window she saw exactly what she expected, the perfect family seated around the dining table. She could see it all so clearly even as the tears briefly blurred her vision then rolled down her ice cold cheek. The children were perfectly dressed, perfectly behaved, and the perfect image of their mother, two boys and a girl. The scene was completed by the doting wife, a loyal dog, and an elderly grandma asleep in the chair. Suppressing the anger and swiping at the tears she turned pulling her thin jacket closer. He did not deserve that perfect family, not when he had turned his back on her and her mother to have it. As she moved further away from the lights and into the darkness she allowed a small catlike smile to spread across her face, she would enjoy ruining his perfect night.

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Originally written in response to Sue Vincents #Writephoto challenge – Lights! I’m a little rusty having missed a few challenges but I hope you enjoy anyway.
Use the image to create a post on your own blog… poetry, prose, humour… by noon (GMT) Wednesday and link back to Sue’s post with a pingback. KL ❤

The Price of Fame

I once was a legend, a celebrity, in my own way.

Everyone wanted their photo taken with me.

Well, why wouldn’t they I was young and cute and smiley?

Exactly what the world would want to see.

Then complacency took over.

I was the norm, plain and boring just like all the others around town.

No-one took a picture with me. No-one even stopped to stare.

I just wanted to feel connected to the world once again.

So, I hatched a plan. It took a little help, but it was what I wanted.

I decided I would become as famous as Venus de Milo.

The only difference is she doesn’t have arms. Easy enough to fix right?

Well…

I might have misjudged the situation. Now people just think I’m broken!

Where is a stonemason when you need one?

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Originally written in response to FFfAW

Joy, Laughter, Happy Thoughts – Time to Change

A little joy, a little laughter

Is sometimes, the stuff I’m after

A little bravery, a little courage

Someone to stop me, being discouraged

A thoughtful comment, a pleasant smile

A little thank you, once in a while

Happy thoughts, that special place

Those negative thoughts are such a waste

Fear takes its form, in many ways

It’s often hard, keeping it at bay

Yet positivity can, be so rewarding

Stopping those fears, that you’ve been hoarding

Change can be made, with little steps

Making the decision, not to fret

Stop the panic, forget the fear

Reach out for your future, it is here!

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Originally written in response to todays WQWWC topic “Change” with
my favourite quote about change by Lewis Carrol. With a little help from Dilbert, Linking it back to my #Maydays Challenge post on Laughter! Much Love. KL ❤

The Perfect Dream

I lay on the psychiatrists couch, my hands fidgeting, endlessly, my heart beating wildly, my eyes darting around the room.

dreaming-artwork-by-jeremiah-morelli

This was not where I wanted to be. Not what I wanted to be doing. But I’d promised I’d come. The chaos had to stop.

She looked up from her notebook and smiled.

“Why don’t you tell me what you are feeling?”

The eye-roll escaped me before I knew it.

“Actually, forget that, I think with we might have another way of doing things. Why don’t you lie back in your chair and close your eyes.”

I was sceptical but I nodded, doing as she requested.

“Let’s pretend you are in a dream world, I want you to forget about everything else, and nothing else exists just you and the floating path. At the end of this path is your ideal moment of calm.” I smiled as her soft lilting voice spoke to me.

“Good, you see it. Now tell me where your path is leading. Where is your calm world?” I hesitate but she waits.

“I walk along the pathway. The route is empty, I am alone. At the end of the path stands a single tree, broad and tall. I sit down under leaning back against the solid trunk, then open the first page of a brand new book.”

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Originally written to combine my #Maydays – Books prompt with the photo featured on the Sunday Writing Prompt.

Beyond the Door – Conjuring for Beginners

Maddie opened the doorway just a jar and peeped out.She couldn’t believe it had worked.

Turning tentatively back into the classroom, she glanced around watching as others made popping, banging and whooshing noises.A few doorways started to appear.

Maddie struggled not to giggle as her friend Jess popped her head through her doorway and came back with singed eyebrows!

Smugly Maddie stood quietly and waited patiently for the teacher to come and inspect her doorway. She knew hers was best. Finally, she had got a spell right, maybe conjuring wasn’t so bad a class after all.

 

Image Courtesy of Sue Vincent at Daily Echo

 

 

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Written in response to the Beyond The Door challenge set by Sue Vincent at Daily Echo. I love this little doorway it seems to hold many secrets. 🙂 Thanks for the challenge and amazing photo Sue. ❤

Believe in the power of Serendipity

I am a planner by choice. I love to have a plan in place, setting my goals and standards early on. Whether that be my work schedule, our evening meals or my writing tasks. I like to look at something physical and acknowledge that is what I ultimately want to achieve.

That being said life doesn’t always go to plan. One of my favourite words is Serendipity.

The word serendipity literally means “happy accident.” You have a moment of serendipity when you run into an old friend on the street, when an appointment is cancelled and you have an hour of free time, or when you get two complimentary tickets to the opening of a new museum. You’ll always have the plan. The question is, will you ever have this opportunity again?

I think there is a rush you feel when something like this happens. My “now” husband and I were walking through a market town a few years ago and playfully I pointed out the beautiful rings in the window. He played along and said to me if I was to pick one which would I pick. I pointed out an unusual little ring that seemed different from the rest. The old jeweller was cleaning the windows and overheard our conversation. He laughed and told us that was a wedding ring he had custom made but that had been re-sold back to them as the couple had split. He asked if I’d like to try it and I said no, we were just playing a game after all. But my husband smiled at me and said I could try it if I wanted. I tried it and fit perfectly. I was astounded. I imagine that is what Cinderella felt like with the glass slipper. Even the jeweller was seemed a little shocked. I took it off smiled and thanked the jeweller, one day maybe. As I left the shop and continued down the street my partner caught up behind me. He was quiet and stunned as was I. A month later he presented me with it. The old jeweller had held onto it for him, asking him if he believed in serendipity.

So allow for the unexpected, unplanned, and unforeseen events, circumstances, and challenges that come your way each day. If you take advantage of the opportunities that fall into your lap, instead of sticking religiously to a schedule, you’ll make each day one of surprise, spontaneity, and serendipity — and increase your happiness, too!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Heat is On.”