Sunny Day
General Fiction
Derrick was sitting on an empty park bench, staring at the towering buildings across the narrow waters. It was a cloudy day but the sun still tried to break through the grays.
“What I’m saying is there are no guarantees.”
Yes, that’s what his oncologist said earlier that day. Derrick is a twenty-five year old aspiring young artist who has always looked forward to sunrise and waited for sunsets. The sun, to him, was his muse. He could paint a heron gliding over the horizon smeared with colorful hues. He could sketch magic in sunlight, make the images come alive— until leukemia took its toll. He had already lost his hair. Today, he woke up losing his hands. He couldn’t control them, shaking and trembling as if saying they’re too scared.
With tears in his eyes, he said a silent prayer. Above the towering buildings across the narrow waters, the sun still tried to break through the grays, streaks of rays piercing through the clouds.
Now that’s a guarantee of a sunny day. He smiled.
Word Count: 175
© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.
YAY! Great to be back in the tale-weaving world. ❤
Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Barbara Taylor. Thanks PJ for another fun prompt.
Enjoy more stories here:
May 31, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Aww, despite everything going on, he still managed to find a silver lining on that Grey day. Great Job Maria 😄
Btw, in the 2nd paragraph, I think it should be- a young artist who “has” always looked…. 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Thank you, Ameena! Faith can move mountains, so they say. He should hold on to that as long as he can. 🙂
And thanks a lot for pointing that out. I did missed that part. ^^
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May 31, 2016 at 3:19 pm
He can still see a little sunshine – maybe his positive attitude will see him through!
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June 1, 2016 at 9:58 am
Yes. That’s for sure. 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 3:42 pm
He said a prayer – and God answered by sending a ray of hope. He accepted the gift and smiled.
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June 1, 2016 at 10:12 am
And the Lord will be his strength and his defense… 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Great job Maria dealing with such an emotional subject.
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June 1, 2016 at 10:25 am
Thank you, Michael! 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 7:50 pm
Very nicely written.
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June 1, 2016 at 10:52 am
Thanks a lot, Dahlia. 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Bittersweet, lovely story, Maria! I love how hope shined through at the end! Great story!
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June 1, 2016 at 10:53 am
Cheers to hope and keeping the faith, PJ! 🙂 Thanks for the great prompt too. ❤
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June 1, 2016 at 10:54 am
Thank you and my pleasure! 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 6:33 pm
Have a great day, PJ.. ^^
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June 1, 2016 at 8:07 pm
You too, Maria! Have a wonderful day and wonderful week!
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June 2, 2016 at 1:13 pm
❤ ❤ ❤
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May 31, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Tightly wrapped package of a story! I am just beginning to play with flash fiction, so I will wander around in your stories as free moments allow; thanks for sharing!
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June 1, 2016 at 10:57 am
Thank you, Jilli! YAY! Looking forward to read your stories soon. 😀
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June 1, 2016 at 7:44 pm
I would love your feedback on my fiction. I posted one story and others in the works. 🙂
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June 2, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Yesss, I’ve just read it. 😀 I love your descriptions and the flow of your words. Keep it up, Jilly!
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May 31, 2016 at 8:59 pm
Hopes on the horizon.
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June 1, 2016 at 10:58 am
A good omen. Yes! 🙂
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May 31, 2016 at 9:58 pm
A sad story but it sounds like there is hope
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June 1, 2016 at 11:01 am
Always… 🙂 Thank you, Angie!
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May 31, 2016 at 11:28 pm
I like your story of mingled hope and despair and for being brave to end on a more optimistic note.
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June 1, 2016 at 11:13 am
Oh, happy to hear that. We all need optimism for us to push trough life. Thank you, Graham.
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June 1, 2016 at 12:52 am
He’s holding on to hope! Good for him! …Great emotional story! 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 11:15 am
Yes. There’s always hope in everyday. 🙂 Thank you, S!
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June 1, 2016 at 2:31 am
A sad story, but one with a little hope in it. Great writing!
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June 1, 2016 at 11:18 am
Thank you, JA! 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 4:27 am
Omg, heartbreaking but hopeful. Derrick is a main character who I’d love to read about. I’m imagining a story that chronicles his battle with leukemia. His strong will and positivity would make the story heartbreaking in all the best ways ❤
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June 1, 2016 at 11:45 am
In all the best ways… Thank you, Jade. I think whatever the outcome will be, as long as his heart is at peace, he’ll never really lose to illness. 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 11:48 am
Beautifully said 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 6:18 am
Heart wrenching piece. I feel his pain deeply, I have a bestfriend going through Cancer and her battle isn’t easy. Doesn’t sound as if Derriks is an easy battle either. No gauruntee is an awful thing to hear. Not very good words on the Doctors part. Because really in life health or not, there are no garuntees for any of us, for another day. But I feel his pain not being able to use his hands to paint the sun and the things it lights. At least he still can see the beautiful view. Beautiful and layered piece of writing Maria 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 6:53 pm
“Because really in life health or not, there are no guarantees for any of us, for another day. ” ~ Thank you, Mandi. I completely agree with you. And yes, as long as Derrick can still see the rays of light, there is still hope. I hope your bestfriend is doing well? Having supportive people like you around will surely make her feel better. 🙂
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June 2, 2016 at 2:30 am
She is doing okay. It’s a challenging battle. I saw her this last weekend. She wears a wig now, but it looks like her own hair only styled perfectly. She has gone through some intensive treatment lately and we will see what the results are when she returns to TJ, Mexico, where she is receiving more natural treatment. Hopefully, her scans show improvement! Thank you Maria for this piece and asking about her. 💕🌷
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June 2, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Oh I see.. I pray for her speedy recovery and may her pain lessen. Happy to know her scans show improvement. That’s her ray of light. 🙂 You’re most welcome, Mandi.
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June 1, 2016 at 8:29 am
Very touching story. 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Happy to hear that, Deborah. And thank you for taking the time to read. 🙂
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June 1, 2016 at 10:38 am
A great story. You’ve brought out his despair, and the fact that he can still see a ray of hope. Faith and hope can lessen the degree of turmoil in your life, and I think he has those to help him. I don’t think he has given up the fight.
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June 1, 2016 at 7:14 pm
I don’t think he did too, Jessie. He’s still holding on to that despite his situation. And I agree with you, it’s our faith and hope and the support from people around us that keeps us pushing through. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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June 1, 2016 at 4:19 pm
oh dear. oh dear. this is sad yet there is hope. love it!
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June 1, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Thank you, dear! Sadness and hope… It’s a lovely combination, do you agree? 🙂
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June 2, 2016 at 8:53 am
yeah! a perfect pair, dearie!
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June 2, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Yeeee! ❤
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June 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
😀 😀 😀
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June 3, 2016 at 4:21 pm
I didn’t expect to read that — after having my own bout with cancer last year, I can empathize how much everything changes in seemingly a blink of the eye. Finding the silver lining, no matter how thin, can make all the difference.
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June 6, 2016 at 9:57 am
“Finding the silver lining, no matter how thin, can make all the difference.” ~ perfectly put. And happy to find you smiling after what you’ve been through, Biku. You have such a brave heart. 🙂
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June 6, 2016 at 9:49 pm
😉
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June 6, 2016 at 10:20 pm
This is truly sad and an unfortunate reality for many people. I hope he’ll keep seeing the streaks of sunshine.
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June 7, 2016 at 3:40 pm
And my hope goes for all those people under such circumstances as well. Thank you, Jacq!
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