Adam settled into his favorite bench, took out his pipe and lit it, and then filled the afternoon with recollection of memories and stories, of smiles and tears.
Autumn has come around and the world is bathed into a crisp ocher and golden brown again. She had always loved this season, he thought. His mind wandered back to the time when he came home to find Eve nestled in the heap of tawny leaves like a bird curled at the core of its nest; her lips arched into a smile. He kissed her the way a prince would have kissed sleeping beauty—only that she never woke up. Eve lay cold and lifeless as he broke into tears and disbelief.
He’d never seen autumn that dreadful. Since then, part of him died each day when the leaves fell from the trees. Lost in memories and smoke, he waited for winter.
Word Count: 150
© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.
Here is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. This week’s photo prompt is provided by Phylor. Thanks PJ for hosting another fun prompt.
Enjoy more stories here:
September 7, 2016 at 10:16 am
How sad that he found the love of his life dead among the fallen leaves. Such a beautiful love story with such a sad ending. Wonderful story, Maria!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 10:32 am
Thank you, PJ… It’s a shame how some of the most beautiful days could end up tragically. *sigh*
LikeLike
September 7, 2016 at 10:33 am
Yes, it truly is. 😦 Beautiful story, Maria!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 10:52 am
The lovely picture calls for it… Thank you, PJ. ❤
LikeLike
September 7, 2016 at 10:57 am
Yes, it was a beautiful picture!
LikeLike
September 7, 2016 at 11:08 am
Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. T_____T
This piece aches, throbs, yet the lines are so gorgeous!!!
P.S.
I don’t have a body bag with me!!! -_-
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Aww.. Thank you dearie. I’m learning from you with those deaths. 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 8:48 am
geez. nakakahawa ang morbidness
hahaha
LikeLike
September 7, 2016 at 1:31 pm
This is beautiful Maria, so sad yet so beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Thank you, Joy. Glad you enjoyed this one 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 3:08 pm
That turned suddenly sad. Somehow I don’t think his “waiting for winter” is for just the season.
Lovely piece!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Thank you, Ali. Got that right. There’s more to “waiting for winter” indeed. *sigh*
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Tragic tale, beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Thank you, Iain. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 8:32 pm
So sad Maria. A poignant, well written, short story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:49 pm
Thank you, D. 🙂 A little contrast to the gorgeous image, I’d say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 7, 2016 at 9:14 pm
Beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Thank you, Muse. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 2:12 am
You’re welcome Maria 🙂
LikeLike
September 7, 2016 at 10:44 pm
so true how we assign feelings to a certain season….due to tragedy especially….we want to get past that season quickly. your lines sit well with my heart
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:14 pm
Oh dear, thank you. ☺️ That is so true. A season may bring joy to some while sadness to others. We’ll never really know..
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 12:17 am
Noooo, way to make my favorite time of the year a heartbreaking one. I can’t imagine going through something like that, finding your loved one buried under the leaves…it would so sickly ironic: the leaves so golden like treasure and underneath…one of the most horrible things you can imagine. Such great writing, Maria 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Tragic and heartbreaking, that would be. 😭 I do hope no such thing happen in real life. I can’t even start to imagine how that would feel.
P.S my apologies for ruining your autumn vibe, Jade. 😅✌🏿️
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 4:52 am
Very atmospheric!
Loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:19 pm
Ooh.. Atmospheric, I like it. Thank you. 😅💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 10:55 am
So sad that the beautiful leaves gives him painful memories. Circumstanes can really change the way we see things and unfortunately, he will probably always be sad each time he sees the leaves. Grat story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:26 pm
I agree. I think he won’t be looking at those gorgeous leaves the way before. It will take time (forever even) but I hope people like him find the way to heal.
Thank you, Jessie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 3:38 am
Beautifully sad, Maria. The pain of his loss comes through really clearly. Nicely done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 10, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Thanks, Louise. ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 12, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Beautifully told tale.
Ellespeth
LikeLike
September 12, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Oh dear this is sad. I just hope he learns to live again.
LikeLike
September 13, 2016 at 2:27 am
Oh, this story is so sad but it is also very touching and romantic. Well done. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 13, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Awwee. Thanks a lot, Vashti. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 15, 2016 at 5:33 am
The image of finding this woman, his love dead in the leaves smiling, it’s very disturbing for its innocence. Almost, so you understand why more of him dies with each fall and he prefers winter. The smoking I suppose calms him. Powerful piece Maria.
LikeLike