Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!
RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!
This story is dark, written using the first line as a prompt at a creative writing class I recently attended...
This story is dark, written using the first line as a prompt at a creative writing class I recently attended...
It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...
U is for Ursula sat at the television...
Ursula sat at the television, weeping, for no reason.
At least she was told there shouldn't be a reason. But looking back over the past year she knew she'd been a fool of the worst kind. Why hadn't she seen it coming?
She'd had life handed to her on a platter. Some said she had it all - the husband, the kids, the home. Her job wasn't half bad either, even though it took up too much of her time, time she should have spent with her family.
She dabbed her eyes with a ragged, soppy tissue, then reached for her water glass and sipped. The television droned on. Who cared about what was happening in Afghanistan? Who cared that half the world seemed to wallow in never-ending turmoil? What about her? What about her world? No, no one gave a damn about her. She'd been deserted by her family, her so-called friends, her work colleagues...sympathy was short-lived.
How much air time was given to the father who'd drowned his kids - in the car, in the creek just down the road from her? He'd been thoughtful enough to shoot himself afterwards, so pfft! no trial to report, no weeping mother to pity, no how-could-he?
Screw it!
I'm not doing this any more!
Ursula picked up her water glass, then her plateful of pills.
Now death would be handed to her on a platter.
©DeniseCovey2012
Words 230
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Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!
I got chills from the ending Denise!
ReplyDeleteBit nasty isn't it? D.
DeleteScary is too light a word....she needs help and soon. Great piece of flash.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I think its too late Rek! D.
DeleteYeah, I like it. You know how I love the dark, creepy emotions. A great title - Ursula at the television; and you worked in the situation that caused the pain so well. My heart was breaking for her losses. Loved the plates too.
ReplyDelete.........dhole
Ah, good girl. Glad you noticed the plates. D.
DeleteAww, sad. I had a moment when the work was mentioned in the beginning, the time away from the family where I wondered. Well written piece as usual.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by Dawn. I tried to set in clues for her imminent demise. D.
DeleteHi Denise
ReplyDeleteWell written and so sad. I totally understand why this character might take her life. I must wonder, since she had it all, was she missing a back bone. When times get tough, some withdraw and others press on. I liked the plates too.
Nancy