Their Hope, Their Silence
Their Hope, Their Silence
The white-blue brightness hurt her eyes, but she refused to turn away or shield them. An immense sky and rainbow slicing across it released her faith until it poured through her. She inched forward, warm air and voices surrounding her. Another step, and another, while her eyes remained fixed on the sky, on the miraculous rainbow.
The endless walk, not so intimidating if she only kept her mind on the beauty and not the ache and drag and pull in her legs and heart. She steadied herself again, so as not to trip over the bodies as they fell.
The photo prompt below is from Madison Woods:
http://madisonwoods.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/rainbows.jpg?w=500&h=666
Come up with a story, 100 words, more or less, based on the picture below.
Vincent Bracco - Writing Both Sides 
The endless walk…..a lovely piece, this, with the focus on feeling the good over the bad. Who is ‘she’? And whose bodies are falling? Lots of questions! 🙂
Ours is here: http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/a-cordello-memory
Yes, lots of questions. That’s good, I hope. Questions keep you reading. Thank you for your kind comments.
Yes, it was meant to be a positive comment! 🙂 You’re welcome.
This was an aptly titled somber piece of writing that took the prompt and turned it on its head. I like that you did that so seamlessly and well. I want more of their story. it is compelling, to say the least.
Aloha,
Doug
I really appreciate your wanting more. To be honest, I want to write more. There’s so much to explore. Thank you for your interest.
An inspirational bit of writing. It was impossible not to engage with the marchers, regardless of not knowing why, who or when. Good one.
Thank you. I’m glad you found it inspirational.
Why do I get the impression that this isn’t all good. Falling bodies? Something is not quite right… Maybe I’m seeing sinister where I shouldn’t though. Way to have me questioning!
My attempt: https://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/fields-of-wildflowers/
You got the right impression. The falling bodies suggest sinister or worse. Thank you for your comments.
So well told. A compelling story…where does she end up, because I’m sure she’ll get there and, I hope, beyond.
http://mysocalleddutchlife.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers/
It’s a difficult journey. Thank you for the interest and compliment.
My sentiments exactly, about the falling bodies. On the other hand it could be a twist, albeit a not so pleasant one to an other wise beautiful beginning. I’m over here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-sinking-low/
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately, it does turn for the worst.
I read this earlier and had to come back to it. It reminds me of a story I read years ago about a march that was disguised as a game show in a post apocalyptic America (I want to say it was a Stephen King short story). Each person marching, walking, not giving any credence to the pain in their legs or anywhere else. It’s definitely not a happy story. But it makes me want to know why she’s walking and where she is going. Well done! Here’s mine: http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-2/
Thank you for the compliment. Hopefully some of the questions will be answered in future prompts.
Wow, talking about trying to see the glass half full…Is this a reference to some sort of a forced death march? A very unexpected use of the prompt.
Here’s mine: http://teschoenborn.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-luck-of-the/
Unfortunately, it would be the right reference. Thank you for commenting.
A trail of tears indeed, although for a moment I envisioned soldiers driven on by faith against impossible odds. Excellent extraction of emotional depth
Wakefield
http://www.wakefieldmahon.com/1/post/2012/05/light-supremacy-friday-fictioneers.html
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it.
Uh oh, I see you back with the storyline from the Holocaust – which can be any tragedy of man’s inhumanity to man (or woman) from the trail of tears – and probably long before that, they (not me, I hope, I hope I would not be one of the oppressors) marched their poor victims ever onward, hoping they would die out before they reached the camps.
And I know that the ones who would survive would have to grasp at any sign to make them believe they had a reason to live.
Anyway, you told it a lot better than I just did!
Weird that so many others took the prompt and made me laugh, while you made me want to go get the gun (which I don’t have of course).
Yours as ever,
Lindaura
at http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
I started along this storyline a few prompts back and decided to let each new prompt lead me either to something new or back to this. So far, it’s taken me back to it. Thank you for your kind words.
What is making them fall? Is this a ‘trail of tears’?
Here’s mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/flash-fiction-friday-4/
Not a trail of tears but close. There was too much to explain in 100 words but they fell from exhaustion and lack of food. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
had me fooled there at the end.
http://brainsnorts.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-518-via-madison-woods/
I guess that’s good, then. Thanks for stopping by.
very good.