Some days were better than others. He’d leave the house. Buy groceries. Walk in the park. Feed the squirrels. Try to go on without her.
But most days were bad. On those days he’d stay in bed. Thinking only of her. Hurting as badly as he had that first day without her.
And then there was today. The anniversary of that terrible day. 365 days of pain. And planning. Now it was time.
He imagined them. Walking hand-in-hand on the boardwalk. Oblivious to his pain.
Reaching into his bag, he smiled. Today was going to be a better day.
Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot
I swear this started out as a sweet story but at about word 63, it turned … well, I’ll let y’all be the judge and end it for yourselves. What’s he reaching for?
Thanks, as always, to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners Challenge for providing inspiration.
Tina Stewart Brakebill 
I absolutely want to know what’s in the bag
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Well … could be candy or a book or maybe, just maybe, some sort of weapon to help avenge his broken heart 😉
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I like the way you left the ending to the reader’s imagination. Nicely done.
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Thanks 🙏
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We saw similar pain in the picture, though a different response
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Yes! I like yours. 👍🏽
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I read it as taking revenge, or perhaps his own life to be with her again. Good story.
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Oh! I’m a vindictive bit… 🤣so hadn’t thought of the latter. I like it.
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So sad, if I read the story correctly
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😳🙏
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Oh dear, such a scary frame of mind to be in. This is usually where angels interrupt.
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We’ll see. 🙏
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That’s often how my stories go, start one way and end the other. Very intriguing indeed. What is he reaching for? I love how you left it up to our imaginations.
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😊🙏
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My heart bled for him and his plight, until I realised that someone else’s was going to. Nice twist.
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Thanks Sandra! 😊
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Hurt people hurt people. So my guess is he’s going to hurt them. Nice twist!
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Thanks. 🙏
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Oh boy. I’m very worried about what he’s reaching for.
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😳😊
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I’m wondering why he waited for a whole year? I hope it’s just his own life he’s planning to end.
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Maybe working up the courage?
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I think he’s going to surprise her with a bar of her favourite chocolate, or some flowers, or some jewellery or a gun.
My story!
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🤣🤣 one of those for sure
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Let’s hope he is only going to take one aspirin and not the whole bottle.
I think it is the emotional tone reached at the end that makes me think; yea, I’ve had days like that.
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👍🏽🙏
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And I still hold hope that he reached into the bag to get the phone to call his grandchild, who will be joining him on the boardwalk to get the ice-cream gramps and grandma always got. …
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💚💙🙏
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🙂
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