Ariele paused long enough to breathe in the scent of honeysuckle and lavender hanging heavy in the air of the courtyard. She had run away from a broken relationship and ended up here. Four years of passion and now came the pain.
Tiny rooms were stacked on top of each other with doorways tucked into corners hidden by urns. Ariele could have sworn she has stepped into another place and time. Things were slower here. It gave her time to catch her breath. Time to slow down and try to figure out what she was going to do with her life. Most of all, time to try and forget...
***Now it's your turn. What happens next? Is this a second chance for Ariele? Does her past track her down? Join in the fun with a sentence or a paragraph. You don't have to run with my flash fiction...if someone else comments and you want to add to their story, then go for it. Let's see where this picture prompt takes us!***
I'd like to look out my window and see that courtyard.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet! I actually thought of you when I saw this picture...;~)
DeleteThanks for stoppimg by and come back any time!
Just follow the red brick road! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Erik! I love your comment! Now if she just had a friend like Toto...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
I thought you might like to see this Donna http://jprambling.blogspot.co.uk/p/a-different-class.html
ReplyDeleteOMG, JP! I literally shouted for joy at your beautiful book and then immediately burst into tears when I read the dedication. How you have touched my heart with your spiritual strength and determination to live your life to fullest while remaining true to the person within! I called Janet and told she must visit your blog and join me in doing the HAPPY DANCE in your honor! The best is yet to come, my friend, when others get to read your incredible journey and realize what I have known all along...you are an example for other would-be wounded spirits that even unthinkable things can be endured and a person can step beyond a harsh childhood into the light of a new day. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Shucks.
DeleteLol at 'strength and determination', pig-ignorance and obstinacy with a double helping of belligerence maybe. As for everything else I can't take any credit. I've been a rudderless ship careening from one disaster to another. I bounced well and have been fortunate. Others are not so stubborn and are a concern.
I read about these shootings at schools and people saying 'how could it happen?'. I understand very well how it could. Perhaps the book will make people realise even the most inoffensive among us have breaking points. There is no doubt in my mind if I had access to a gun at the lowest point I could have turned it on my tormentors. The other scenario being suicide which seems to be ever more common these days.
In truth I never thought I had it particularly hard, we took the knocks and just got on with it.
JP, you and I were raised in a different place and time from the children of today. Some things were rarely discussed and most things were simply endured until the person could hopefully break free of the situation they found themselves in. Unfortunately nowadays most children are no longer taught to be held accountable for their own actions in this gimme, gimme, instant gratification world and yet we wonder at the increased rate of bullying and violence in our schools today...
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are too kind.( We will meet one day and you can throw flower petals at me while I bow in your presence). Meanwhile, don't stop writing. Otherwise, the masses will miss out on the JP experience. I have cleared space on my book shelf for you.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I am sure we will not be the only fan of JP's work...we just get to say we were two of the firsts!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!