Hey there, welcome to my submission to this week’s Friday Fictioneers Challenge. Not familiar with it here’s a recap. The goal is to write a story 100 words or less based on a photo prompt. Interested in finding out more please visit our noble host’s site by clicking Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.
This weeks photo prompt has been provided by Dale Rogerson. Thanks Dale for the inspiring photo.
Please click HERE to read stories by other writers.
Now here is my 90 word story – I Vow
Bright bursts of color. Jagged yellows, searing reds, blinding white. With each blow, the colors blossomed.
Did he really believe the flowers that arrived like clockwork after each assault would make it alright?
They keep coming, small bouquets to towering arrangements. The colorful array of bruises fade, the broken bones heal. I run my fingers down the stem of a rose, searching for the thorn that I know is there. I prick my finger, squeeze out bright red blood and vow, never again.
A new batch of flowers arrived today.
Thanks for reading. Please take a moment to leave me a comment.
Cindy
Life Lessons of a Dog Lover 
A sad story. And just like clockwork, like the flowers, she doesn’t keep her promise to herself and leave. Someday hopefully she breaks the clock and breaks free of that situation.
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I’m with you. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
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The echoing of the colours of the bruises and the colours of the flowers is clever
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Thank so much Neil, glad that worked for you.
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Well, shoot! This kind of broke my heart. Sad that so many can’t get away from this kind of viciousness. And this line ~ Jagged yellows, searing reds, blinding white ~ carries so much. Nicely done.
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Thanks Alicia. That people stay is abusive relationship is a tragedy.
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So sad.
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Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
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Agree with Neil, the echoing of the colours of the flowers vs the colouring of the bruises… brilliant.
This breaks my heart. I will never understand how someone can stay stuck in such a relationship… and yet I can at the same time…
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Thanks Dale. I agree it’s hard to see why people stay and yet I understand just an itsy bitsy bit why it’s hard to leave.
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Fear is a huge reason to leave. Fear from the abuser, fear of being able to move ahead, fear of the unknown….
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A heartbreaking story , Cindy and so very well written .
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Thank you Moon.
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Very poignant…
…On a separate point – when I got an email saying that you’d commented on my story I clicked on your link and it took me to a ‘This page has been deleted by the author’ site (dead link) – Worth checking if it’s set up correctly – Let me know if you want further info…
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Thanks for your comment. I could use your help checking out the link issue. Like where to look. I’m a real novice at this stuff.
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Beautifully written, such a tragic situation, I hope she can break the cycle somehow.
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Me too Iain. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
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Dear Cindy,
The array of colors moving into the hard hitting part of the story is a masterful. I do understand the cycle. I hope she’ll break away. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle for such a nice comment.
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Another one that grabs at me because I often see these broken women in my office. Why do they stay? “I love him!” “He’s always sorry.” “He promised me he would get help.” And so on, and on.
I loved your colorful beginning. Great job.
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Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you’re there to help these women pick up the pieces.
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A grim tale.I hope she can find the strength to break the cycle.
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Thanks for dropping by Draliman. I’m rooting for her.
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A very poignant story. What really amazes me about your scenario is that he keeps sending flowers. That would take an awareness of guilt that most abusers don’t feel. A lot of abusers would think THEY should be getting the flowers for having to live with this woman.
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Interesting …
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I have a friend whose husband beat her often — and she stayed with him until he started on their teen children. She told me his approach was, “You should be ashamed of yourself that your behavior is so bad I have to beat you.” Abusers and bullies can justify their actions very convincingly. That’s how they maintain power. 😦
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Oh god… awful
Well told. The truth of this scene is painful to read
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Thank you Laurie. I never want my writing hard to read, but I do want people to think and feel.
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Sad patterns keep repeating. I wish it wasn’t so.
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Thanks for taking the time to comment. It is a tragedy that plays out all too often.
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Looks like she’s still stuck in that vicious cycle. Hope she finds the courage to leave. Loved the last line. Well done.
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Varad, thanks for dropping by and leaving such kind comments.
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it blows my mind why somebody would stay in an abusive relationship. anyway, use of colors in the story to make a point was perfect. well done.
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Thank you so much for your compliment, it’s greatly appreciated. It is hard to understand why people stay in abusive relationship.
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Some how it reminds me of Stockholm syndrome. An introspective read for me.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I never thought of the comparison to Stockholm syndrome – it words.
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I loved the adjectives, jagged. searing, blinding. You set the stage well. This is the second one I’ve read featuring spousal abuse. Let’s hope she gets off this merry-go-round before he kills her.
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Thanks for taking the time to comment. Glad this story worked for you.
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Sorry, dear, that I haven’t commented before. I’m usually on a smaller screen and don’t see the grey on grey comment tag. Really enjoy your stories. Leaves me wondering if this time, the flowers are for him. good one!
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Glad you were able to leave a comment. I’m so glad you enjoy my stories.
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You have captured the domestic violence survivor’s dilemma very well. Loved the word pictures. I hope she keeps her own promise soon.
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I appreciate you compliments. Thanks for taking the time to leave them. We can only hope she gathers the strength to leave permanently.
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I like how you had the flower colors mimic blows; it reads like poetry despite the subject matter. I can never fathom why anyone would stay in that situation.
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Thank you so much Sascha for your kind compliments.
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Oohh, I loved the way you wrote this! Flowers and bruises appearing as one and the same, which in this case it is. After abuse, the flowers are a further assault. Well done!
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Thanks Fatima glad you liked the story.
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Beautifully done!
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Thanks Sandra.
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A bitter sweet story. Every rose does indeed have a thorn. Let’s hope this rose towers above hers and moves on before the blight gets her. Thank you for posting and letting me read, for free.
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Glad you liked this story. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
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The first sentence hits hard, the colours read like blows. So sad, and it happens all the time, everywhere. Great writing.
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So glad you liked this story.
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That’s a really powerful story partly because of the vivid language you’ve used. May she keep that vow.
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