‘Ta-da!’ announced Agnes, throwing her arms open wide, ‘what do you think?’

Archie stared at the array of lights hanging vertically from the ceiling, above the grand staircase.

‘What the…?’ he stared open-mouthed.

‘Isn’t it marvellous?’ gushed Agnes, oblivious to Archie’s response.

‘It’s…it’s…very big.’

‘Over a thousand individual lights.’

‘Well, if it’s what you want.’ Archie shuffled off into the living room.

Agnes looked at his back as he left. She shook her head and gazed up at her new decoration. The smile returned to her face.

‘Beautiful.’

In the centre of the huge vertical chandelier one tiny bulb flickered on and off. Then another. Then every bulb flickered and went out.

Agnes stood in the darkness.

‘Sonovabitch’, she muttered.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE).  The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above, thanks to Sandra for the photo this week).

For more stories based on this prompt, visit HERE.