IAIN KELLY

LOSS

They lay side-by-side on the bed.

The sun broke over the harbour. Helena sat up and drew her knees to her chest. Nick looked up at her. He knew it was over. He put his hand out to brush a hair from her face.

‘There is nothing more I can do?’ Nick asked. Helena’s hands smoothed her stomach where the scars gave a constant reminder of their loss.

‘There is nothing left to do,’ she said.

‘I will leave tomorrow,’ he said. ‘It’s time I returned home.’ Helena returned his gentle kiss and nodded.

They both knew they could survive apart.


fatima-fakier-deria1
© Fatima Fakier Deria

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).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

This week I have cheated slightly and adapted and edited a previous piece of writing that the prompt photo reminded me of. The original, slightly longer version, A Summer In Crete, can be found HERE.

90 responses to “LOSS”

  1. misstalkaholic Avatar

    A harsh reality

    Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Poignant, Iain, and bittersweet

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  3. Jane Dougherty Avatar

    Partings are always sad, even when inevitable.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very true Jane.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Rommy Avatar

    Some relationships come out stronger after moments of profound grief and some don’t. Hopefully they can find a way back towards themselves, if not towards each other after losing their child.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. I hope so too, perhaps they recognise the best way to do this is if they go their separate ways.

      Like

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Many couples don’t survive that kind of loss. Poignant.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle, I wonder how anyone could see recover from such a loss.

      Like

  6. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Broken hearted story, Iain. Good stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks J Hardy

      Like

  7. beautyswot Avatar

    Gosh so sad!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you for commenting. Some things are just that way sometimes.

      Like

  8. granonine Avatar

    Oh! So sad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  9. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    They say 75% to 95% of couples don’t make it after the loss of a child. I can totally believe it. Heartbreaking.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I can too Dale, such a tragedy.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        I was in the lucky 5-25%

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    How very sad! I don’t know how couples survive such a loss.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare, neither do I.

      Like

  11. Magaly Guerrero Avatar

    What a terrible situation. I wonder if the separation is a choice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think it was more inevitable although they both tried their best to carry on.

      Like

  12. James Avatar

    A much softer tone than your usual murder mysteries, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks James, yes a little different this week.

      Like

  13. Joe Owens Avatar

    This is just heart-breaking with no hint of hope for a positive outcome. I assume the must both be realists. I like it Iain, would give it 4 stars if such was an option.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Joe, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. susmitamukherjee Avatar

    Poignant! Harsh reality.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I felt for them both, you told this story so well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Michael, much appreciated​

      Like

  16. Lynn Love Avatar
    Lynn Love

    Sad and melancholic, Iain. But in the end a survivors’ tale with a note of hope. Really good

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        My pleasure Iain

        Liked by 1 person

  17. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

    Such a tragic loss. Very well written

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    Very sad tale, Iain. Well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Alicia

      Like

  19. Tamal Avatar

    Sad story, beautifully written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Tamal

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Siobhan McNamara Avatar

    Very sad, sometimes it’s hard to get beyond loss on that scale. And yet I found comfort and tenderness in the last line, in that they held on until they knew they would each be ok

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Siobhan, glad you saw the hope and strength there.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    I sense a feeling of acceptance in their conversation. Perhaps it’s for the best.

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Exactly that, Keith. Thanks for reading.

      Like

  22. plaridel Avatar

    they can’t just give up. they should at least try to make another baby.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think they have perhaps tried all the other possibilities but it must be a very difficult thing to get over. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. justjoyfulness Avatar

    The loss, the separation, everything happens for the good, one can say philosophically. But still, a hard one to navigate. Well-etched Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Joy, somethings just are the way they are and acceptance is the only way forward.

      Like

  24. kittysverses Avatar

    Nice story, albeit sad though. But such is life.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  25. draliman Avatar

    Very sad. I guess it was too much to get past.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Exactly, thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. neelwritesblog Avatar

    Lain, this is quite different from your usual. You have painted a very poignant picture. Deeply sad and moving. Lain, i like your writing a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very kind, thanks Neel

      Like

  27. Liz Young Avatar

    So sad, but many couple cannot survive that kind of loss.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  28. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    I love the last line, a realization that they have to lose each other to survive. Beautifully written tale of loss.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated.

      Like

  29. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    Very sad. Sometimes you can only move forward when you leave the past behind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Gabi.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Heartbreaking. I can sense how they would have preferred to be together, but the loss was to hard to bear, and maybe apart they could heal…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Exactly as I intended, thank you Bjorn.

      Like

  31. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Sad. What a loss… a loss of what feels like everything. Hope they end up ok

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie. There is a little bit of hope at the end.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Louise Taylor Avatar

    Oh, how sad….. Both the loss and the tearing apart of a couple that such a thing so often causes. Odd, isn’t it, how sometimes we feel stronger or more able to endure when alone…..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very true Louise. Often withdrawing into ourselves can seem the safest and strongest response.

      Like

  33. Vaidehi Soni Avatar

    Sometimes we have to live without people we love the most. Well written. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  34. subroto Avatar

    They say relationships don’t survive that kind of loss but sometimes it strengthens it. Maybe there is hope for them. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. amiewrites74 Avatar

    How tragic. A loss of that magnitude tears apart many couples.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Afraid so, thanks for reading

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Michael Wynn Avatar

    When life gives you no option, sad

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading Michael

      Like

  37. Sarah Potter Writes Avatar

    This is so terribly sad. As a woman, I know how bonded you can feel towards your child even in pregnancy. I remember being petrified when I had some signs of a problem at the 7th month of gestation and thought I was going to lose my first child. The grief of such a loss must be unbearable, and it must be so hard for men to know the best way to comfort the woman they love through such a tragedy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sarah, glad that my writing spoke to you.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    A sorrowful ending for this couple. A difficult thing to survive.
    Nicely told, Iain.
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  39. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    The piece has an atmosphere of, well, Loss, that works beautifully without the reader needing to be told the details of what had happened. Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  40. goroyboy Avatar

    Physical at times will heal easier than those of the heart. Very intimate piece Iain ..

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Fatima Fakier Deria Avatar

    Loss. Both of their child and then of their relationship. But at least they didn’t lose themselves, knowing they can still survive without the other!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A very nice summation. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    Knowing you can survive without each other certainly lessens the pain.
    Thoughtful piece, Lain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  43. Stephanie Pitcher Fishman Avatar

    That cuts through the heart of this mother. Very well done. I love finding great emotion in a small package.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Stephanie, always good to hear my writing has had an impact.

      Like

  44. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    This is such a tragic tale. I hope their parting on such reflective, calm terms means a friendship can remain where love has ended.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, I think they will remain close for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

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