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.
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.
A harsh reality
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Thank you
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Poignant, Iain, and bittersweet
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Thanks Neil
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Partings are always sad, even when inevitable.
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Very true Jane.
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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.
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Thank you. I hope so too, perhaps they recognise the best way to do this is if they go their separate ways.
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Dear Iain,
Many couples don’t survive that kind of loss. Poignant.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, I wonder how anyone could see recover from such a loss.
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Broken hearted story, Iain. Good stuff.
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Thanks J Hardy
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Gosh so sad!
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Thank you for commenting. Some things are just that way sometimes.
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Oh! So sad.
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Thank you.
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They say 75% to 95% of couples don’t make it after the loss of a child. I can totally believe it. Heartbreaking.
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I can too Dale, such a tragedy.
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I was in the lucky 5-25%
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How very sad! I don’t know how couples survive such a loss.
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Thanks Clare, neither do I.
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What a terrible situation. I wonder if the separation is a choice.
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I think it was more inevitable although they both tried their best to carry on.
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A much softer tone than your usual murder mysteries, Iain.
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Thanks James, yes a little different this week.
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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.
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Thanks Joe, much appreciated.
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Poignant! Harsh reality.
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Thank you
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I felt for them both, you told this story so well.
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Thank you Michael, much appreciated
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Sad and melancholic, Iain. But in the end a survivors’ tale with a note of hope. Really good
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Thanks Lynn
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My pleasure Iain
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Such a tragic loss. Very well written
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Thank you
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Very sad tale, Iain. Well written.
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Thanks Alicia
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Sad story, beautifully written.
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Thanks Tamal
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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
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Thanks Siobhan, glad you saw the hope and strength there.
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I sense a feeling of acceptance in their conversation. Perhaps it’s for the best.
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Exactly that, Keith. Thanks for reading.
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they can’t just give up. they should at least try to make another baby.
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I think they have perhaps tried all the other possibilities but it must be a very difficult thing to get over. Thanks for reading.
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The loss, the separation, everything happens for the good, one can say philosophically. But still, a hard one to navigate. Well-etched Iain!
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Thanks Joy, somethings just are the way they are and acceptance is the only way forward.
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Nice story, albeit sad though. But such is life.
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Thank you.
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Very sad. I guess it was too much to get past.
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Exactly, thanks for reading.
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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.
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Very kind, thanks Neel
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So sad, but many couple cannot survive that kind of loss.
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Thanks Liz
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I love the last line, a realization that they have to lose each other to survive. Beautifully written tale of loss.
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Thank you, much appreciated.
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Very sad. Sometimes you can only move forward when you leave the past behind.
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Thank you Gabi.
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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…
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Exactly as I intended, thank you Bjorn.
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Sad. What a loss… a loss of what feels like everything. Hope they end up ok
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Thanks Laurie. There is a little bit of hope at the end.
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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…..
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Very true Louise. Often withdrawing into ourselves can seem the safest and strongest response.
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Sometimes we have to live without people we love the most. Well written. 🙂
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Thank you
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They say relationships don’t survive that kind of loss but sometimes it strengthens it. Maybe there is hope for them. Nicely done.
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Thank you
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How tragic. A loss of that magnitude tears apart many couples.
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Afraid so, thanks for reading
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When life gives you no option, sad
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Thanks for reading Michael
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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.
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Thanks Sarah, glad that my writing spoke to you.
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A sorrowful ending for this couple. A difficult thing to survive.
Nicely told, Iain.
Isadora 😎
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Thank you
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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!
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Thank you, much appreciated.
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Physical at times will heal easier than those of the heart. Very intimate piece Iain ..
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Thank you
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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!
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A very nice summation. Thanks for reading.
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Knowing you can survive without each other certainly lessens the pain.
Thoughtful piece, Lain.
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Thanks Dawn
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That cuts through the heart of this mother. Very well done. I love finding great emotion in a small package.
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Thanks Stephanie, always good to hear my writing has had an impact.
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This is such a tragic tale. I hope their parting on such reflective, calm terms means a friendship can remain where love has ended.
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Thank you, I think they will remain close for sure.
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