He should’ve gotten on the train.
He could’ve been in the countryside with his sister.
But he didn’t want to leave Mother in the city. Not with the air raids and bombs falling.
Then he had gotten lost trying to get home from the station. The old lady found him and took him to her house, gave him soup and a bed.
In the morning she promised to take him back to his home.
The old lady was probably dead now, buried under the rubble of her house, just like him.
Through the small gap between the masonry that held him captive he could see the sun rising. He tried to call out. The crushing weight on his chest strangled his cries.
With his free hand he put his fingers round the emerging orb, like he was holding it.
Hold on to the light, he thought. His eyes closed. As he drifted away he heard a faint shout.
‘Over here. Bring a stretcher.’
I’m coming, Mum. I just have to hold on to the light.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Within a great story, the magic that is sun light is so well defined,
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Thank you Michael
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The tragedies of war — some lives saved, many more lost.
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Thanks for reading
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Love how he is holding onto the light! You incorporated hope into a tragedy. Good job!
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Thank you!
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Perfect
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Thank you so much 🙂
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A fabulous story of positivity using light as a metaphor for hope and deliverance.
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Thank you Neel
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An unfulfilled goal can turn into a life purpose, and spur life. Well delineated mindset!
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Thank you Reena
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Tugged at the heart strings till the end. Iain, for some reason, whether intentional or not,that simple bowl of soup spoke volumes of a time where food was not abundant but what they had was shared. Well done.
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Thank you, glad you picked up on that detail too. Thanks for the prompt 🙂
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Lovely narrative and a hopeful end. Great take on this one.
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Thank you so much
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Amazing story. Filled with emotions, and tension.
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Thank you, very kind 🙂
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Wonderful story! Really powerfully written.
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Thank you so much.
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That is a touching and magical response to the image. I love both the image and the story!
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Thank you so much Pamela 🙂
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Took me a minute to realize that Mum was dead and that he was hanging between life and death.
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It can be read a few different ways James. I have left it open as to the fate of his Mum, she could be sitting at home completely unharmed and unaware of what has happened to her boy, which was how I envisioned it. But I’m happy for readers to take from it what they will.
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Creative take and great cliffhanger!
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Thank you 🙂
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Very touching! I love how you create the scene and time of your story! Great story, Iain!
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Thank you PJ 🙂
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I think this is my favorite of your stories so far. It’s got everything in it. Any chance this is related to the German Blitz attack on Coventry? Either way, I love the way he held on to life by grasping the light. That’s just beautiful. Standing ovation for you!
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I was thinking of the Blitz, although in my head I pictured London, but Coventry went through much the same. Thanks for the high praise – I fear the only way is down with my next effort! 🙂
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I can see this story happening with the blitz in London. His sister safe in the country but he chose to stay with his Mum only to get lost. Glad he held onto the light. That was a powerful beautiful story that took us through a range of emotions.
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Thank you Irene, that was the picture I was striving to paint.
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Beyond beautiful. Really really liked your story and felt his positivity despite the ache in your delicate last line .
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Thank you so much Moon, a very satisfying comment to receive.
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This is so good, Michael!
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Thanks (I think, it’s Iain, not Michael! 🙂 )
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Yikes! How did I goof on that? Apologies!!! And thank you. Your name, all in lower case letters, reads Lain. So, are you Lain or Iain? Better late than never. 🙂
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Iain – I think only in America does it cause confusion with Lain – I get a few people calling me that – I have given up correcting them! 🙂
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I think it’s because of how it looks on your blog photo. Different than an I that is typewritten. Well, this American is happy to be corrected. Thank you, Iain. 🙂
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🙂
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Nice story. It reminds me of something I read years ago by Albert Payson Terhune. I believe it was part of Gray Dawn.
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Thank you, I will look out for it.
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Here a link. Just so you know, the book written in the 1920’s. https://www.amazon.com/Gray-Dawn-Albert-Payson-Terhune/dp/1880158353/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517611436&sr=1-3&keywords=gray+dawn
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That’s great, thanks – I will give it a look 🙂
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Lovely story Iain. I am glad the boy was rescued. Great take on the prompt
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Thank you Meena 🙂
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So powerful.
Ellespeth
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Thank you very much Ellespeth 🙂
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Another interesting wartime tale. I wonder if the stretcher reaches him in time or if he goes to see his mom in Heaven, into the light.
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It can be read either way, I guess it depends if you’re an optimist or a pessimist. Thanks Mandi.
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I think you always have to hope. But weather he lives or dies, either path can be a good one. The chance at life after the war or peace or no pain in the afterlife.
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