She had withered over the cold winter. The gradual process of ageing had taken its final undignified collapse.
Francis wheeled her mother outside into the garden, where the morning sunshine had evaporated the dew and birdsong brought promise of the arriving spring.
As the rays of light beamed over the frail figure, the hunched back straightened, the fingers uncurled, the wrinkled eyes widened.
‘I’ll walk, I think,’ Rose stood and took Francis’ arm in hers.
Leaning on her daughter, they shuffled slowly round the garden.
‘I should like a trip to the seaside when the summer comes.’
Francis smiled.
- Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
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.
Iain Kelly 
98 responses to “WITHERED ROSE”
A hopeful seasonal story Iain
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Thanks Neil, nice to have a hopeful tale now and then 🙂
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Great one.
Please do checkout my blog and leave your comments.
Thank you.
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Thank you
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Dear Iain,
So sensitively and beautifully told. Went straight for the heart.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle 🙂
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God thats beautiful … well written! And I felt the spring coming almost … except have you seen the forecast for UK next week?????
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I know – back to the the middle of winter, just as it was starting to feel a bit warmer – so depressing! 😦
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Oh this is lovely Iain. It brought a lump to my throat.
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Thank you, I’m happy it had an effect.
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🙂
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Such a beautifully written story!
I really liked that her name is Rose too. I am glad she is healing, at least, temporarily. I feel her real spring is her daughter.
I am going to go re-read.🙂
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Thank you Moon, that’s a lovely thought that her daughter is her spring 🙂
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Nice story.
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Thank you. I left a comment on your story, but it didn’t seem to appear, perhaps has been put in your spam folder by mistake.
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That was beautifully done, Iain. Nothing like Spring to give one some “get-up-and-go”!
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Absolutely, just wish it would hurry and get here! 🙂
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Please. Cross the pond and THEN tell me you wish it would hurry up…
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Very touching, Iain. Reminds me of seeing my Dad walking along with my grandmother pushing her walking frame along while he was walking beside her. My Dad was one of six sons and she was so proud of them and how they towered of her, so strong. It’s lovely to reflect.
xx Rowena
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Such a nice memory Rowena, thanks for sharing it.
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Something tells me the summer never comes for her.
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Maybe one last hurrah before winter comes round again.
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A touching story, it is fascinating how the sun and the sea, can lift our spirits.
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Absolutely, thanks Michael
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Okay, I can’t help but wonder if the trip she longs for is metaphorical. Beautifully written & tender tale.
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Interesting reading, it certainly could be.
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This is a lovely tender story, Iain. One thing confused me though to begin with—Francis is the masculine form pf the name, for women it’s Frances.
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You’re right, and I have no idea why I choose to spell it that way. I think it can be used as a female name these days, but traditionally it is male.
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You could be right. If you can call girls Bailey and Riley and Jamie…why not?
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What a warm and hopeful story. Well done.
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Thank you so much.
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A sunny garden can give us all a little lift I think! Lovely story Iain
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I could do with one right now! Thanks Lynn 🙂
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My pleasure
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Lovely story, Iain. I like the way you use her wish to go to the seaside in the summer to tell us how much better she’s feeling.
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Thank you Penny 🙂
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Beautiful 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Lovely sweet story, Iain.
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Thank you Jilly
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A beautiful story Iain, full of hope. I love the relationship between mother and daughter portrayed here.
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Thank you so much
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I know that winter is what ages you… love that the mother looks forward again. I have seen this in my mother in law.
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Thanks Bjorn, I hope she is looking forward to spring returning.
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So lovely to see the mother become hopeful and bloom. There’s something about the promise of spring that makes the world look bright. You really captured that!
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Thanks Alicia, I think most of us feel that way when the days get lighter again 🙂
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Awwweee, such a sweet and touching story.
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Thank you 🙂
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There’s nothing like a little fresh air.
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Invigorating 🙂
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A poignant tale of a “withered Rose”. I loved the first para and as the story begins and ends in a hopeful wish by Rose.
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Thank you Norma 🙂
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Loved the way you told this tale full of hope.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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So touching — I love mother’s optimistic approach toward life. Spring is just around the corner, and then summer too, and let us not think about next winter.
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Exactly Joy, thank you 🙂
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Its amazing what the sunshine will do to lighten a heavy heart. Beautiful story Iain
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Amazing the difference the weather can make to us. Thanks Laurie.
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beautiful story. i guess it’s the time to enjoy every moment while they can.
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Absolutely the intention I was going for. Thank you.
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If we don’t have hopes and dreams we might as well be dead.
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Absolutely, never to old to look forward as well as back.
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Wonderful. I love how she straightens up. No more withered!
I am only troubled about Francis’ smile. Its pretty enigmatic.!
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Enigmatic because she ran out of word count to respond any other way 🙂
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😀😁😂😂😂😂😂
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Oh, that’s lovely. That’s what Spring does.
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It certainly does – looking forward to its arrival soon 🙂
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Such a bittersweet story that speaks deeply to how I’m sure we all feel at times, especially those of us who are older or have older loved ones.
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Thank you Anne
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Very nice, Iain. I really like the picture this paints.
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Thank you so much.
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Oh I love how she uncurls out of her wheelchair as she’s taken outside- like a rose in the sun. I love that her name is rose that she’s hopeful for a future even as she physically ages. This is so beautifully written – what a lovely story. I’ll go read it again now 🙂
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Thank you so much Anna, such lovely feedback. So glad you liked it 🙂
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This is so beautifully penned Iain. Initially I wanted to pen something along these lines but I couldnt translate the images into words, unlike you 🙂
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Thank you so much, very kind 🙂
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Beautiful and touching, I love hope, its so charged with life 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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March and April always puts a spring in my step too. I love her aspiration and the ray of hope. Well done, Iain.
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Thanks Russell
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I hope warmer weather returns, if only for your sake! A hopeful story. Perhaps she still has a few more years left in her.
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Thank you Fatima 🙂
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What a lovely tender story, and close to my heart this week, when I’ve been helping my mother move to may brother’s hoouse.
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Thank you Liz, it is pleasing it struck a chord with you.
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I like how you captured the determination of the old lady, nicely written.
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Thank you James
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Sometimes hope is all we have. Well done ,Iain.
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Thanks Sascha
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This was beautiful, probably one of your best.
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Thank you, very kind.
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It’s a really beautiful story…
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Thank you so much 🙂
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I hope this is Rose’s rallying for the year, and not a short-lived one. The line ‘The gradual process of ageing had taken its final undignified collapse.’ is such a strong one, allowing the imagination to run and run.
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Thank you Sarah Ann, it might be short-lived, but she will definitely make the most of it.
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Heartbreaking at the beginning, and heartwarming at the end. I love how the approach of spring mirrors her recovery.
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Pulled my heart strings. I am currently taking care of a disabled loved one.
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Thank you so much, glad it meant something to you.
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Such a tender and moving story, speaks of love and caring.
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Thank you so much.
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