That was it after twenty-five years.
A note on the table when he got home from work, the suitcases gone, an empty wardrobe.
He re-read: ‘can’t carry on like this… your temper… mood swings… deserve better… fighting… better for us both.’
He felt the anger building. He crumpled the note in a clenched fist.
The crystal bowl on the table stared at him, their fifteenth anniversary gift.
He lashed out, sending it flying over the edge.
It hit the ground with a dull thud. It didn’t shatter or break, it just sat there.
He slumped futilely on the chair, alone.
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.
The bowl didn’t break but something did. Powerful tale!
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Exactly, thank you.
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The sense of powerlessness is palpable
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Thanks Neil, for once he is not the one in control.
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So many feelings in such a short story. Brilliant write, Iain.
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Thank you so much Annie
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You’re most welcome!
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Dear Iain
So much emotion. And the throwing of the bowl is a clue as to why she might’ve left. Well done.
Shalom
Rochelle
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Precisely, thank you Rochelle
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The bowl was trying to tell him something. Not sure what though!
Click to read my FriFic tale
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Even the bowl has had enough of him.
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I love the irony of the bowl not shattering despite the shattered marriage. You really punch that home by telling us it’s an anniversary gift. Excellent!
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You did a great job portraying both his and her emotions. Lovely piece Iain.
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Thank you so much Em
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Scary guy. And yeah, leaded crystal doesn’t shatter as easily as the human heart. Good one.
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Thank you so much
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His frustration comes through clearly. The anniversary bowl is a lovely subtle touch.
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Thank you Jilly
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Well, that’s the end of that.
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Some things do just end with a full stop.
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Maybe it didn’t break because it wasn’t glass? A subtle hint that all was not what it appeared to be.
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Made of stronger stuff perhaps? Thanks DI
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Breaking of glass is a bad portend. The dispute is likely to resolve. Great take.
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Interesting reading, thank you
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Liking the emotion in this short tale. Anger causes a lot of hurt and breakages.
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Thank you
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Great write Iain.
Marriages are often easier to break than crystal glass bowls.
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And more difficult to mend, thanks Mike
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Grim tale, well told, as always.
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Thank you CE
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What a great piece of writing. You have shown both side’s emotions perfectly.
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Thank you Clare
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The bowl was more robust than their relationship. Sad but with a real truth to it. Nicely done Iain
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Thanks Lynn
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My pleasure
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This is a very good piece, Iain.
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Thank you so much Robbie
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You showed so many emotions and the passage of time very succinctly. The letter, I assume chopped to show only the high points, worked well. Kudos.
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Thank you Alicia, chopped also to fit the word count 😉
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And the word count, but it also made it a bit harsh, informative and blunt. Just as it should have been.
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I love the little detail of how the bowl is a 15th anniversary gift but they’ve been married for 25 years – conveys a whole decade of misery!
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Thank you, indeed it does.
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Not even his temper can swing anymore… I think he has fallen to the bottom.
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He certainly has, and perhaps rightly so.
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Great story Iain. I really loved that the bowl didn’t break. A metaphor perhaps for the unexpected consequences of his actions.
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Exactly, not the first thing his anger has failed to break…
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What a nice, strong bowl. Too bad he didn’t reconsider his temper sooner.
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Indeed Alice, thanks for reading.
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The bowl nailed it, Iain. Well done!
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Thank you 🙂
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Very powerful.
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Thanks Lisa
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What a powerful story Iain. I like the way you emphasised how he was shattered by not shattering the bowl.
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Thanks Irene
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Took her long enough, I’m thinking… And it the bowl not breaking sure is a funny sign…
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Thanks Dale
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So much anger, it all explains why she left. The bowl did not shatter but the marriage did. Nice one.
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Thank you
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The bowl not breaking makes this even more powerful. Nice one!
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Thank you
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What a powerful imagery! Within such few words the range of emotions play out so well. Well done, Iain. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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That was quite different from your usual stuff Ian. He deserved it. Loved this one
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Thank you so much Aks
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I am bowled with the ending! amazing
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Thank you
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A lovely snapshot of love’s graveyard accepting another casualty!
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Thanks Vivian, what a nice expression 🙂
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🙂
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Ha! The bowl remained unbroken. Brilliant
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Thanks Laurie 🙂
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his rage was understandable. that the crystal bowl didn’t shatter seemed to offer a glimpse of hope of reconciliation.
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Possibly, thank you 🙂
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May be that’s why she’s gone. He’ll never change, will he? I think, even the bowl knows that. 🙂
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No, he won’t. Thanks Norma
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Great story Iain…so very real. I love that the bowl didn’t shatter!
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Thanks Anna
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You pack so much into one hundred words. Well-written as always. The emotion was palpable. The bowl not shattering might be a sign. Reconciliation? =)
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Or futility? Depends how he takes it I guess. Thanks Brenda
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I really felt the futility of it.
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Thanks Luke
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Poor chap – even that didn’t work out as he planned!
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Nope, he’s at a low point.
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Poor guy. He never had a chance of shattering a bowl like that, though. They weigh a ton, it would drop like a bowling ball, haha!
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🙂 Thanks Cheney
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Ah, the only solid thing in their relationship was the crystal bowl, perhaps he’ll realise the omen. Perhaps not. You’ve raised a difficult subject in a focused few words, not easy.
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Thank you James, I like your interpretation of the bowl.
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A perfectly captured moment – very nicely done Iain!
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Thank you Dahlia
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Perhaps he should take up bowling. But I guess he’d just throw a gutter ball.
I feel sorry for both of them. Fifteen years is a good chunk of your life to have invested in a relationship just to let it go. He needs to go to anger management call, big time.
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He certainly does. Thanks Russell.
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Felt his emotions…great job!
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Thank you Donna
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His temper may have been what pushed her out the door. Sad …. a highly emotional story on the photo prompt. Loved it ….
Isadora 😎
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Thank you Isadora 🙂
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Good story, full of emotion.
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Thank you Dawn
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That is one strong bowl, and must have dealt him another blow in its non-shattering – even it is against him..
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When you’ve hit rock bottom there’s nowhere lower to go.
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This was so well put, Ian!
Filled with emotions!
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Thank you
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Shattered is the perfect title for this story–especially since it seems all but the bowl were left that way. I really liked that the bowl didn’t break. It made your story all the more powerful and even made me feel some sympathy for the man.
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Thanks Jan, very kind.
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