She’d asked them to brick up the opening but the doctor said it was against building regulations.
Instead she got planters and grew grass in them. After a few weeks it was tall enough to fill half the void.
She tended to it in the hope that it would fill the opening completely.
They tried to remove her planters. She kicked up enough fuss that they were put back.
They asked her why she needed to block out the opening.
She told them: To stop them watching her.
She sat in isolation and hoped no-one would notice her fading away.
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 
93 responses to “SCOPOPHOBIA”
Beautiful!
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Thanks Reena
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Nice story.
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Thank you
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“To stop them watching her” is lovely. I might be tempted to end the story there
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I agree Neil, I was tempted to stop there as well – why should she feel the need to explain anymore than that.
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but the extra line after adds a bit more flavor – glad you did not stop
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Thank you
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Those windows, barely visible between the planters, give the story its impetus. It took me a while to work out what the part of the photo represented. Well done.
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Thank you Sandra
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She wants to fade away in peace behind her planted grasses. As the song says, “Let It Be”.
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That’s all she is asking for. Thanks Jilly
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Very beautiful!
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Thank you Lisa
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I have a similar theme of isolation this week. Beautiful Iain!
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Something in the prompt we both saw. Thanks Jennie 🙂
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Nice! I love the urgency in your writing. Really well done, Iain.
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Thank you so much Emily
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Fascinating and vivid characterisation of someone with a big problem. Brilliantly done, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan
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Invisibility would be a good answer.
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Unfortunately she lives in the real world, not one with superpowers
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I would like to see it continue..
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Thank you
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Great piece, Iain. I like the idea of the grass being a cover, like a lion in the veldt.
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Nice image, Thanks J. Hardy
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“She sat in isolation and hoped no-one would notice her fading away.”
What a wonderful line. It contains so much ambiguity.
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Thank you Penny
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A lot of people need something to hide behind. It’s a scary world at times.
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Very true, a quiet place to escape it all
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Learned something new today! Thanks Iain.
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You’re welcome Janet 🙂
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Let me go, I want to be left alone!
Good stuff
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Thank you
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I have known individuals like this, who shut the world out. A fine piece of writing. Shutting the world out can be dangerous.
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Thanks Michael, it can work both ways, dangerous and yet a sanctuary too
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I think the fading away part adds the punch to your story. We all want to have privacy, but wanting to fade away is heartbreaking. Great story, beautiful writing.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Wonderful story, especially the last line.
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Thank you
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This is a condition experienced by every teenager ever!😊nice depjiction of the urgency she feels in lowering the blind or in this case, growing something to hide behind. I expect one or two writer have a mind case, too…its much easier to spy on people when you, yourself, are hidden.
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It certainly is! 🙂
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Oh my. There’s a deep sadness there. Well-written .
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No one really isolation, unless they have it. Sad.
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Thanks Stu
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nuts. There should have been “undertands” between really and isolation.
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Oh man, I am really off this morning. UNDERSTANDS
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I understand ‘undertands’ 😉
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Kicking up fuss isn’t a quick way to go unnoticed.
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Is it fuss, or desperation?
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Had to look it up, but now things make sense! Thanks for expanding my vocabulary!
Nicely written!
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Thanks Russell
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Great story. I Googled “scopophobia” before reading so I was prepared. I don’t think privacy in your own home is too much to ask for, scopophobia or no.
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Thank you – I guess it matters more to some than others, but we all need that space.
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Nice story. If she does not want to be bothered, please let her be. I learned a new word (scopophobia) today, thanks to you 🙂
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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Interesting tale, Iain. I knew a guy who wouldn’t go to a restaurant because he felt like everyone was watching him eat. It’s wierd the prisons people build for themselves within their own minds.
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Thanks Russell -it’s what makes us so fascinating.
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Dear Iain,
I had to look up Scopophobia. I learned something new…thank you. Your story defines the disorder. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle 🙂
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I feel for her!
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Thanks Dahlia
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I think a person should have the right to fade away privately …… Great take.
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Thank you
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I promise not to peep. Nice one Iain.
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Ha, exactly the sort of person she wants to hide away from! 😉
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This breaks my heart, Iain. To feel the need to shut herself off like that… so sad.
Well done!
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Thanks Dale
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Good portrayal of a phobia.
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Thanks Liz
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Beautifully sad and lonely story. Well-done as always!
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Thank you Brenda 🙂
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Deep thought in this one, Iain. It’s a touching look into this phobia.
Nicely done …
Isadora 😎
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Thank you
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Oh this is heartbreaking in a soft way.
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Thank you Laurie
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as you wrote – I looked at the photo a few times – back and forth – that is how much I feel like what you write connected to the photo!
when you said half covered the opening – I went back to see if it was half – or more- or less
when you wrote they were taken down and put back – looked yet again
just cool how this felt interactive for me – really well done (IMHO)
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Thank you so much, very kind comment 🙂
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✌️
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So peaceful.
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Thank you
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Sanctuary or isolation pit? The fading away lends a very sad lonesome tone to this story.
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Thank you Fatima
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I think that you empathise with the lone woman, and her pushing back against the ‘rules’ . A poignant and recognisable story. Well done.
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Thank you so much
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What a prison the mind can build for some people. Sand and haunting story.
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Thank you
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How sad. Sadder still that she seems to know what is going on and is powerless to stop it.
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She does seem to have given up fighting it. Thanks Dawn.
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Some people go to extraordinary lengths to feel safe.
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Thanks Susan
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So well done – a story to explain the title. I hope she gets some treatment rather than fading away – such a horrible thing to have.
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Thank you Sarah Ann
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