IAIN KELLY

SCOPOPHOBIA

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.


ronda-del-boccio (1)
Copyright Ronda Del Boccio

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.

93 responses to “SCOPOPHOBIA”

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Reena

      Liked by 1 person

  1. abhiray59 Avatar
    abhiray59

    Nice story.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    “To stop them watching her” is lovely. I might be tempted to end the story there

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I agree Neil, I was tempted to stop there as well – why should she feel the need to explain anymore than that.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. prior.. Avatar

        but the extra line after adds a bit more flavor – glad you did not stop

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Thank you

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Sandra Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Sandra

      Like

  4. jillyfunnell Avatar

    She wants to fade away in peace behind her planted grasses. As the song says, “Let It Be”.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s all she is asking for. Thanks Jilly

      Liked by 1 person

  5. lisarey1990 Avatar

    Very beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lisa

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Jennifer Kennedy Avatar

    I have a similar theme of isolation this week. Beautiful Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Something in the prompt we both saw. Thanks Jennie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Nice! I love the urgency in your writing. Really well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Emily

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Fascinating and vivid characterisation of someone with a big problem. Brilliantly done, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan

      Like

  9. James Avatar

    Invisibility would be a good answer.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Unfortunately she lives in the real world, not one with superpowers

      Like

  10. syncwithdeep Avatar
    syncwithdeep

    I would like to see it continue..

    Liked by 1 person

  11. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Great piece, Iain. I like the idea of the grass being a cover, like a lion in the veldt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Nice image, Thanks J. Hardy

      Liked by 1 person

  12. pennygadd51 Avatar

    “She sat in isolation and hoped no-one would notice her fading away.”
    What a wonderful line. It contains so much ambiguity.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  13. paulmclem Avatar
    paulmclem

    A lot of people need something to hide behind. It’s a scary world at times.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very true, a quiet place to escape it all

      Like

  14. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Learned something new today! Thanks Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome Janet 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Let me go, I want to be left alone!
    Good stuff

    Liked by 1 person

  16. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I have known individuals like this, who shut the world out. A fine piece of writing. Shutting the world out can be dangerous.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, it can work both ways, dangerous and yet a sanctuary too

      Liked by 1 person

  17. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Wonderful story, especially the last line.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. 4963andypop Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly is! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. granonine Avatar

    Oh my. There’s a deep sadness there. Well-written .

    Like

  21. StuHN Avatar

    No one really isolation, unless they have it. Sad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      1. StuHN Avatar

        nuts. There should have been “undertands” between really and isolation.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. StuHN Avatar

        Oh man, I am really off this morning. UNDERSTANDS

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Iain Kelly Avatar

        I understand ‘undertands’ 😉

        Like

  22. Alice Audrey Avatar

    Kicking up fuss isn’t a quick way to go unnoticed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Is it fuss, or desperation?

      Like

  23. Russell Avatar

    Had to look it up, but now things make sense! Thanks for expanding my vocabulary!

    Nicely written!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell

      Liked by 1 person

  24. draliman Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – I guess it matters more to some than others, but we all need that space.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Piyali Avatar

    Nice story. If she does not want to be bothered, please let her be. I learned a new word (scopophobia) today, thanks to you 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re very welcome 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Russell Gayer Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell -it’s what makes us so fascinating.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    I had to look up Scopophobia. I learned something new…thank you. Your story defines the disorder. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle 🙂

      Like

  28. Dahlia Avatar

    I feel for her!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dahlia

      Liked by 1 person

  29. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    I think a person should have the right to fade away privately …… Great take.

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    I promise not to peep. Nice one Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, exactly the sort of person she wants to hide away from! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Dale Avatar

    This breaks my heart, Iain. To feel the need to shut herself off like that… so sad.
    Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  32. liz young Avatar

    Good portrayal of a phobia.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  33. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    Beautifully sad and lonely story. Well-done as always!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Brenda 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    Deep thought in this one, Iain. It’s a touching look into this phobia.
    Nicely done …
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh this is heartbreaking in a soft way.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie

      Like

  36. prior.. Avatar

    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)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much, very kind comment 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. prior.. Avatar
  37. anuragbakhshi Avatar
  38. Fatima Fakier Avatar

    Sanctuary or isolation pit? The fading away lends a very sad lonesome tone to this story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Fatima

      Like

  39. Woman walking Max Avatar

    I think that you empathise with the lone woman, and her pushing back against the ‘rules’ . A poignant and recognisable story. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  40. subroto Avatar

    What a prison the mind can build for some people. Sand and haunting story.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    How sad. Sadder still that she seems to know what is going on and is powerless to stop it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She does seem to have given up fighting it. Thanks Dawn.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Susan Avatar

    Some people go to extraordinary lengths to feel safe.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Like

  43. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Sarah Ann

      Like

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