Wind blew through the trees, blowing the snow up from the ground, gusting around Guy’s face. He pulled his collar up further.

Across the park he watched Madeline, her bright green umbrella luminous against the white background. Their daughter, Francis, gleefully skipped around her.

‘She’s moved on, married someone else, she’s happy. Leave them be.’

But he couldn’t. He hadn’t survived that hell to come back and find he had lost everything after all.

He inhaled a deep breath of cold air and stepped forward.

Snow swirled round the limping figure as he crossed the space between them.

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Copyright Dale Rogerson

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 photo could only remind me of the wonderful film ‘Umbrellas of Cherbourg,‘ so I couldn’t resist a rewriting of that film’s ending.

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113 thoughts on “THE UMBRELLAS OF NEW YORK”

      1. This is one of the things about the 100 word platform I enjoy as a writer, spinning just enough of the tale to draw in the reader, but allowing them to drive the story starting on word 101.

        Liked by 2 people

  9. How does he know he has lost everything? His wife and daughters still alive. Hope he doesn’t do anything foolish.

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  10. Thinking Cast Away with Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt where she married someone else.
    Haven’t seen the film you mention though.
    I’m optimistic that once she gets over the shock of seeing him, they can reach a compromise for Madeline’s sake if nothing else Depends on her new husband of course..

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      2. A little, but all done as a musical – not a typical musical though, no big bombastic numbers, but even the dialogue is sung. You kind of have to see it to understand, it’s quite different from any other film I know of!

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    1. You appear to be one of the few romantics commenting today, I’m glad someone is imagining a happy ending for them 🙂 If you ever find a copy, well worth a watch for something different.

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  12. Good, tense writing, Iain. The contrast between the daughter’s glee, the gaiety of the umbrella, and the limping, monochrome figure is made stark by your decision to set the story in a snowy park.
    I’m afraid I can’t see a happy outcome. If he’d wanted to attempt a reconciliation, he would surely have made a prior arrangement? If he wanted to negotiate access to his daughter he would have done it in an office with a lawyer present. As it is we must just hope that nobody is physically harmed.

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      1. Of course there should be a relationship with his daughter. Not sure there could or should be between him and his wife who is no longer his wife. Lots of complicated emotions and tension there.

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Lovely take, Iain. I, for one, choose to think he wants to close the gap, if only to become friends again and have contact with his daughter in a more loving way…

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  30. An intriguing and sad story, it left me wondering about so many things. He’d been through so much only to find she’d moved on. I watched the trailer for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, now I’ll have to watch it.

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  32. I really like the way you have ‘crafted’ the story-line – not a word wasted, to achieve a vivid and gripping sequence of events. As others have said, it ends with a cliff hanger… what will he do ? Good writing.

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  35. The comments helped explain my question: what hell was he coming from. I wasnt sure when i read it whether the limping figure was the returned soldier, presumed dead, or if it was another more malignant chacter. I was convinced the soldiers intentions were good, personally.

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  36. I think he’s just going to tell her that he still misses her. After that, he would just go on his way but not before wishing her well. That’s it, a bittersweet ending 🙂 I like the emotional connect your story had.

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      1. Oh, I think I misunderstood! I thought that the girl in the story was a spouse/lover from before. Daughter changes things!

        Maybe I should watch the movie.

        Liked by 1 person

  44. Great pictures of people and umbrellas dancing against the snow. I imagine wife and child will be shocked and then pleased to have him back. Only time will tell if they can make a go of it after so long.

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  48. I know that the movie was a three-part love story, which I’ve never seen. (And, I only know that because when I saw umbrella the title came to me and I looked it up. 🙂 )

    I have to presume that he’s come back from war and still loves his wife. What else to do other than make yourself and your love known?

    Well done, Iain!

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