A FINAL FAREWELL

Sweep, sweep.

I watch the worker brush the final bits of debris into the pile of rubble.

The abandoned café had been the perfect spot. That’s why I’d used it. The area was a wasteland of crumbling warehouses, forsaken ghettos and no witnesses.

Then the Port Authority announced their plans for waterfront renewal. Millions of investment to resurrect the city eyesore. The bulldozers moved in, old apartments were flattened, rusting shipyards were replaced with luxury high-rises.

Always workers and security guards hanging around, never a chance to extricate the evidence. My future was in the hands of Fate.

Now I’m watching a digger shovelling the pile of café remains into a huge dumper truck. The ice-cream freezer sits at the side.

The moment of truth – up the freezer goes. As it falls into the dumper truck I see the lid open a fraction, enough for that familiar slender hand to make a brief wave, before disappearing.

One last farewell.

The workers don’t notice. I can breathe again. The new apartments look nice. I might talk to my estate agent.


ce-ayr-7
Copyright CE Ayr

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Susan Spaulding. For more details visit HERE.

To read more of the stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

34 responses to “A FINAL FAREWELL”

  1. jenanita01 Avatar

    Short and to the point, very good indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Another good one Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Di

      Liked by 1 person

  3. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Oh yes that’s good! Love that.
    I thought for one minute you were leaving what with the title!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, not yet anyway!

      Like

  4. Joe Owens Avatar

    There is so much murder and mayhem in the stores. I feel like I missed an indicator! This is really tense, Iain, good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yeah, another pile of dead bodies, happens most weeks!

      Like

  5. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Farewell and thanks for all the ice lollies! Your secret’s safe with me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  6. ceayr Avatar

    You usual quality story, Iain.
    Or should I say (n)ice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks CE, much appreciated.

      Like

  7. aheartforafrica641064503 Avatar
    aheartforafrica641064503

    Once again, you have crafted a brilliant and chilling tale. Well, done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    This time it seems that fate was kind to the murder?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sometimes they do get away with it!

      Like

  9. Abhijit Ray Avatar
    Abhijit Ray

    Nice story with such a different angle.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. JS Brand Avatar

    Really well told Iain. The fact that the nights are drawing in seems to darkening your mood.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’ll try for comedy next week 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. JS Brand Avatar

        Go with your muse Iain. It never lets you down.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Darnell Cureton Avatar

    Gruesome… I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Darnell 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Good one, Iain, again. I knew right away that there was some evidence somewhere. The wave goodbye is a nice touch.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Janet 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Susan Avatar

    Intriguing as always, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan

      Liked by 1 person

  14. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    Freezers were ‘invented’ to keep bodies in them 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They do seem to be used for that more than anything else in fiction!

      Like

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