Their own quiet spot: the water brown from the muddy bed; the beach a mixture of sand and silt; the tree that grew out horizontally from the water’s edge before curving up towards the heavens.
It was here they had first stolen away together, away from the group of friends hanging around the park in the village. That first embrace, that first nervous kiss.
It was here that they had kept returning to, unable to keep away from each other, unable to keep their hands off each other, unable to stop the desire to be together: to kiss; to feel; to eventually, naturally, blissfully consummate their love for each other.
Here was their tranquillity, their escape, where they could be themselves, hidden from the prying eyes of the world.
They they barely spoke to each other at school to avoid rumour, and in amongst a group of friends their only contact was furtive and stolen glances.
Until one day they had been found, lying together in their quiet spot, mid-embrace, mid-kiss, lying on the silty-sand next to the muddy brown water. They heard the laughs, the shouts, the whistles, the anger as they separated and fled.
It was from the tree that grew out from the water’s edge before curving towards the heavens that they were found hanging. Their, cold, dead hands still entwined.
The two boys who could only find their tranquillity by leaving the cruel, unaccepting world behind.

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt – Tranquil curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.
My first novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
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This is so sad Iain.
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Thank you Di
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I was checking our purple for my post, and didn’t realise it can be associated with the gay community. Makes your post more poignant.
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One of those things that adds a little if you know it, but doesn’t lose anything if you don’t.
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It was very subtle when I realised.
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May there be a time when two lovers never have to worry what will happen when they are caught.
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Here, here. Thanks Trent
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Oh man! I had a feeling something was coming as I tried to not let myself get too swept away in the happiness at the beginning but didn’t see that coming. So very sad, once again your fiction becomes too real. Very well written!
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Thank you so much Joy, this one seems to have got a lot of reaction
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You are very welcome, it is a such a relevant topic in today’s times.
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo and commented:
First in this week…
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It was too beautiful for there not to be tragedy at the end. Love should never have to hide.
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Thanks Sue
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The place certainly offers peace and privacy for intimate moments. Nicely told.
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Thank you Abhijit
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Beautifully written!
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Thank you so much
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Ahhh… Well done!
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Thank you Kevin
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So tragic, Iain. A beautiful piece.
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Thank you Roberta
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Another Iain twisted ending. Very well done.
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Thanks Janet.
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So utterly sad and unnecessary, and so effectively expressed.
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Thank you so much Joy
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😭😭😭😭😭😭 Beautifully written, Ian!
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Thank you so much Barb
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Absolutely brilliant.
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Thank you so much Jewel
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Very captivating. Unexpected twist and so sad!
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Glad you liked it, thank you
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A brilliantly told and tragically sad tale.
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Thank you, much appreciated.
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How sad. At least they had that special place for a while. Perhaps some day all will be accepted as they are.
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Here’s hoping. Thanks Michele
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Agonizingly tragic.
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Thank you Ennle
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Most welcome.
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Uh oh.. I’m beginning to think we killed them all this week! Excellent write iain!
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Thank you Violet
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So sad!
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Thanks Jennie
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You’re welcome, Iain.
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Quite a shock there at the end. How sad.
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