‘We’ve been here before,’ she said. She didn’t just meant the roundabout they were passing for the fifth time.
They were hopelessly lost. He promised each time that he would change.
This time she needed to take a new direction. She needed to get off this emotional merry-go-round for good.
‘We’ve tried every exit,’ she said, meaning both their current driving predicament and their relationship.
He circled the roundabout, looking for the right way out.
‘Stop,’ she told him. ‘I’m getting out.’
She left him staring at the open door as she walked the footpath she had never taken before.
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.
A JUSTIFIED STATE: U.S.A. – AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA INDIA BRAZIL MEXICO GERMANY FRANCE SPAIN ITALY NETHERLANDS JAPAN
STATE OF DENIAL: U.S.A. – AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA INDIA BRAZIL MEXICO GERMANY FRANCE SPAIN ITALY NETHERLANDS JAPAN
Iain Kelly 
70 responses to “IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY”
Good analogy and good decision
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Thank you Sadje.
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You’re welcome 😉
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Dear Iain,
I hope she’s not too far from home. I like the way you used the roundabout as a metaphor for the relationship.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle
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She’s reached escape velocity
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Stop this roundabout, I want to get off.
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Excellent, Iain
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Thank you
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I hope she looked both ways!
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She has taken in all the options 😉
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Life is a boring roundabout if we just don’t find the right exit. Good day 🙂
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Wise words. It’s all about finding the right way for you. Thank you for reading 🙂
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This is really good. Great story!
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Thank you so much
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Wonderful use of the metaphor. Much better than the worn-out “merry-go-round”.
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Thank you Eugenia
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Sometimes you just have to make a brave decision and leave a situation. Nice take on the photo prompt, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan
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Nice writing, Iain. I liked him staring at the open door. It brought with it the thought of his mouth open with astonishment and dismay.
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It certainly caught him by surprise, I suspect he had no idea it was coming. Thanks Penny
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The metaphorical thread runs perfectly through the story.
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Thank you Reena
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Well done – I’ve often thought of doing that, both literally and metaphorically.
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Thank you Liz – life can be quite a merry-go-round.
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Wonderful! Great writing, great story. I’m so glad she got off the merry-go-round 🙂
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Thank you so much Linda
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Been there! Great story!
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Thank you, glad you got off that roundabout!
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Glad she was strong enough to make that decision.
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It needed making. Thanks Janet, hope you are well 🙂
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It appears we took the same path, so to speak,
Well done, sir!
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Thanks Dale, great minds and all that!
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Indeed!
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Well done Iain … .sometimes you just need out of the roundabout …
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We just get too dizzy often… Thank you
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🙂
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Good metaphorical use to convey the changed equations. Loved this Kelly.
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Thank you Neel
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For driving he should’ve take the help of a GPS. For relationship matter, may be a little break would not harm if they have reached an impasse. Nice take on the prompt.
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Ha, I like your solutions! 🙂
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A tricky situation, so for the best I think.
Unless she gets run over 🙂
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There’s always that chance that fate will intervene!
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An escape to freedom. Not always an easy choice.
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Usually it’s the most difficult option. Thanks James
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I really liked the way you used the roundabout, of choices, and being lost. Think the ending rang so true – she had to take a risk to break the cycle. Well done.
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Thank you so much
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Oh beautifully done. Layer upon layer but the understanding and the answer are the same. Well done.
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Thank you Laurie, glad you appreciated it.
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Alas… sometimes there is no other way than to take separate ways…. love the metaphor
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Thanks Bjorn
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excellentt use of metaphor. seamless and very effective. well done.
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Thank you
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Great take on the prompt Iain! It sure sounds like she’s doing the right thing by trying a new path.
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Thank you Russell
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Serendipity brought them there. It’s funny how often that happens in times of change. Good story.
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The roundabout was just what she needed!
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That emotional merry-go-round sounds horribly familiar – I remember that making me sick only too well.
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Glad you managed to survive it.
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Metaphor-tastic Iain, number 1 spot too!! Good work.
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Thank you, a rare victory!
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Good for her. Going round and rojnd does so dreary, metaphorical or not!
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It certainly is!
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An excellent analogy! Perhaps she should’ve waited until the weather got warmer before getting out of the car and taking a footpath? 😉
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True, hope she brought a warm coat.
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I think the problem is he’s driving on the wrong side of the car and street. It’s very confusing.
Nice blend of metaphor and reality. Those metaphorical roundabouts can be difficult to break free from. The real roundabouts can be fun. If no one’s around, I’ll sometimes drive in circles and say, “Wee!”
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Men always have difficulty with roundabouts, and it’s always the other driver’s fault!
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Which is why she got out to walk.
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Sometimes you just gotta do that. 😦
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Exactly. Thanks Dawn.
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