IAIN KELLY

IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY

‘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.


ceayr-2-1
Copyright CE Ayr

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.


christmas 2019

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

70 responses to “IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY”

  1. Sadje Avatar

    Good analogy and good decision

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Sadje.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  2. rochellewisoff Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle

      Like

  3. neilmacdon Avatar

    She’s reached escape velocity

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Stop this roundabout, I want to get off.

      Like

  4. ceayr Avatar

    Excellent, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Tannille Avatar

    I hope she looked both ways!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She has taken in all the options 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  6. krisharun22 Avatar

    Life is a boring roundabout if we just don’t find the right exit. Good day 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Wise words. It’s all about finding the right way for you. Thank you for reading 🙂

      Like

  7. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    This is really good. Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  8. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    Wonderful use of the metaphor. Much better than the worn-out “merry-go-round”.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Eugenia

      Like

  9. Susan A Eames Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan

      Like

  10. pennygadd51 Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly caught him by surprise, I suspect he had no idea it was coming. Thanks Penny

      Like

  11. Reena Saxena Avatar

    The metaphorical thread runs perfectly through the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Reena

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Liz Young Avatar

    Well done – I’ve often thought of doing that, both literally and metaphorically.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Liz – life can be quite a merry-go-round.

      Like

  13. granonine Avatar

    Wonderful! Great writing, great story. I’m so glad she got off the merry-go-round 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Linda

      Liked by 1 person

  14. magickmermaid Avatar

    Been there! Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, glad you got off that roundabout!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Glad she was strong enough to make that decision.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It needed making. Thanks Janet, hope you are well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Dale Avatar

    It appears we took the same path, so to speak,

    Well done, sir!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dale, great minds and all that!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        Indeed!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Well done Iain … .sometimes you just need out of the roundabout …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      We just get too dizzy often… Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

  18. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar

    Good metaphorical use to convey the changed equations. Loved this Kelly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Neel

      Like

  19. Abhijit Ray Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I like your solutions! 🙂

      Like

  20. draliman Avatar

    A tricky situation, so for the best I think.
    Unless she gets run over 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There’s always that chance that fate will intervene!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. James McEwan Avatar

    An escape to freedom. Not always an easy choice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Usually it’s the most difficult option. Thanks James

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Woman walking Max Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  23. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh beautifully done. Layer upon layer but the understanding and the answer are the same. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie, glad you appreciated it.

      Like

  24. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Alas… sometimes there is no other way than to take separate ways…. love the metaphor

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Bjorn

      Like

  25. plaridel Avatar

    excellentt use of metaphor. seamless and very effective. well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Russell Avatar

    Great take on the prompt Iain! It sure sounds like she’s doing the right thing by trying a new path.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Russell

      Liked by 1 person

  27. msjadeli Avatar

    Serendipity brought them there. It’s funny how often that happens in times of change. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The roundabout was just what she needed!

      Liked by 1 person

  28. siobhan1967 Avatar

    That emotional merry-go-round sounds horribly familiar – I remember that making me sick only too well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Glad you managed to survive it.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Metaphor-tastic Iain, number 1 spot too!! Good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, a rare victory!

      Like

  30. 4963andypop Avatar

    Good for her. Going round and rojnd does so dreary, metaphorical or not!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly is!

      Liked by 1 person

  31. magarisa Avatar

    An excellent analogy! Perhaps she should’ve waited until the weather got warmer before getting out of the car and taking a footpath? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      True, hope she brought a warm coat.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    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!”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Men always have difficulty with roundabouts, and it’s always the other driver’s fault!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Nobbinmaug Avatar

        Which is why she got out to walk.

        Liked by 1 person

  33. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Sometimes you just gotta do that. 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Exactly. Thanks Dawn.

      Like

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