He picked her up, holding her close, feeling her warm soft hair against his cheek.
She was light as a feather, his little bundle of joy. He swirled her round the wooden circle, a stage for their bond. He heard that infectious laugh that could not be resisted. He saw the cheeky glint in her eyes, the mischief bursting to explode.
Someone called him from the house.
He felt the cold chill as the warmth of his memory vanished, wisps of comfort dancing away like frozen shrapnel.
The crushing loneliness enveloped him. The frozen watery grave mocked him impassively.
He whispered, ‘Merry Christmas.’
Written for Friday Fictioneers 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.
I’m taking a couple of weeks break over the holidays, so that wraps up 2019 on my blog. Thank you to everyone who has read, liked, commented and shared over the past year, and I hope you all have a great festive season. See you in 2020!
A JUSTIFIED STATE: U.S.A. – AMAZON.COM UNITEDKINGDOM 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 
82 responses to “DAUGHTER”
Ouch! Felt the bitter sweetness. Hard time of year for many.
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Thank you.
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Nice one, Iain.
Seems like memories are on our minds this week.
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Thanks, I suppose it’s that time of year.
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That brought a lump to my throat. Good one!
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Thank you so much.
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A good psychological piece, Iain
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Thanks Neil, have a good Christmas season.
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Whoa. I am loving how people are seeing the lake and incorporating death (murder, suicide, etc) into the holiday season. What a crew we have here!
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Bringing out our reflective sides it seems. I’ve already done a couple of ‘happy’ holiday stories, so felt I should end on a downer!
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Dear Iain,
For all the joy and celebration of the season, it’s also a time of profound sadness for many. You’ve captured it well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle, it does bring out the reflective side.
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A sad reminder that Christmas certainly isn’t a happy time for everyone. I hope that you have a great holiday, as well!
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Thank you Becky, Merry Christmas 🙂
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You caught the sadness that this time of memories can bring.
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Thank you Eugenia. Wishing you a happy holidays.
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How crushingly sad. How very realistically captured. 😦 There are many holding bundles of memories this time of year … and your piece is a tribute to that. May we all have someone to hold, if we so wish, during such times. Well done!
Happy Holidays to you! Na’ama
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Well expressed. Watery grave is sad. Memories & pain still form a part.
X’Mas wishes in advance!
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Thank you Anita, hope you have a nice Christmas too!
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Oh Iain!! My heart hurts.
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Thank you Louise.
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Beautifully done, Iain. You’ve captured the sentiment perfectly.
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Thank you Dale
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This was beautifully written, Iain. Yes, you captured the sadness which some people experience during this festive time of the year. This will be our first Christmas without our son. I wish you and your family a Merry and blessed Christmas.
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Thank you. My heart goes out to you, I hope you manage a peaceful Christmas.
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You’re welcome. Thank you, Iain. With God’s help, we should be able to have a peaceful Christmas.
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Wow, that’s a sad one. My heart hurts for him.
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Thanks Janet.
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Heartbreaking Iain.
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Thanks Di.
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So sad!
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That’s life sometimes.
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Christmas can be one of the hardest days of the year for those who have lost loved ones. Well-written, Iain.
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Thank you Linda
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Oh no that hurts to read. Hoping it is 100% fiction.
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Fiction for me thankfully, but there will be some out there who will be going through this I guess.
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Yes, Iain, or if not a child, another loved one. Very well-written story.
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Crying here!!!
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Thank you – Hope you recover and have a happy holidays! 😉
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Father/daughter bonds are rather neglected, I think. You describe the warmth of one such relationship very powerfully, first in the presence of the daughter and then in her absence. Well done indeed!
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Thank you Penny, very kind.
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[…] Gary Christine of Stine Writing Sadje Iain Kelly Michael of Morpheth Road Barbara aka […]
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Have nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award (don’t know if you ‘do’ awards, but thought of you)
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2019/12/18/blogger-recognition-award-18th-december/
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oh gosh, that was harsh. Great take on the prompt – I can’t imagine (genuinely) how you live with something like that. Not sure if I could go back to that lake.
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Thanks – I agree, how anyone finds the strength to go on after such a tragedy is incredible.
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Gazebos by lakes are indeed the traditional scene for tragic drownings!
Sad memories of a terrible accident. I thought for a minute there was going to be a happy Christmas ending, until his daydreams were shattered.
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I’ve already done happy Christmas this year, time for a sad one!
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At least he has those wonderful memories. We all need something to cling to in times of pain.
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Thanks Russell.
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What an awful thing to happen, and he’ll never get orver it.
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I don’t imagine anyone could. Thanks Liz.
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Hopefully, the memories can bring him healing over time. That’s the key … time. I teared up on this one. Brilliant writing as always! I hope you have a wonderful holiday time with family and friends, Iain.
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Thank you Brenda, much appreciated. Have a great festive season 🙂
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i can’t imagine the grief of losing a child. it must hurt really bad.
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Thank you – I agree, I wonder how anyone could come back from something like that.
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Wonderfully written Iain, and as a father to a daughter, it got me right in the heart. Very well done!
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Thank you Russell, that means a lot. Wishing you a happy festive season.
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Wishing you a festive season as well!
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Oh hell. This got me in the feels. So well done, Iain. I can’t stop thinking about this.
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Thank you Laurie, too kind, glad it made an impact. Have a great Christmas 🙂
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Wow, that really hits a painful spot. Very well done – you bring the heartbreak out brilliantly. Hope you have a fantastic couple of weeks off, Iain. Enjoy the break! See you next year
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Thanks Lynn, have a great festive season 🙂
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See you next year 🙂
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Memories by association, great story.
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Thank you James
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You capture the loss and the bleakness so poignantly Iain. I felt a lump in the throat
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Thank you so much
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Merry Christmas! See ya next year! Great story!
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Thank you – hope you had a great Christmas and New Year!
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Hope you had one as well, Lain. Glad to see you back!
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A poignant piece indeed. Season’s Greetings to you and your family Iain.
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Thank you so much Keith. Hope you had a great Christmas season.
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heartbreaking…
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Thank you
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So sad. Love the image of the girl being swung around within the gazebo. I could hear her laughing.
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Thank you so much.
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Powerful and oh so poignant.
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Thank you so much, hope you had a great holidays 🙂
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Ahh! Very moving..❤
I wish you a blessed holiday season, Iain.🎅🌲
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Thank you so much, hope you had a great holiday season.
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Powerful writing. Christmas can hold so many emotions.
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Thanks Michael, hope you had a great holidays.
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