IAIN KELLY

DAUGHTER

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.’


 

dales-gazebo
Copyright Dale Rogerson

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!


christmas 2019

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STATE OF DENIAL: U.S.A. – AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM   AUSTRALIA  CANADA  INDIA BRAZIL MEXICO GERMANY FRANCE SPAIN ITALY NETHERLANDS JAPAN

82 responses to “DAUGHTER”

  1. Tannille Avatar

    Ouch! Felt the bitter sweetness. Hard time of year for many.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  2. ceayr Avatar

    Nice one, Iain.
    Seems like memories are on our minds this week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, I suppose it’s that time of year.

      Like

  3. tinaor Avatar

    That brought a lump to my throat. Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Like

  4. neilmacdon Avatar

    A good psychological piece, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Neil, have a good Christmas season.

      Like

  5. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      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!

      Like

  6. rochellewisoff Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle, it does bring out the reflective side.

      Like

  7. Becky Ross Michael Avatar

    A sad reminder that Christmas certainly isn’t a happy time for everyone. I hope that you have a great holiday, as well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Becky, Merry Christmas 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    You caught the sadness that this time of memories can bring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Eugenia. Wishing you a happy holidays.

      Like

  9. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    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

    Like

  10. Anita Avatar

    Well expressed. Watery grave is sad. Memories & pain still form a part.
    X’Mas wishes in advance!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Anita, hope you have a nice Christmas too!

      Like

  11. Fabricating Fiction/Louise Jensen Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Louise.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Dale Avatar

    Beautifully done, Iain. You’ve captured the sentiment perfectly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dale

      Liked by 1 person

  13. notestowomen Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. My heart goes out to you, I hope you manage a peaceful Christmas.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. notestowomen Avatar

        You’re welcome. Thank you, Iain. With God’s help, we should be able to have a peaceful Christmas.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Wow, that’s a sad one. My heart hurts for him.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Janet.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Heartbreaking Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s life sometimes.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. granonine Avatar

    Christmas can be one of the hardest days of the year for those who have lost loved ones. Well-written, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Linda

      Like

  17. msjadeli Avatar

    Oh no that hurts to read. Hoping it is 100% fiction.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Fiction for me thankfully, but there will be some out there who will be going through this I guess.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        Yes, Iain, or if not a child, another loved one. Very well-written story.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Jewel Ingalls Avatar

    Crying here!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – Hope you recover and have a happy holidays! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  19. pennygadd51 Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Penny, very kind.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Blogger Recognition Award 18th December | pensitivity101 Avatar

    […] Gary Christine of Stine Writing Sadje Iain Kelly Michael of Morpheth Road Barbara aka […]

    Like

  21. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Have nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award (don’t know if you ‘do’ awards, but thought of you)

    Blogger Recognition Award 18th December

    Like

  22. siobhan1967 Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks – I agree, how anyone finds the strength to go on after such a tragedy is incredible.

      Like

  23. draliman Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’ve already done happy Christmas this year, time for a sad one!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Russell Gayer Avatar

    At least he has those wonderful memories. We all need something to cling to in times of pain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell.

      Like

  25. Liz Young Avatar

    What an awful thing to happen, and he’ll never get orver it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I don’t imagine anyone could. Thanks Liz.

      Like

  26. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Brenda, much appreciated. Have a great festive season 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  27. plaridel Avatar

    i can’t imagine the grief of losing a child. it must hurt really bad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – I agree, I wonder how anyone could come back from something like that.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Russell Avatar

    Wonderfully written Iain, and as a father to a daughter, it got me right in the heart. Very well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Russell, that means a lot. Wishing you a happy festive season.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Russell Avatar

        Wishing you a festive season as well!

        Liked by 1 person

  29. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh hell. This got me in the feels. So well done, Iain. I can’t stop thinking about this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie, too kind, glad it made an impact. Have a great Christmas 🙂

      Like

  30. Lynn Love Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Lynn, have a great festive season 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        See you next year 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  31. James McEwan Avatar

    Memories by association, great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you James

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Woman walking Max Avatar

    You capture the loss and the bleakness so poignantly Iain. I felt a lump in the throat

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  33. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    Merry Christmas! See ya next year! Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – hope you had a great Christmas and New Year!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. bearmkwa Avatar
        bearmkwa

        Hope you had one as well, Lain. Glad to see you back!

        Liked by 1 person

  34. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    A poignant piece indeed. Season’s Greetings to you and your family Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Keith. Hope you had a great Christmas season.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. csheldonblog Avatar

    heartbreaking…

    Liked by 1 person

  36. 4963andypop Avatar

    So sad. Love the image of the girl being swung around within the gazebo. I could hear her laughing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  37. magarisa Avatar

    Powerful and oh so poignant.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much, hope you had a great holidays 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  38. The Little Mermaid Avatar

    Ahh! Very moving..❤

    I wish you a blessed holiday season, Iain.🎅🌲

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much, hope you had a great holiday season.

      Like

  39. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Powerful writing. Christmas can hold so many emotions.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, hope you had a great holidays.

      Like

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