A SEARCH FOR THE SERENE

~ Iain Kelly

I lit out for the coast searching for serenity. I had no idea if it would be there or not, but it sure as hell wasn’t where I was coming from so I had nothing to lose.

Hitch-hiking across the country wasn’t for me. I’m not a people person and the thought of making small talk filled me with dread. I huddled up against the cold as I stowed away on freight trains and managed to hide in the back of a couple of truck trailers. So long as they were heading east I was going in the right direction and leaving my troubles behind.

The further I went the calmer I felt. The weight of what I had left behind lifted from my shoulders. I kept an eye on newspapers and saw no mention of me, but the nationals wouldn’t care about me anyway. The local papers might have my disappearance on the front page, the upcoming trial was a big deal, but I couldn’t get local papers out here.

A lot of people would criticise me for running away. They would say I should have stayed to fix the problems I had helped make and they are probably right, but I never claimed to be a strong person. I’m weak and a coward and I have no problem admitting it. I definitely wasn’t cut out to be a dealer, even a small-time one, and get involved with those kind of people.

Who would find me first? The dealers or the police? Tomorrow I was meant to be in court and name names. I’m no informer. Either of them might go for my girl and my son in revenge. I told them to get out but she wouldn’t listen to me, same as always. I figure so long as I am out the way they will be alright in the end.

So it’s just me and the clear blue sea and the clouded blue sky. I could stand here and wait. I will hear footsteps on the pebble beach as they approach me. I will hear the click of the gun being cocked and I will welcome the serenity that the bullet will bring. I’ll just be glad it’s all over.

Copyright Sue Vincent

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt: Serenity curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.

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Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

36 thoughts on “A SEARCH FOR THE SERENE”

  5. Interesting thoughts prompted from this photo and interesting perspective of a character and situation. I can see the photo could look either peaceful or moody.

    I don’t think I would be any good at writing flash fiction. I have a hard time writing compactly. I do have one short story (not flash fiction) published as an ebook, but most of my attempts to write short stories turn into novels in progress. 😛 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Ha, well it does take a bit of practice, and it is a useful tool to help you edit and write only what is needed to tell your story, which I definitely feel has helped my novel writing over the last couple of years. Hope you will give it a try 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Pingback: A Search for the Serene ~ Iain Kelly #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo
  16. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up: Serenity #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

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