IAIN KELLY

HE WAITED SILENTLY

The way was clear, the route less so.

They could all picture it. The blue skies, the light glinting on the water, the sand between their toes.

And they had been told this was the way, so they followed.

Many were soon lost, or sacrificed, or dismissed. The leaders had no time for weakness or doubt. They pressed on for the promised land, pursuing a distant memory.

No one could reclaim it in the end. It was gone, along with belief. Had it ever existed in the first place? No one could be sure.

On the beach, he waited silently.


Copyright CE Ayr

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.

Also linking to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge for today: Route.


For those who haven’t yet read my trilogy of novels, The State Trilogy is now available on Amazon in one collected volume on Kindle and in paperback. Three books in one (with a modest saving compared to buying them all individually!).

68 responses to “HE WAITED SILENTLY”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    Wonderfully atmospheric, Iain. There is something very human about pursuing a goal whose route is unknown

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much Neil. We’re very goal orientated as a species.

      Like

  2. ceayr Avatar

    I like the casual ‘or sacrificed’.
    Great voice, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks CE, yep, plenty of expendable followers along the way.

      Like

  3. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    A distant memory, you have got me thinking.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, glad it got you thinking.

      Like

  4. Sadje Avatar

    Your story is symbolic for life itself

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sadje 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome

        Liked by 1 person

  5. jenne49 Avatar

    Wow, life summed up. ‘They had been told…’ And the enigmatic ‘he’ waiting on the shore. Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much for the lovely comment 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Anita Avatar

    Much said, Iain.
    We follow a route thinking it’s the only way- because we have been told.
    We wait, but do we get what we had set out for?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very few reach the promised land. Thanks Anita

      Like

  7. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    A lot of story in 100 words. I could feel the sand between my toes and dense silence amid the ocean waves.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle, as always 🙂

      Like

  8. Dale Avatar

    Lovely atmospheric writing. A true explorer at heart…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dale, looking forward to being allowed out to explore again soon!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        I hear you! Enough already!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. subroto Avatar

    Theirs not to make reply,
    Theirs not to reason why,
    Theirs but to do and die

    I remembered those lines while reading this. Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Appropriate lines. Thank you

      Like

  10. msjadeli Avatar

    Nice prose passage, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. pensitivity101 Avatar

    I enjoyed this very much Iain. Good take on the prompt today.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Di, much appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

      1. pensitivity101 Avatar

        You’re welcome Iain

        Liked by 1 person

  12. elmowrites Avatar

    I have so many questions! Love the atmosphere in this, bleak but powerful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated 🙂

      Like

  13. magickmermaid Avatar

    Hopefully as he waits on the shore he will think of new path to pursue.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure something will spring to mind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    The promised land., somewhere many of us wonder about. An emotive piece indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith, at the moment I would take a trip to the beach as the promised land!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    A tragic feel to this one, reaching toward a goal that never was. The ending was perfect!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Like

  16. granonine Avatar

    I promise you, I wrote mine BEFORE I read yours :). There is the same sense of desolation, You can feel it in the pit of your stomach.

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Must be something in the picture. Thanks Linda

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Dora Avatar

    Absolutely loved this one. And since I’m out of words at the moment, I’ll just leave it at that.🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s all I need to hear 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    I’m wrapped in your blanket of milieu.
    Bravo, Iain. As always, unfolding a vision with your words.
    Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Bear Avatar

    I like this. It has… hmm… a quality of supernatural existence… existential… oh, hell, I can’t find the word I want today. E-ether… something. Oh, well, I enjoyed reading this today. Something to think about…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Enjoyment is enough. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Bear Avatar

        ethereal… that’s the word. Had to stop thinking about it to find it.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Tannille Avatar

    Perhaps the atmosphere will offer new hopes and dreams. Great poetic prose.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much. Beach, sea, sunshine – there’s always hope if you can find it.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. GHLearner Avatar
    GHLearner

    I bet that none of the leaders was sacrificed or dismissed… Great atmosphere, Ian, and so true.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Of course not! Thanks Gaby.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. draliman Avatar

    A shame they lost their belief in the end, it was something to hold on to. Though they sounded pretty cold-blooded about their pursuit of that belief.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think it’s fair to say some of the most devoted believers are also some of the most cold-blooded and intolerant of people. Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    A poignant, tending to rather grim tale. History shows us many “sheep’ ready to follow some dream — and charismatic visionaries ready to lead, or use, the gullible.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, it’s an enduring fact of human history. Thanks Christine.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. plaridel Avatar

    he could wait forever. it doesn’t matter for someone who believes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Let’s hope he isn’t disappointed in the end.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    This is a great line: “The way was clear, the route less so.” That’s the perfect opening. It takes us right into the contrast between belief and reality.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, I liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Girl in Niagara Avatar

    A mysterious piece that feels very poetic. Love the words you chose to paint that picture.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much

      Liked by 1 person

  27. ahtdoucette Avatar

    Powerful testament to the need for mercy if we are ever going to make *real* progress. I’m with the guy waiting on the beach and with those who progress that way, all of which feels very Zen to me. The whole reflection feels a bit Zen koan to me. In the best way.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I could do with a bit more Zen. Thanks Anne

      Liked by 1 person

  28. liz young Avatar

    This is very haunting, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  29. Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio Avatar

    Good story with plenty of atmosphere and suspense.
    Ronda

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Ronda

      Like

  30. Laurie Bell Avatar

    A mysterious promise. I wonder if he’ll ever see the promised land?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’ve got to be honest, I don’t fancy his chances!

      Like

  31. pennygadd51 Avatar

    What a fascinating story! It has a spiritual dimension – or, perhaps more accurately, it considers a spiritual quest with a great deal of scepticism. Well written, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Precisely that Penny, thank you.

      Like

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