BAD FAITH

The world lurched from side-to-side. She staggered into the busy marketplace, bumping into people milling around the stalls. Disgruntled looks followed her as she crossed the square. The church loomed above her. It looked sinister now, after what she had just been told. It had been her haven. A safe place that protected her from all the bad in the world. Now it sneered at her, malevolent and evil. How could they have lied to her? How could they have covered it up? How could they have protected him? And her sweet boy. She remembered his pale, limp body. And now she knew, at last, why he had chosen to leave her.

Copyright Roger Bultot

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

62 responses to “BAD FAITH”

  1. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    Well expressed. There is a back-story and definitely scope for Part-2.
    Reader wants to know more.
    Poor her. She has had to suffer…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Anita

      Like

      Reply
  2. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    Full of grief and anger. Well written…and left me wanting to know more. (Drat that word limit 😉 )

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I stretched the word limit as far as I could 😉

      Like

      Reply
  3. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    I like the way you leave the reader to fill in most of the story

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  4. trentpmcd Avatar
    trentpmcd

    Like the others, I want to know more, but I do have some guesses. Stories that come out that are a little too common.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Far too common. Thanks Trent

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. trentpmcd Avatar
        trentpmcd

        Yes, and hopefully we won’t see it on a very large scale soon!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. trentpmcd Avatar
        trentpmcd

        Sorry, I was looking at the wrong thing when I respond – yes, far too common, unfortunately. (Though I guess my response almost made sense….)

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Fandango Avatar
    Fandango

    A poignant story told in so few words.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Liz H Avatar
    Liz H

    My first thought was death by COVID, but it could be any number of ills that wrought this.
    Proof of your skill that you’ve kept us all riveted, and we still don’t know!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Liz, I didn’t have Covid in mind with this one, but I like that it can be interpreted a number of ways 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Liz H Avatar
        Liz H

        Me too! 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  7. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    Excellent story! Too many parents have suffered in the same way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, alas you are right.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    So many unanswered questions, the pain she feels is palpable.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Keith

      Like

      Reply
  9. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Masterly story-telling, Iain. You tell us so much by implication.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Penny

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Dramatic snapshot in a bigger story. I have a feeling if she survives this she is going to want revenge.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      She certainly will want to hold someone accountable, which seems to be lacking in the real world today.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        I know what you mean 😦

        Liked by 1 person

  11. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    self-preservation is always the main goal of the church. anything that threatens it is swept under the rug.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Very true.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Yes, I guess I know where you went with this one. And it’s a tragedy that the reader can so easily reach that conclusion these days. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, you don’t even have to say it… Thanks Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  13. trishsplace Avatar
    trishsplace

    Great!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Trish

      Like

      Reply
  14. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

    Heart breaking, whatever the cause.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Liz

      Like

      Reply
  15. i b arora Avatar
    i b arora

    many things left unsaid. interesting

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  16. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Excellent, Iain.
    I am glad for the word limit as you managed it so well. I can complete the larger parts of the story in my mind; the cause, effect; and conclusion.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Bill, very kind.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Bill Avatar
        Bill

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  17. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Palpable grief that will last, I fear, for a lifetime. Wonderful snippet from a story I’d like to read, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Linda

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Oh

    There is a lot here. I love the description of staggering through town seeing the church on a slant after having learned the crooked truth. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie, very kind 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  19. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    A tragic story, sadly experienced by too many families. I like how you’ve used the photo to show her world being knocked out of balance by what she’s discovered.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Margaret, much appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    You create a real ‘shadow story’, hinted at and dark. Well written Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  21. Patricia Clair Avatar
    Patricia Clair

    Thrilling! Left me really wanting to find out more.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Patricia, glad you liked it.

      Like

      Reply
  22. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
    Na’ama Yehuda

    Well penned. A reality of betrayal for all too many. Some for whom it’s been too late.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    Organized religion has a long history of cover-ups and rewriting history. There are many options to fill in the gaps here. Well described.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, it doesn’t have a great track record.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. Heather Musk Avatar
    Heather Musk

    Another reader here definitely wanting to know more. I was immediately drawn into feeling her pain and disorientation, well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Heather! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  25. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    You read the picture well.. It was great picture to write about and you did it well,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Michael

      Like

      Reply
  26. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    That all sounds pretty sinister and tragic. I leaped to my own backstory 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      That’s the idea. I think most people have leaped to the intended back story. Thanks!

      Like

      Reply
  27. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    Powerful story. As a child abuse survivor who chooses to stay Catholic “despite all that,” this is very hard to respond to. I deeply respect people who choose to make a cause of this, deeply mourn those we have lost, stand with those who fight, and a hundred feelings. I keep wanting to scream at all the people who say “they had no idea.” I know someone who “knows a lot of priests” who I believe says – everyone knew who those guys were. We say “we had no idea” but people did, and do. I find that far more credible. I know my parents legit did not believe me (at first) but people like that cannot “resist the urge” and they are caught when more kids came forth.
    It’s such a pattern. Such a cycle. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks for sharing your comment Anne, it’s a difficult subject to write about, but one that needs to be acknowledged, and thankfully has, and continues to be exposed. I hope I managed to do it in a way that didn’t offend.

      Like

      Reply
  28. Vartika Avatar
    Vartika

    It’s sad. Very well written Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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