As part of the A to Z Challenge, through the month of April I’ll be posting a story a day based on photographs by Joseph W. Richardson and prompts given to me by blog-friends.
Writing prompt: Yes is such an easy word to say when
Provided by: Csenge Virág Zalka, friend, fellow writer, storyteller, and one of the magnificent Seven of #TeamDamyanti
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Yes is such an easy word to say when you’re tired.
Tired of walking the whole day around the island, yes, but tired also of being told what to do, and what to stay away from.
Do not heed the siren calls they said, keep your eye on the road, do not eat or rest till we tell you to. You’re a babe in the woods, your sixteen years no match for the forest and its spells.
They never tired and strode on, hacking through the undergrowth, scaring away rabbits and snakes and other crawling things. But he’d had enough of the empty stomach, of never sleeping longer than a few minutes on hard ground, of being terrified of shadows. It exhausted him.
So, when she asked him to come rest next to her, he said yes.
She looked shimmery in the twilight, her eyes swimming with unshed tears, as if it was him she’d been waiting for, for years, millennia. The air around them smelled of orchards, of over-ripe fruit, and the call of a lone nightjar cut through the distant murmur of the sea.
He sat down and moved closer, into her arms. The arms closed around him, the stone of her body warmed in the sunlight, and turned to flesh. He smiled. No one would find him here. He could sleep.
In the morning they found him, a stone lover in a stone woman’s arms. Her cold unmoving eyes looked upon his closed eyelids, a veiled smile upon her white marble lips.
~~~~~
Are you taking part in the A to Z challenge? Do you read or write fiction? Ever write based on a prompt?
I playing catch up on my blog hopping for the A to Z, will need to read more, enjoyed it, thanks. 🙂
Maggie@expatbrazil
Not sure if I got this or not, but I like what it did to my imagination. Thanks
Can’t believe I missed this one, but am glad I caught it. I guess the man is stone cold. I love the way you weave your stories.
Thankyou for your support throughout, Michelle.
You are so good!!!
WOW cool imagination and awesome imagery. I was captivated with your story! ♥
An excellent piece of writing…
I love that writing prompt. So many possibilities…and you did an amazing job!
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
oh my now that took quite the turn didnt it…i like a bit of magic in stories…and perhaps at least he is immortally happy now…smiles.
What an engaging story based on a prompt! I’ve been mired in longer work for a while now, it’s made me think some short stuff would be fun to do.
The shorter the better, a nice gothic tale!
Damyanti this was one of my favorites. Can I say why? I don’t want to because it is lovely to just sink into the imagery without analysis. Your writing is gorgeous. If I was still homeschooling my kid I would use your work for writing. Heck I still may…. 🙂
Another amazing piece interwoven with words of poetical beauty.
Another distilled writing, with just enough details to fill the reader with horrifying questions.
This is so intriguing and mystifying. It makes me wonder about the history of the man and why he needed to rest. And why he was turned to stone!
great…a jewel of your writing skills..keep posting..
This is excellent and so suberb with the visuals. A great dark fairy tale
Nice. I like it….
Happy Blogging….And hoping to keep in touch.
http://musenmotivation.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/yesterday-once-more/
You wrote a very evocative piece. What an ending! I haven’t written fiction in a long time. Maybe using prompts may help me ease back into disciplining myself.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
I love this story and I really love the way it ends. I didn’t really see that coming, and I’m not sure if I’m sad or not. Good job.
Succumb? Or soldier on?
And such an apt closing image!
I was expecting mermaids, but I liked with what you went. Beautiful job.
~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
Wonderful story- beautiful and chilling at the same time. Whenever I see statues, I sometimes wonder if they can see me. I love the magical images you weave within the story!
Whatta beautiful story, Damyanti. A big thanks to you as I finished the challenged, I wasn’t sure would be able to do justice. Thanks n Hugs for the motivation:)
That’s a nice image at the end.
Oh, wow! I really love this post! It can stand on its own, or it could be the beginning of a mystery or a horror novel or both. The reference to “stone” immediately hooked my memory into a “Dr. Who” episode called “Blink.” Chilling. Bravo!
Love it! Great writing. 🙂
An other great piece well written and depending on your view point should you say yes or not. But at least lasting peace was obtained.
Oh, that’s a great use of the prompt! And a stunning ending 🙂
Great piece, for the letter ‘Y’ 🙂
Incredible. This was just, really amazing!
Thanks Damyanti – yes, as always, so full of imagery.
Garden of Eden Blog
Mystical. Like it! Giving in to temptation instead of battling on. Good work.
At first,I wanted the piece to be longer, explain more about the terrors but then on re-reading your story, I realised it was the perfect length – just enough to make our imagination fill in the gaps with our own interpretation. Love it.
Silly boy – went and got stoned!
Another superbly crafted fiction. Could you bottle a small amount of your gift and send to me, please? Just the tiniest bit. Please.
Ah, it´s been too long since I heard a nightjar.