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19.2.15

VERA'S VASE

VERA’S VASE

When Great-aunt Vera had her stroke we raced to see her. 
Propped up in bed, impossibly small, she gripped my hand. “I’ll be dead by Sunday.”
I choked on a sob but she shushed me.
“I’ve left you everything on one condition – you must smash that vase.” She patted my cheek. “It was always there when I visited but I know you loathe it.”
We laughed and promised.

After her funeral we positioned the camera against the night sky, drank champagne from Vera’s vase and then dropped it.
Shards exploded with light and in death the vase was beautiful.

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That was another piece of Flash Fiction for Friday Fictioneers prompted by a photograph on this blog - https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/  Follow the Blue Frog trail on her blog to read more stories.





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26 comments:

  1. Nicola19/02/2015, 11:53

    Fantastic story, Lizy! I love your use of words. This story really touched me. I hope you are well. All the best.

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/02/2015, 15:02

      Thanks Nicola. I'll be fine once the antibiotics kick in!

      Delete
  2. Sandra Crook19/02/2015, 11:58

    A lovely way to say good-bye. Really nice story.

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    1. liz young19/02/2015, 15:03

      I've been to several wakes that were definitely more like parties!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous19/02/2015, 14:28

    Dear Lizy, Great story and mystical too! Thanks for the magic! Nan :)

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    1. liz young19/02/2015, 15:04

      Thank you Nan, and for popping in so regularly too.

      Delete
  4. Maggie May19/02/2015, 14:46

    I loved this one too. I wondered where you were going when I first saw the picture, but you turned it into a beautiful story.

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    1. liz young19/02/2015, 15:05

      It's odd where the mnd takes us - or mine, anyway!

      Delete
  5. Susan Kane19/02/2015, 17:18

    Excellent. I love where your mind went.

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/02/2015, 21:53

      Thanks Susan - I'm surprised where it went!

      Delete
  6. plaridel19/02/2015, 18:22

    it was a nice send off. i guess she'd get a kick out of it.

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  7. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields20/02/2015, 10:31

    Dear Liz,

    I love where you went with the prompt. I did think there would be a large sum of money in the vase, too. Not so. Just a really sweet story. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    Replies
    1. liz young20/02/2015, 18:26

      Vera left them everything anyway :) Thanks, Rochelle.

      Delete
  8. brudberg21/02/2015, 21:32

    Oh I love this.. to some extent a wonderful release from a the burden of a loathsome vase.. a beautiful memore instead.

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    1. liz young21/02/2015, 22:25

      Thanks Bjorn - and Great-aunt Vera was sweet enough to give them permission :)

      Delete
  9. Dawn21/02/2015, 22:18

    An interesting take on the prompt and on death. An enjoyable 100 words.

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  10. Unknown21/02/2015, 22:44

    A lovely ending. Vera would be delighted.

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  11. Priceless Joy22/02/2015, 05:08

    She sounds like a wonderful person. Seems she knew that smashing the vase represents death and death is conquered by smashing the vase. Very wise woman.

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    Replies
    1. liz young22/02/2015, 13:14

      Such 'home-made' rituals are often the best memorials.

      Delete
  12. Russell Gayer23/02/2015, 14:45

    If someone would leave me a stack of money, I'd smash every vase they owned if that's what they wanted. :)

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  13. Patsy24/02/2015, 21:12

    Great Aunt Vera sounds like a lovely person.

    ReplyDelete

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