STILL LIFE
The books, vase and shoes had adorned
Helen’s desk for so long that they became known as ‘the still life’.
Even after her husband William died,
as unobtrusively as he had lived, she met any suggestion to move them with an
obstinacy that intrigued her children while also exasperating them, so after
Helen’s own funeral they demolished the pile with almost indecent haste.
Pressed inside every indented section
of the book Lily discovered a faded rose, Henry tipped a champagne cork from
each shoe, and hidden inside the vase Georgina found a bundle of love-letters,
all signed, ‘Eternally
yours, George.’
.............................................................................
All that weight had to be crushing a secret, didn't it? Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/ and to Magaly Guerrero for her photograph of the lovely flamenco shoes.
If you enjoyed that story, check out a slightly longer one, also written to a visual prompt, and published on Friday on this site - http://visualverse.org/submissions/minotaur/
If you enjoyed that story, check out a slightly longer one, also written to a visual prompt, and published on Friday on this site - http://visualverse.org/submissions/minotaur/
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen X
DeleteThat will be hard to swallow for the children. Very likely she didn't divorce her husband because of them. Who really knows their parents? Great story.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder what mine will think when they go through my things!
DeleteOh, that's lovely, Liz.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Helen.
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this was quite a shock for the children, particularly Georgina. Very well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I hoped someone would pick up that small detail - thanks Rochelle!
DeleteShocking indeed but still a pleasant one.
ReplyDeleteThanks neel.
DeleteCleverly done, Liz - loved it!
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Glad you enjoyed it, Susan.
DeleteI feel bad both for Helen and her children! Well written.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why you feel bad for Helen, unless it's because she had to hide her real love?
DeleteJust lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandra.
DeleteI wonder, if right after the finding, Georgina hired an investigator to find out who this George was. I mean, she was obviously named after him. And if Georgina is the oldest, things get all the most complicated.
ReplyDeleteI love when a story leaves thinking all these questions!
You're like me, MAgaly - I'm another one who writes mental endings to other people's stories!
DeleteIt's amazing the shock truths that people often uncover about their deceased loved-one after funerals. Some things are best buried with the person in question. You make me wonder how Georgina is going to react to George who might be her father! I wonder if he's still alive.
ReplyDeletehi Sarah - I'm glad my story made enough impact for you to wonder about George and his ?? daughter.
DeleteI wonder why she never shared…
ReplyDeleteDidn't want to hurt William?
DeleteSuch a huge story hidden behind a 100 words raising more questions than revealed. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dahlia - and it would probably make a good womag story one day!
Delete