Flash Fiction Prompt
Each day a lovely little website referred to as Flashy Fiction offers a writing prompt to a photo. Today’s prompt was a two-fer because it’s been combined with Friday’s prompt.
I had to do one for today. The opportunity was too good and the prompt too right-up-my-alley. So, this is what I wrote for the photo above. I hope you enjoy it. And please, stop by to see all the offerings on Flashy Fiction. You’ll be glad you did.
The Light of Meaning
Within me grows a tension I cannot place. What could cause this sensation of impending destiny, which perches like a vulture just out of visual range? Does my breath come short and quick because of unexpected claustrophobia at the looks of this canyon before me?
My friends don’t seem to notice how silence surrounds this place, how the scent of dust carries with it a hint of the ancient. Their shouts fall short of my space, leaving me in a personal bell jar inside these striped red walls.
Illusions of undulating Dune’s Shai-Hulud flash across my mind. I wonder if this was how Paul felt the first time he waited for that beast to rise from the desert floor. Would there be such a ritual for me to perform for the coming secret to reveal itself? And how do I know there is a secret?
Footsteps echo. Shock sweeps through me. I recognize them as my own, though I don’t recall moving into the inner recesses of a side chamber. Dim illumination draws me forward, faster as hesitation drops away. I must know this thing that would be.
Twists and turns, dried water channels of exquisite sandstone, bring me, at last, to the chamber. I burst forth from the passage, panting in excitement and terror. Finally, I see what has haunted my vague dreams for longer than memory reaches. It waits; one glorious beam of pure light.
Within that circle of illumination is the future I’ve tried to escape from and now run to in a sprint of desperation. Could my heart beat any harder and remain caged within my body? Could my responding body contain so much light?
A jerk, like that of a tether drawn forward suddenly, pulls me into the beam of sunlight that squeezes through a tiny overhead opening. My head arches back. My chest swells and rises, as if I’m a mere marionette and someone has yanked my string upward. My mind is filled with music, sweet and gentle, as it ebbs and surges through the channels of my soul.
Home comes calling. I have been away longer than I can imagine right now. My mind registers the knowledge of a previous, though, different life elsewhere; a knowledge that explains so much that has confused me during this life.
The music and light fill me with the purpose I’ve been seeking. All is clear now. I have come this far to learn that only one act of mine is necessary for my life to have meaning for this world; to learn that with that act, I have completed my purpose here and can go home again.
Is there any better bliss than such sure knowledge?
Reblogged this on Life Seeds.
Thanks for the reblog, Seeds. It was totally unexpected.
Sneaky little devil, you.
Claudsy this is great! You have to write more on this. I want to know what happens next, who the narrator is, where home is. I love fantasy. (And flashy fiction)
Ah, Veronica, you did my heart good this morning. Firstly, thank you for your enthusiastic response to this wee story. Secondly, I have no idea where the story goes next or even if there is more.
I’m certainly glad that you’d like to see more of it, though. That tells me that I did something right.
I agree with Veronica!! You did an excellent job of this!! I appreciate the shout out for FF it gets to be quite lonely over there…I’m so glad that my prompt could inspire this time. I think Short stories are a little harder to commit to for peeps. More time consuming to read and to write…maybe that’s why it is typically kind of slow around there. Just thinking out loud! So glad to read you, this looks beautiful on your blog!!
Hannah! It’s been a while since you’ve been by, but then I know the kinds of schedules we both keep. I’m terrible at keeping up with the doings of others.
I’m so glad that you liked my little effort on this one. When images are stark and vibrant, I tend to get immediate internal responses. That’s how this one is. I had the idea, the character, the ending before I blinked.
To be honest, I mentally overlook the need to stop by FF each day and see what’s on the docket. I’m not used to doing Flash Fiction each day yet. Not much of an excuse, I know, but if I put it on my editorial calendar, I might get to FF more frequently. Besides, I need the practice. I’m going to begin subbing new stories soon to print journals. Having immediate feedback is always such a great way to know if you’re hitting the mark.
Tell the gang I’m going to make it a point to do one piece a day to prompts there. It may only be a scene but I’ll have something. That’s how I’ll put it on my calendar, beginning Monday. I’m gone for the next two days, so…
Have a great weekend, my young friend. See you again soon.