PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold
“Darling…” The sun striking the chess pieces explodes against his cataracts and he hears again the strident voices he’d heard constantly down the years.
He freezes; Yveline holds him down. Her eight-year-old brother screams insults at the soldiers, like a bird trying to lure a predator from its nest.
“They’re searching the barn,” Yveline whispers. Martin tries to stand.
“There’s nothing we can do.”
Stretching their heads above the corn, they watch the soldiers throw Andy’s limp body on to a lorry.
The boy vainly gesticulates obscenities.
“I’m sorry Andy,” he weeps. “So sorry.”
“Darling…what is it? It’s your turn.”
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
You’ve deftly shown how the scars of childhood remain with the adult. Sad story but nicely done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks very much Susan
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A great picture of recurring trauma
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Thanks Neil
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Some traumas are impossible to forget.
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Unfortunately they are, cheers Iain
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Living in a perpetual nightmare, poor man.
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Indeed, thanks Sandra
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I like the use of ‘strikes’ and ‘exploding’ in your opening line, really jarring (in a good way) and hints at the force of those traumatic memories.
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Thank you for such a lovely comment
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Elderly man is having nightmare from some brutal experience. So unfortunate and sad.
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Thank you for your comment, much appreciated
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Flashback flash fiction! A moving story. The children’s part is so sad and brave.
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Thank you, I’m pleased you liked it
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The terrible haunting from a trauma. Well told.
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Thanks Jilly
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The flashback was vividly rendered. So sad the memories some of us hold.
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Thank-you very much
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I would call that a definite sign of PTSD. Poor man. Well told, Michael.
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Thanks Dale
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sad story. if only we can learn to move on, but it’s not always easy.
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It certainly isn’t when the trauma has been so violent, lifelong nightmares. Thanks Plaridel
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When such memories come back it’s hard to keep up… PTSD is awful
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It certainly is Bjorn, guilt of the survivors is awful
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I love how you show his age through light glinting off a cataract. This story is haunting. Well done.
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Thanks Alicia
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Dear Michael,
Powerful story in a 100 words. PTSD is a never ending battle. Well told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS you’re missing a p in top.
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Thanks Rochelle but I don’t know what you mean about the p in top. Where is it?
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My mistake. I misread where they put his body on to a Lorry. I read it as on top of…redfaced apology.
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Ok, no need for the red face, I’ll probably mention a few times in the future, 🙂
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It’s interesting, the kind of things that spark memories.
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Thanks for reading
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My pleasure.
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Really liked this.
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Thanks
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So vivid and descriptive. How horrible to have to relive the trauma again and again.
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Thank you it must be awful
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Oh terrible memories and flashbacks. Well told Michael.
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Thanks Laurie
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The traumas that some live with can be grueling. Nicely told …
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora
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The past never stops haunting.
A vivid description.
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Thank-you very much
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It is not easy to use flashback in 100 words. I enjoyed the vivid description.
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Thank-you
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