(100-word flash fiction)
THE SPINSTER
1994
She finds the abandoned baby one dark evening in the bushes outside her house. Her orphan, spinster heart overflowing with love she herself has never known, pours it into his tiny life.
2004
Like a tidal wave, his ‘real’ parents crash land, accuse her of ‘kidnapping’, threaten to get her arrested, finally leave with him, leaving her lost, broken and crumpled like a wasted ruin. She picks herself up and plods on.
2014
She is late returning to an empty home from her retirement party. As she pushes open the gate, a young man steps out of the shadows.
~~~
Written for the amazing group Friday Fictioneers led by Rochelle. For the photo prompt below –
Just Joyfulness 
nice one – who cud that be? ummm – the boy she picked up? that’s the obvious choice ! Or may be that guys twin brother? 🙂
Thanks Hours! Or maybe a boarder, or someone come to say the boy died???
Intriguing!
Thanks for reading Celestine 🙂
i’m guessing it’s the boy… and how sweet of him to remember her after all these years 🙂
Thanks KZ. I hope it is him too 🙂
…Or has he returned to exact retribution for ‘abandoning’ him to ‘those people’ all tose years ago?
Hope not Shandra, after all she didn’t have a choice. Thanks for dropping in and commenting 🙂
Great idea writing the story “through the years”.
Thanks Alicia.
Very intriguing. I like it.
Thanks Judah.
You covered lots of ground with your hundred words as well as deep emotions. I think it’s him come back. Ever the optimist. 😉
janet
Thanks Janet 🙂 I hope so too, for her sake.
Things came around full circle. How nice it worked out this way. Great little story!
Thanks Amy 🙂
You’ve covered an amazing amount of time in only 100 words. I know it’s a synopsis but it makes a great flash fiction piece.
Thanks Karen, for the high praise.
Dear Joyful,
You used your 100 words to the fullest. I felt deeply for her when the child was taken from her. I’ve no doubt the young man in the shadows has come back to her in 2014. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. I am thinking of making this storyline into a novel. Lots of deep stuff to write about. Loneliness and abandonment etc.
Jolly
Jolly,
I like that. I think it would make a lovely novel. Go for it.
shalom,
Rochelle
This was a very creative way to write the story. It was a good story and I’m hoping for a happy ending with that as the boy. Well done. 🙂
Thanks Patricia, for your lovely comment.
i love happy endings. please tell me it’s him.
Thanks. What if it is him and he’s angry with her for letting him go? Life is never simple, is it?
Excellent! A lot in 100 words, the format made it work, bravo! Tay.
Thanks Tay, for your lovely comment and for dropping by.
Interesting spin…isn’t it human nature to hope for a happy ending…the boy returns?
I’m hoping so too Mary. thanks for dropping by 🙂
A lovely bittersweet tale.
Thanks Sandra, for your lovely comment.
I just loved this story. Very clever.
Thanks Ted.
Your chronological glimpses were a very creative and engaging way to tell so much history in so few words. I especially enjoyed the ending. While there’s debate as to who this young man is, I’m choosing to believe it’s her son, finally returning home! I love that you allowed for various interpretations!
Thanks Adelie 🙂 I am hoping to turn this storyline into a novel. Let’s see how that goes … the son returns, but will she still have any love left to give?
That story definitely has great potential for expansion. I hope she finds love still in her heart. 🙂
You told a story of 20 years in 100 words….I am impressed! 🙂
Am glad you liked it 🙂
🙂