Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, the best Flash Fiction in town! Check out our ring leader, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog, Addicted to Purple, for more details. Rochelle provides a weekly photo prompt; participants respond with a 100-word story with a beginning, middle and end. The challenge brings in writers from all over the globe, and makes for an incredibly supportive, positive writing group!
This week, I was honored to be invited by Rochelle to participate in the “My Writing Process Blog Tour. ” If you’re dying to know how I make this magic (wink wink, nod nod), check out my interview here. Since posting that, one of the agents who was considering my current novel, contacted me. Her simple email “I’m intrigued. Could you please send 20 more pages and a synopsis?” made my week! Here we strive to tell a story in 100 words, and the Finesman Agency rocked my world in 12! Fingers are crossed, making typing extra challenging. Next week, you can find out how fellow Fictioneers Adam Ickes and Helena Hann-Basquiat do what they do; stay tuned!
© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
(99 words)
The End of Love
From the start it was a battle: her Orthodox family, against my “unacceptable,” Reformed Jewish background. But we loved each other.
“Damn you all!”
I clutched the simple note– a few words rendering my world empty and colorless– in my fist, and left the tape clinging to the cold metal.
Joshua,
My father forbids it. Don’t try to find me. It’s over.
Miriam
All our plans and promises– how could she leave only a note, taped to the elevator? I believed we were stronger.
Defeated, I threw the paper in the trash and stepped out into the gray, lifeless city.
* * *
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
First of all, Congratulations, Dawn, on the agent showing more interest in your book! That sounds really promising. I wish you all the best. Second, that was a clever use of the piece of tape in the prompt. Very creative and well done. Good story.
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Thanks so much Patricia! I saw the photos and the tape, and the Stars of David on the metal, jumped out at me. This was a harder prompt for me! I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
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And that was that, was it? He went and got a cafe to drown his sorrows and fell for the barista. Fickle fella!
How exciting that your interview post attracted some attention. Happy writing!!
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Actually, the interview post had nothing to do with it. This agent has not seen my blog. Just coincidence… but an exciting week nonetheless!
I suppose our young lover, has just gotten the message… perhaps a barista will benefit, but unlikely. I believe his heart is broken. Thanks Honie!
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Oh, this is dreary and sad. She must have worried he wouldn’t see it. I hope Joshua doesn’t give up. Great story, Dawn.
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It’s a pretty hopeless love story… sometimes they just go that way, ouí? Thanks for stopping by, Amy. 🙂
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A battle that still rages on. My version was much easier.
Well done! If I may ask – what about the elevator inspired the rest of the story (besides taping the note)?
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I just recognized it as an older elevator, found in old buildings. Then, I noticed what looks like the Star of David in the metal work, and it all came together: old buildings, Star of David, tape on the door—> Orthodox Jews, and a love affair that can’t work. Simple, right?
I haven’t read the others yet, but “your version”, meaning your real life marriage? Or, did you enter FF this week??
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Nono, my real life marriage.
I’ve never entered the Friday Fictioneers. I just read a lot fo people who do.
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One of you is/was Orthodox? Our daughter converted from Reform to Orthodox. Major learning curve!! Now, she’s kind of moving back off that, toward Modern Orthodox…. Tell me your story, darlin’.
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Guapo, I sure do wish you would write 100 words on a photo prompt one week! 🙂
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NO kidding!! I’d love to see that, too.
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My fingers are crossed for you agent-wise. Good luck and congrats!!
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Thanks Carrie. No sooner did I share that, that I realized that now, if it doesn’t pan out, so many people know! Eek. Very exciting though… for now. Thanks!
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Well, we all know it’s an odds game. Most of us have an agent rejection or two under our belts. 🙂
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I need to lose weight; my belt is already tight! 😉
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Reblogged this on ugiridharaprasad.
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Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: The End of Love | ugiridharaprasad
Thanks for sharing my work; much appreciated!
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How exciting to hear from the agent! I noticed the tape too, Dawn. You did a great job of bringing it to life! So sad, so star-crossed…
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Thanks Cathy… that’s the first thing that jumped out at me, the tape. Made me wonder what had been taped there… Thanks for the feedback. 🙂
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Unrequited love, one of mankind’s most enduring themes, is brought to life in your excerpt. Who cannot relate? What strikes me is how much of the story is told in so few words, just like the succinct email from the agent – eloquent in its brevity. I wish you the greatest of luck in the outcome with the agent, and I await in hopes of good news. – Mike
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Fingers… toes…everything is double crossed! Thanks Mike. xo
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This is a great story. Love it, Dawn!
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Thanks so much! I appreciate the positive feedback. 😀
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Excellent story Dawn. Life is not always what we want is it. I sympathise with your protagonist.
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We win some, we lose some… and we soldier on. Generally, we find the right path, after a few missteps. Thanks Michael; much appreciated!
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I try to read all the stories and am deeply impressed with what everyone can do with only 100 words. Having said that. BEST USE OF THE PHOTO PROMPT EVER TALESFROMTHE MOTHERLAND!!!! Also I felt his pain as the color and life went out of his world when he realized Mirriam wasn’t strong enough to choose him over her family. Poor man. There is no easy way of ending a love affair. The note suggested to me kindness as to where it was left. A special rendezvous point perhaps.
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Oh, my. Thank you SO much Sarah! I am speechless; and that doesn’t happen often. 😉 Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. I really love FF and it means a lot to me that one of my fellow Fictioneers feels that way. Thanks.
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I’m glad someone went with the tape, and you teased the ideas out wonderfully, Dawn. A sad star-crossed lovers story movingly told.
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Thanks, Karen. The tape seemed to be the direction to go in, for me. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
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first of all, Dawn, CONGRATULATIONS!!! really excited for you. 🙂 🙂 i’ll go check out your interview.
i enjoyed your story this week, as always. it was heartbreaking but effortlessly executed.
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Thanks, KZ. I know my stories are not your usual style, but I’m always touched that you enjoy them. 😉 Thanks!
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I’m going to do this soon…
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Do what? Blow someone off, in a letter? Say it aint so Dude!
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Pssh, I do that all the time..No, Friday Fictioneers. I keep saying I’m gonna do it, but I always forget about it. I’m feeling pretty inspired as of late.
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DO. IT! It’s totally addictive, Adam. The group is enormously supportive and positive (and so much talent!, and you would really enjoy it, I think. 100 words is VERY challenging, but I wouldn’t dream of missing a week now. 🙂
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Ok. I’m gonna do it.
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Peer pressure. It works every time. 😉
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Folded like a house of pancakes. I think that’s the expression…right?
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Waffles. It’s waffles I believe.
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