Image Copyright –Claire Fuller
Providence
What had possessed him to encourage the fantasies of a 12 year old, flying off to Kildare? But secretly he was curious. Anna shared every detail of Brigid’s life. He felt he knew her as he did his own beloved daughter.
After days combing through records at the county registrars, talking to townspeople, seeking corroboration, a descendant perhaps, he had doubt. Would they find proof she ever existed?
Anna led her father around the church down a worn path. “I’m there” she pointed at the grass. Kneeling he dug down revealing a single flat stone inscribed:
Brigid McLeod
Beloved
1820-1876
Word Count: 100
Friday Fictioneers is here. I love this new challenge. Every week writers post a 100-word story inspired by a photo prompt provided on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. Click the link below to read other writer’s stories. Hope you enjoyed!
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This was a very nice story.. Love the twist at the end.. and yes.. I do that sometimes too…
Beautiful!
gave me chills.wonderfully done!:-)
Thanks KZ
All the talk in the comments about goosebumps gave me goosebumps. Having recently toured some graveyards for photog purposes, I was especially captivated by your story. One pic from my trip was of a headstone for a girl 5 days old. I’m currently trying to work out how to include reincarnation into a story which mildly bridges beliefs. Very timely story. Thanks for sending out that vibe. It gave me some things to ponder.
Thanks for reading. I am so glad to hear I gave you things to ponder. I love serendipity.
see, you do what i set out to do. present a situation that seems like just an innocent situation, and then – in the last sentence – everything is twisted. so it seems tomea that a dead girl has found herself and shown it to her father or someone of an authority figure. love it!
Yes to her father. Her previous incarnation.
Good story DCT. I was reminded of when as a teenage boy a few friends and I played with a Ouija board. We ‘made contact’ with an entity who told us where he was buried, and we found his gravestone. I returned the following day out of curiosity to find the headstone snapped in half. We didn’t play with the board after that. 🙂
Yes people underestimate the power of Ouija and the spirits.Thanks for sharing this story, gave me goosebumps.
I’ve had a few of these moments myself. They make for the best stories and definitely ignite the imagination.
Thanks for reading,
Dana
Dear DCT,
Providence is a very well written story on a subject that is a favorite of mine for a number of reasons. Absolutely loved it. I’ve been back many times but am only now beginning to understand the depth of the well of souls and the millions of cycles we make.
Here’s a story I wrote a while back that you might enjoy. http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/unhinged/
Aloha,
Doug
Doug,
Loved your story thanks for sharing it. Gave me goosebumps.I too am an old soul yet only a baby in the scheme of things so I know what you talk of.
As for Providence, I am a firm believer that the title is a vital part of a flash fiction story and should be chosen wisely.
Thanks again,
Dana
Dear DCT,
No matter what a person’s belief system, this is a lovely, well-written story. I was chilled when the girl pointed to the headstone and said, “I’m here.” You had me there.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle,
Thank you for reading. So glad you enjoy it.
Dana
That works much better, for me at least.
I just realized this is your photo. It’s fabulous. And since my last name is Thomas I’m particularly tickled. Perhaps I should have set it in Somerset.
Glad you liked it and it inspired you!
You did indeed.
The ‘I’m there’ gave me goosebumps. Really creepy. But I was a bit confused about the ‘flying half way around the world’ part. What did that mean?
In my mind they flew from Denver to Ireland. 🙂
Or any other version of European country. Sounds like I should edit to be more specific. Thanks.
Ahh, I see now. I wasn’t sure if you meant literally or not.
Thanks Claireful. I’ve remedied it!