I seem to be hungry right now, and not just for food. I’m hungry for external inspiration for short pieces of writing. It’s a good job that Alastair’s Photo Fiction is here to curb the gnawing!
Alastair is both a writer and a photographer, so the image he provides each week as inspiration is also one of his own – visit his photography and writing blog to take a look!
Here is my offering this week, inspired by Alastair’s black and white image below. Why not take part?
*****
Tainted
It had been her dream to live here. As a child she had imagined standing at the edge of the cliff, her grown-up self silhouetted by a setting sun, shawl wrapped tightly against the cool breeze. Solitary, not lonely.
Yet, she had been careless as she wove her dreams, crafting her future as she slept. In her innocence, she had forgotten to wish for pristine oceans, perfectly balanced as nature intended. Now, as the waters boiled far below, whipped by the winds of an approaching storm, their sterility broke her. The last whale had beached itself in desperation two nights ago, blanched and blistered by the chemical seas. She would never dip her toe and shriek at the cold, never run ecstatically through the surf, never dive into the white horses crashing on the silvered sand.
She had waited for perfection. Now, everything was tainted.
Copyright – Kattermonran
Freya Writes... 
We should always be careful what we wish for!
Indeed, we should.
Thanks for rescuing me from a grey and cold Sunday with another writing meme for both reading and creativity!
Hers has become a frightening world. Pity she forgot to seize the day!
You’re welcome! Yes, carpe diem is something we should all remember…
Thanks for taking part, Freya. Love this story. The unfortunate thing is, this is the way the world is going.
You’re welcome – thank you for the inspiration. Yes, it really does seem that we’re on a slippery slope.
I’ve never been a fan of the seaside, but reading this makes the idea of not being able to paddle on the beach ever again quite sad.
I hope I haven’t made a prediction – I have always dreamed of living where I can look out to sea…
Neatly constructed and well told story.
Loved it.
Thank you!
This piece is charged with a powerful and moving melancholia. How we damage our environment
Thank you – that’s what I was hoping to achieve. Yes – we do damage our planet. I wonder what it will be like in the next century?
Sadly – too close to the realities of how we treat our environment.
I know. If only…
What a sad turn to her dream. The part “blanched and blistered by the chemical seas” made me cringe. Such tragedy about the amount of trash in the ocean, reminds me of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Yes, very sad. I wonder how much bigger that garbage patch will grow?
Thank you for commenting.
Thank you for the links!
Be careful what you wish for. Wishes are very tricky things. Excellent story!
Thank you, EagleAye!