Here is this week’s entry into the weekly challenge brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Here are the rules: Use the photo as inspiration, write a hundred(ish) words – and share! Here goes my offering for this week – and I welcome your comments again!
Copyright – Dawn M. Miller
– Revival –
“This is how it used to look. Before they ripped its heart out.”
I take the picture from him, one that he keeps in his wallet next to a photo of his wife and daughter.
It’s a cutting from a magazine, the paper soft with age – I hold it as if caressing a butterfly. He is in tears; men are not afraid to show their pain here. Life has been too hard to pretend otherwise.
I stare up at the bones of the building, black against the blood red of the setting sun.
“We will rebuild your museum, I promise.”
His smile is radiant.
—-
Click on the blue froggy below to read others’ offerings!
Freya Writes... 
Lovely Freya, a story of hope.
Thank you!
Gosh, is this the sequel to my story of Nuclear disaster? I like it, especially the paper like a butterfly wing…
Thank you! I’ll have to take a look at your story – I enjoy writing dystopian fiction (is ‘enjoy’ really the correct word?!), so if you also feel the same way, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if I had written a sequel!
Yes, a more optimistic tale. I like the attention to the light.
Ah, so, doom and gloom isn’t your thing at the moment then… I’m glad you appreciated the light detail.
I’d tend to say that they are never really my things but I like your writing style so I read them – and usually enjoy them.
Thank you. Apologies – cheerful and lovey aren’t my natural writing style!
More mine!! 🙂
A museum is easy to rebuild. Filling it back up will be the hard part.
One step at a time, one step at a time…! 🙂
Great description…the story becomes tense on that promise…there are so many variables…and I think you really got it right about some things moving men to tears…
Thank you… That was the plan, since promises are often made to be broken. I don’t think that will apply in this case though.
Great story, it’s got me thinking – nuclear war, conventional war, zombie attack?
At least now the process of rebuilding has begun.
I like the “bones” of the building against the “blood red” of the sun.
Thank you! In my mind, it was a conventional war, but it’s equally applicable to all of those options! I’m glad you liked the blood/bone juxtaposition!
A story of hope!
Nice writing…vivid and yet touching.
Thank you, Claudia.
Optimism and positive thinking in darkness. nicely done
Thank you, nightlake.
That is a wonderful promise. 🙂
I intended that he meant to keep it as well 🙂
I like your character’s love of his museum — they are fantastic places to visit. And I like how you describe the museum with living adjectives: heart and bones, the photo is next to the one of his family. Wonderful to end it on a hopeful note… he will get his beloved museum back.
Thank you, zookyworld! I adored museums growing up (thank you, parents!) and still do. In my mind, they are living things, not dry and dusty shells. I had in mind that my narrator will follow through with his promise.
heart breaking at the start but you bring a ray of hope in the end. i love radiant smile from your character. 🙂
Thank you, Sunshine. It’s not always my way to finish off on a more positive note, but it felt right for this piece. I’m glad you enjoyed it – thank you for popping in!
welcome! ☺
I like that you turned the photo into an actual photograph for your story. Quite clever.
Thank you 🙂
Dear Freya,
Your story show why writers are important. They carry the pictures of another time around in their heads and do not let others forget what was past. Great story.
Aloha,
Doug
Thank you, Doug! I was told off for daydreaming quite a bit when I was a little girl… My head was full of ‘stories’!
Such an original take. Well done Freya.
Thank you, Sandra 🙂
This rings to true with events of Bahgdad and Timbuktu… at least I hope there is a future.
That’s where my mind was when I write this. I hope it comes to pass too.