© J.S. Brand
Finally I can relax for a little while. It’s such a nice afternoon. I don’t own a boat but I love this marina.
The bird doesn’t have a care. Oh to be like the bird simply standing in the water near a small tree waiting for lunch to swim by.
I know the people on their yachts probably have cares, but they seem not to from where I’m sitting.
If only I could make these few moments last forever. No, that’s not right. They are precious only because they are few. Eternal peace would probably be boring.
I don’t want to leave. Just a few minutes longer please?
I know. I have to go back. This is only a fantasy and you can’t really live in a fantasy.
True life is lived in the cold and darkness, in snow and ice, and drones like me only get the briefest taste of freedom.
Good-bye my little marina. I hope I’ll be able to visit again. Now I rise. Back to life in darkness and purgatory.
I wrote this for the FFfAW Challenge-Week of January 2, 2018. The idea is to use the image above to inspire the creation of a piece of flash fiction between 100 and 175 words long. My word count is 174.
I had a tough time with this one. It looks like a marina which I find very relaxing. I once read that one of the 10 best places to retire is Port St. Lucie, Florida. I looked up marinas in that area and found a bunch of them, but that still didn’t help.
As I write this, I’m sitting in my office at home and it’s still pitch black outside. It’s about 26 degrees F and will only climb to just below freezing today.
After my second three-day weekend in a row, I don’t want to get in my car and drive to work in the dark. That’s the full inspiration for this wee missive.
To read other stories based on the prompt, go to InLinkz.com.
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“Marina!” Damn, when I wrote mine I had a brain fart and couldn’t think of the word “marina,” Do I used pier. Yikes. Well, just another senior moment for me and a mighty fine, pensive post for you.
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Oops. Should have been *So* I used pier. Time for another cuppa joe.
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Agreed. 😀
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The beautiful thing about blogging is that you can always go back in and edit. 😉
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True, but it probably doesn’t make that much of a difference. I’ll just stick with pier.
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Ahhh, if only we could live in our perfect dream worlds! But, we have to go back to the realities of life. Great story, James!
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Thanks. Unfortunately, we have to pay our bills so we need to work.
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LOL! So very true!
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I have a few more days before I’m in a similar situation – I fully appreciate this tale! Happy New Year James.
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I don’t blame you wanting to stay home, 26F is pretty cold.
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Welcome to winter in Southwestern Idaho. Yes it is, Michael.
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Here’s hoping that you get your time at the marina at the earliest. Cheers.
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Only in my dreams.
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Good story. I empathise with the drone and with you James. At least where I am, we’re past the shortest day.
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made me feel relaxed for a moment. now back to my work, too
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Lou.
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Great story. Wonderful contrast between the peace of the marina and the darkness of his life. I’ve felt that way many times.
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Sadly, I think that’s a common human experience. Thanks.
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Very interesting POV from a person in purgatory. One taste of freedom of fantasy and peace before almost pure hell. I hope this soul eventually moves on to Heaven and not to Hell.
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Oh maybe just the weekend. Thanks.
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