PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
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The first snow. Alan was around ninety. He felt relatively robust, needing only a cane to walk. He cherished this path. He ran down it when he was three in January to build his only snowman.
It was here he had his first kiss in March and was married in April. May was the time for their only child, but by then, Jean knew the truth.
Little Dianna was only six months but he could have been be her great-great grandfather. He was born in January and would die in December. The seasons of his life were but one year.
It is once again time to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 27 October 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the inspiration for crafting a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
I don’t really know what inspired this one. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m getting older and am aware that there are fewer days ahead than there are behind. Sometimes people compare the stages of life to the seasons, using the phrase “the autumn of his life,” and so on.
I know the idea of someone living a very accelerated aging process has been done many times, but that’s what called to me.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.
The science fiction/Christian-based anthology Shoot the Devil 2: Dark Matter is now available from Amazon. It features my short story “The Heavens Declare His Glory.” Have a look, and if you buy and read it, don’t forget to leave a review.
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I had to read it again to see exactly what you had done. I really like it!
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Thanks. Sorry if it was too confusing.
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Oh, no! It wasn’t confusing, it just took me by surprise and I think I was off in lala land as I read it. Happens. Old age.
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The main thing is he packed a lot of life in
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Well, he pretty much had to. Thanks.
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Creative and poignant story, James. To have only a year to live it all would be such cruelty on the part of the maker. Like the Terrell Corporation and their Nexes models.
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In many ways life is too short. Just when we’re old enough to have learned a few things, suddenly, we’re old. Thanks.
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You’re welcome and so true.
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A life well spent, let the younger generation take over.
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I guess it will have to. Thanks.
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What a fascinating idea. I had to re-read a few times to fully appreciate what you’ve done, and I really like it. And I understand your comment about time’s rapid passing. I once saw a slogan that said “Inside every old person is a young one saying ‘What the heck happened?'” It struck a chord with me.
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Me, too. Thanks.
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How sad. It reminds me of the animal kingdom. Some have very short lifespans. Those creatures usually breed a lot though.
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True, but Alan didn’t have the time because everyone around him ages normally. Actually, I realize I made a mistake in that his wife should still be pregnant when he dies.
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An amazing little story, James. Truly lovely and poignant. I was inspired to write a poem:
I look at my sons and say “how can this be?”
One will be forty-five and the other forty-three!
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Time passes all too quickly. Thank you.
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Nicely done, James. It made me think and had me wondering. “I remember. Does she?”
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Thanks, Bill.
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I like it. It reads almost as poetry.
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Thank you, Dawn.
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Life is short.
And we need to enjoy every moment- just like we enjoy seasons 🙂
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Very true. Thank you, Anita.
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