Seeing Better

rain

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

When Benedict looked outside that morning, he thought it had rained and drops had speckled the window. But then he turned away and saw everything else looked that way. He checked, but he hadn’t put on his glasses yet. When he did, it didn’t help.

He was about to ask his wife what she thought it was, and then sadly remembered she had passed away two years ago last Tuesday.

He thought to call his doctor, but the effect was getting worse. Then he realized he wasn’t going blind, but only seeing the other side better. “I’m coming home, Marge.”

It’s another Wednesday and time once again to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 14 March 2025 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt for crafting a poem or short story of no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.

When I saw the photo and realized I only had a few minutes to come up with a story before beginning my day, I remembered two things. One was a short story by Larry Niven where his protagonist discovered fog wasn’t water vapor but a blurring of the barrier between one dimension and the next.

The other was a British television series about a police detective that’s going blind, but in such a way that he’s able to see clues to murders supernaturally.

I put those two together, sort of, and came up with my story.

To read other tales inspired by the prompt, visit inlinkz.

tom corbett

Cover art for my book “Our Legacy, The Stars: A Tom Corbett Adventure.”

My book Our Legacy, The Stars: A Tom Corbett Adventure is now available in Kindle and paperback formats on Amazon.

Based on the 1950s television show Tom Corbett Space Cadet, the book is updated in terms of our modern understanding of science as well as more nuanced characterizations and plot.

The Literary Post says:

“Pyles takes us back to a simpler time in science fiction, complete with all of the warm nostalgic fuzzies that go along with it.”

Order your copy of my book Our Legacy, The Stars: A Tom Corbett Adventure and let the fun begin.

36 thoughts on “Seeing Better”

  11. You unfolded this story very well. It felt suspenseful even though it only lasted for 100 words.

    I found this especially powerful, “He was about to ask his wife what she thought it was, and then sadly remembered she had passed away two years ago last Tuesday.” I frequently have similar brain lapses when thinking of dead relatives.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.