PHOTO PROMPT © C. E. Ayr

The hiking trail had been a refreshing interlude but he always came back to the same place. Facing the dehumanizing blocks of motel rooms, Richard sagged wishing he could stay among the trees with a roof of clouds and sky.

But she didn’t like to camp, said sleeping bags made her itch, and motels served a free breakfast.

“I can’t face it all again and especially her.” He stopped to glare at the suite of prison cells. “Hell with it.”

He turned around. The sun would set soon and he would be alone. Richard wondered who would find his bones.

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

Cover image for my novel “A Wobblegong and His Boy”

The photo reminded me of many summer vacations I’ve taken over the years, driving for hours and hours, eating at chain restaurants, and staying in lifeless blocks of motels. Of course there were the good parts of the vacation too, but sometimes it really is the destination and not the journey itself.

In this case, Richard had finally had enough and decided to walk away from it all.

To read other stories based on the prompt or to contribute one of your own, visit Inlinkz.

My YA science fiction novel A Wobblegong And His Boy is up to twelve reviews/ratings on Amazon with 88% of them being 4 and 5 stars. Don’t forget you can also review my novel at Goodreads.

I was interviewed for the book for the fifth time last Saturday. I’ll let you know when that and other podcasts are available for viewing.

Happy Wednesday.