Time again for ‘Friday Fictioneers’. The addictive weekly photo prompt to write 100 words of flash to beguile and entertain. I don’t always win my objective but the fun is in the taking part. Get yourselves over and join in with Rochelle Wisoff -Fields merry band of fiddlers.
Photo : Bjorn Rudberg
She sat in the corner, part of the crowd but always alone. A heady elixir of age and regret, memories and time, seeped up from the floorboards and a fragrant patina of whisky and rye layered the oak that ran across the bar. She teased her fingers over the grain as the soft lilt of laughter and a long forgotten melody floated in the air.
She turned. It was almost a taste, a scent, a touch to hold onto. Alas, the mist swiftly fell, and she moved back into the shadows. No more than an echo from some other time, some other life.
helen midgley 
Wonderful imagery! “…a fragrant patina of whiskey and rye…” I love that line! Great story.
Thank you 🙂
Very poetic.
Thanks 🙂
Gentle, almost ghostly atmosphere. And yet so powerful. Well done.
Must try at some point to get my head around this Helen, I continue to be amazed at how you paint those word pictures.
Chris.
If you’ve never tried Friday Fictioneers, then you should. It becomes pretty addictive trying to tell a whole story in just 100 words 🙂
Getting close to the end of NaPoWriMo Helen, will probably have to lie down in a dark room for a few days to recover, then who knows what might happen.
Oh Helen, I have another favorite this week. The heady elixir seeping through the floor boards, the whiskey patina-incredible imagery. I was lost and then for a moment found inside a past memory long since gone. Lovely.
Thank you 🙂
whiskey and rye… drove my chevy to the levy*… and all the memories tucked away… Nice piece!
*Yes, it’s interesting where the mind goes sometimes.
Your descriptions are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading 🙂
This story makes one feel so empty. Well done. How many times have each of us been part of the crowd but always alone?
Heard melancholic strings while reading this piece Helen – loved it.
Thanks 🙂
You know, if I think about it long enough, I’d say you were writing metaphorically about the song itself. It fits the profile. Whatever the reason, though, it is terrific writing, as usual. Great!
Thank you, it’s funny how people have different reactions to the same pic 🙂
Helen, this is really good. It conveys so much feeling, beautifully described. Bars really would be filled with all sots of memories.
janet
Thanks Janet 🙂
Beautifully written!
Helen, your words are so poetic and beautiful… starting from “A heady elixir…” it flowed elegantly…
Thanks 🙂
Ace 🙂
Thank you 😉
Some great sensory stuff here. Sad but she could keep drinking. I like the tension between the phrase “heady elixir” and the age, memories etc. Clever, indeed.
Thank you 🙂
A beautifully-written story, Helen. You brought me into your story with your descriptive words. Very well done. 🙂
Dear Helen,
You set the tone and I feel as if I’m there, part of the crowd but always alone. Beautiful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, much appreciated 🙂
Lovely imagery. We often feel most alone in a crowd.
I feel sorry for the poor person left with just their memories.
I just hope her glass was empty as well, that would just be the icing on the cake 😉
It conveys so much, in so few words. 🙂
Thanks for reading 🙂
haunting…. 🙂
Wow Helen, once again, you have written a story so full of the senses that I applaud you! Imagery is so beautiful and mystical! Helen, you are really, really, a good writer! Nan 🙂
Thanks Nan, I don’t take praise well but it is lovely to hear all the same 🙂
Beautifully descriptive “if these walls could talk” story. I’m sure there are plenty of memories, both good and bad inside these walls.
Fragrant memories 😉
Beautifully written, Helen! 🙂