Future View
Whenever she felt like things couldn’t possibly work out between them, the photo she’d seen in a shop in Paris as a student came back to her. It was a black and white picture of two older people, walking along a path in the park. Their body language, hands entwined, leaning slightly toward one another, said it all: we are one, we are for each other. Like a totem, the picture reminded her of what lay ahead; that staying the course was the only way to get there. She drew herself up, reentered the room, her eyes on the future.
The photo prompt is courtesy of Madison Woods. Her story can be found here, along with links to all the other Flash Friday Fictioneers.
erinlearywrites 
awh very reassuring – that picture. And I like how it brought hope to her.
http://writersclubkl.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/friday-fictioneers-do-not-follow-me-home/
Thanks – Glad you stopped by!
Lovely. This makes me happy and optimistic.
That was an original idea – changing the photo to black and white. A gentle reminiscence followed by a firm decision. Nicely done. Mine’s here: http://marilynkaydennis.wordpress.com/madison-woods-friday-fictioneers-witch
I really liked your vision and interpretation. My best friend and I are about to celebrate 46 years in the fall, not always easy but always worth it!
Congratulations to you both! It is a rare thing anymore and not to be taken for granted!
A nice take on the prompt. Well done.
Thank you!
I like the theme of faithfulness and loyalty here, and the use of a photo to reinforce it. Lovely piece. cheers, Laura
http://westcoastwriters.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-fictioneers-woods-of-danger.html
Thanks – interesting how much the photo changes when done in Black and White.
I love how the picture only had anything to do with your story at the edges. It truly was inspiration and that’s sometimes where the best writing comes from. I loved your image of the old couple walking, still in love after all those years.
Very nice
Some weeks, that seems to be the case – the story ends up some where else than I’d intended!
Yes this is inspiring, I love it!
Thank you, Gilly!
What a great way to show that it’s all too easy these days to give up on relationships and people and yet staying the course brings it’s own rewards, but to do that you have to compromise. Nicely written and I enjoyed it.
Here’s mine too: http://womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/15/friday-fictioneers-visiting-grannys/
Thanks, Linda. It’s not meant to be easy, but then, who said it would be? 🙂
Too true Erin 🙂
At first, I thought you ran out of your color cartridge…then I read your gentle piece and it became clear enough. Clever. Here’s mine
http://www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com
Thanks, Lora. No color cartridge issues!! 🙂
Oh. I love it. How true it is! http://kaitlinandmichaelbranch.com/2012/06/15/friday-fictioneers-7/
Thanks for reading!
What a highly imaginative take on the photo with a fine story to go with it. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/fridayfictioneers-sacrilege/
Thank you for your comments – as always, they are most appreciated!
I love the hope and commitment you portrayed in your story, Erin! I’ve seen photos like you described, and yes, they are inspiring.
–Jan
http://janmorrill.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/flashfriday-fictioneers-mos-shadow/
Thank you, Jan. I’m glad you knew what I was referring to.
*Le sigh* what a lovely tale of hope. Beautiful. I no you’ve read mine already but here’s the link for the others:
http://nwfantasywriter.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-fictioneers.html?showComment=1339765773235#c5389242950395054541
Thanks, Melania! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely optimistic story. Beautifully written.
Here’s mine
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/a-walk-in-the-woods-fridayfictioneers-flashfiction/
Optimism is a good quality in a marriage. 🙂
Very very nice take on this one…i really like it. Thanks for stopping by mine :). Have a lovely weekend! http://boomiebol.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/the-dream-friday-fictioneers-615/
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a lovely weekend, too.
I agree with Linda (womanontheedgeofreality)–my sentiment to a “T.” Very nicely done–I love the hope that glimmers at the end.
Thanks for visiting mine.
Thanks! Hope is a bird with wings…. 🙂
Nice, hopeful picture here – and love the black and white take on the photo prompt! Great job!
I’m on the link system, or here:
http://kbnelson.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/friday-flash-fiction-hot-water/
Thank you, Karen. Your comments are always appreciated.
Pictures are so evocative and I love this tale of hope. Nice job.
http://freejournowriter.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/fridayfictioneers-step-by-step/
Thanks, Emma. I enjoyed reading yours as well.
I like the way you reference a photo as a ‘grounding point’ for the relationship. You know, I may just keep one of those B & Ws that come with the picture frame for the same purpose 🙂 Lovely story, Erin. Thanks for reading & commenting on mine.
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
Russell, if that works for you, by all means you should do it! Sometimes those people look like they have it all figured out.
Very nice. If only more people would stay the course to reach that path. Here’s mine: http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/06/15/friday-fictioneers-6152012-the-watcher/
Indeed. The picture that I reference is actually one I used to own with my ex-husband. We bought it together at a photography show. Deciding which of us would take it when we divided our things was probably the hardest moment in the whole process. He has it.
A nice feel-good story. I really liked this.
http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/given-a-choice-friday-fictioneers-june-2012/
I’m glad. I hope you are enjoying the season. I imagine you are cruising a canal right now…
Wonderful symbolism, and a nice warm story.
My version – http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/friday-fictioneers-a-walk-in-the-woods/. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for your feedback!
Very nice. Sometimes things are clearer in a black and white photograph.
Yes, I’ve noticed that as well. Thanks for reading!
So true, but subtle as a black and white photo. Great reminder.
Thanks for stopping by,
Kathy
http://notforallmarkets.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/breadcrumbs/
Thanks for reading, Kathy.
lovely take on the photo! Well done indeed. THanks for stopping in on mine, here is the link for others. http://oldentimes.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/fridat-fictioneers/
Thanks for reading – I appreciate it!
Am I getting a hint of a Crosby Stills and Nash song here? “Helplessly Hoping”? Either way, great descriptions and emotional impact without being sappy. Nicely done.
Brian (Thanks for stopping by already. Here’s the link for your readers: http://pinionpost.com/2012/06/15/arrival-in-sharesh-an-ill-omen/)
That’s what I was going for – not sappy. Glad it came through that way.
What a romantic take on the prompt – it’s amazing how the feeling changes to see it in black and white – some irony here beccause there is nothing black and white in a relationship.
I like that comparison. You are so right!
How romantic. We can all learn a lesson from this story.
Mine’s here: http://logo-ligi.com/2012/06/15/six-oclock/
Thank you –
This is really wonderful, what I love the most about it is te fact that it is such a reality. Yeah even when we are married sometimes it just feels like you dont even know what is happening and how you will get through it but there is always that hope, something that bring us back to where we should be. I love that about your story. Thank you .
Finding your way back is the hard part, isn’t it? Drifting apart happens gradually.
How sweet and a real rarity in these days of easy divorce. A refreshing change from the mostly dark stories I’ve found so far today. Thanks for coming by to read mine. Here’s the link in case others are still cruising: http://melodypearson.com/june-15-2012-the-trails-beginning/
Thanks – I’m glad I could provide a little light relief!
That’s how love is, isn’t it? Unnerving and endearing at the same time.
This was beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Parul
http://faitaccompli.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/ghost-writer/
Thank you for reading – I appreciate your feedback.
There’s so much more to a relationship than romance…although that’s a nice thing to have. Without commitment it’s empty. Nice story and very true to life.
Yes – romance is how you get started, but commitment to staying the course is how you go the distance.
Very beautiful, Erin. I loved how you changed the photograph to reflect what it inspired. I would suggest that “leaning slightly toward the other” is awkward. Rephrasing may help with readability. (“Their” and “the other” don’t go together very well. [plural/singular])
Thanks – I agree – am trying to think of a better fit there. Apprecaite your feedback!
Letting the small stuff roll off is important. Nicely done.
Here’s mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/flash-fiction-friday-letting-go/
Thanks – I enjoyed yours this week!
A great tale.
I loved the way you used a black & white version of the picture prompt. I think it added to the sense of longevity and togetherness that you portrayed in your story.
Thanks for your comments and feedback!
I liked the black and white twist. Loved how your character drew on an image from the past to help her face what sounds like a difficult future.
Thanks – I’m glad you picked up on the difficulty. It was there, but subtle.
I loved this one because of the affirmation of a working relationship. Everyone today is so eager to throw things away (including relationships) and this spoke to the exact opposite of that.
Thanks, Michael. It takes work – some just make it look easy. 🙂