Who can understand the rooms and cubbies in the human mind after a lifetime of waking up, facing demons taunting her to dark places that glowed, claiming dreams to come true?


PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

She tried to be organized about all the memories, the wounds, the junk. Keep it all under control after each hard day was won.

And really, when she looked back, the detritus she stacked neatly did not look so formidable, so ugly, it spoke of battles left behind.

Yes, that was her conclusion as she walked away from it towards the open ocean of freedom.


Today’s photo prompt for Rochelle Wisoff’s Friday Fictioneers is the work of “Mr.Binks”. Check the link to more stories crafted from this interesting prompt. I’m certain you’ll find thoughtful, funny, scary, creepy, surprising and whimsical stories! Go ahead follow the link.

Have a great day! If you’re moving on from battle weary days, may your path be clear to new beginnings. Best, Clare


Discover more from Clare Graith

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.


32 responses to “Look Back, Look Ahead”

  1. Laurie Bell Avatar

    ‘It spoke of battles left behind’ terrific line!
    Great story. She’s moving onward.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Many thanks Laurie!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Violet Lentz Avatar

    What a grand take on the prompt. I believe she has made a very tough decision, but in the end, it was hers to make.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    She’s done something a lot of us would like to do.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Something many of us dream of but few of us are brave enough to actually do it.

    Like

  5. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    If only it were that easy to leave behind our “junk.” Very hopeful piece.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. plaridel Avatar

    good for her in making the decision to let go of the past and everything in it.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Amen, everything except the lessons learned.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. granonine Avatar

    A lovely take on the prompt. I love “the open ocean of freedom”

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Part of that freedom is seeing the stuff behind us that wasn’t a waste…it’s all part of the process.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. msjadeli Avatar

    Clare, I like the way you describe the little boxes in our head where we store things. I think we need to look through them from time to time and throw out bits — to make way for new bits 🙂

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Thanks! I think it’s kind of like items on a shelf in a store, if you pull something out, the next item just moves up to fill the space! lol

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Dale Avatar

    One must organise one’s detritus of a past before moving forward. Now she doesn’t have to drag it with her! Lovely write, Clare (and how funny that you two Clares are side by side on the square, quite often!)

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Many thanks Dale…we Clares must stick together in a world full of Claire’s. Lol

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Bernadette Braganza Avatar

    The last line sounds so freeing and uplifting 🙂

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      A new perspective is a gift often bestowed with age; one of the many perks of getting older!

      Like

      1. Bernadette Braganza Avatar

        That’s something to look forward to 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Clare,

    How lovely that she’s able to walk away from the clutter of the past. Great analogies.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Many thanks Rochelle!

      Like

  12. James McEwan Avatar

    Our memories and regrets, and life’s junk are not easily washed away walking into the sea, as they tend to follow us and bob around us wherever we are.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      I see that picture of bobbing junk, so true but it is good to see that the hard days produced something good, success at least in living to the next day!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Thank you Bon!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    The struggle is real. Nicely written.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Thank you. And thanks for contributing the interesting photo!

      Like

  14. Neil MacDonald Avatar

    Nice use of the prompt, Clare

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Many thanks Neil!

      Like

  15. James Pyles Avatar

    That last bit sounds ominous.

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      I wasn’t meaning it to be that she was headed to the actual ocean, but I can see how it would seem so.

      Like

  16. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    You captured the emotion beautifully!

    Like

    1. CGraith Avatar
      CGraith

      Many thanks Clare!

      Like

Leave a reply to Dale Cancel reply