Here’s an entry for this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction hosted by Alistair Forbes. 200 words somehow connected (or not, I guess) to the photograph below.
One Afternoon
I don’t know why I keep coming to this beach. Sitting. Remembering. It was such a bright and sunny day. The sky was blue. The air was thick and hot and humid. There were so many footprints in the sand. Some of them were yours.
How could you do this to us? What was so horrible that the love in our little family couldn’t resolve? As time goes by, what do you want me to tell our boys? I want to feel grief and loss and sorrow. Instead, I feel anger.
“It’s been a year,” my sister, Ivy, said.
“It has been,” I agreed.
“And we’re still coming back here every Friday,” Ivy persisted.
“Yes,” I agreed.
How could you just walk out there and forever away from us?
“There’s nothing you could have done, Colleen.” Ivy moved closer to me. She put her hand in mine and squeezed tightly.
I should have known. I should have sensed something.
“There’s nothing you could have done, Colleen,” Ivy repeated.
I know she’s right, but I don’t believe her.
Ellespeth
Views From A Poet 
Such a tragic story. Suicide is so hard on those left behind.
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I agree with Jessie. Such a tragic story. Suicide is so tragic and so permanent. I feel for her and their boys trying to deal with this loss. (Did you notice there are 3 suicide stories this week?)
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Yes I did notice the other suicide stories. Dreary day at the beach! Thanks for commenting, PJ. I don’t know how a mother would talk to her children about this.
Ellespeth
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After I read you story, the very next story I read was a suicide story. There must have been suicide on a lot of hearts and minds for this prompt. Thanks for your comment Ellespeth!
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It’s so sad that she is having a hard time moving on. There will probably always be a question in her mind ….why didn’t she notice something was not right, and wondering if there was something she could have done to help.
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I think a person would wonder those sorts of questions. I hope Colleen will at least stop returning to the beach each week. Thanks for reading this piece, Jessie.
Ellespeth
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