A Calling in September
Fifties by the Fire
Fifties by the Fire — a fifty-word, prompt-based writing exercise. Feel free to share your response below, or read and comment to join the fun.
Prompt: Let’s switch things up a bit this time around. For this week’s prompt, write a fifty-word story or a 100-word story (fiction, CNF, or poetry) that uses—or is about—the following line:
You are still the most important person in my life.
Here are the other guidelines:
Make sure your piece is exactly fifty words. Feel free to use Word Counter or your preferred word processor.
Write a title with the genre in the first line.
The title does not factor into the word count.
Good luck and have fun. Happy writing!
Special thanks to John Lightle for providing “A Calling in September” for our writing prompt.
Below is my contribution.
My One and Only, fiction (100 words)
When the phone rings and I see your name, I answer immediately. I drive to the scene and find you sitting on the curb, face pressed into your knees.
You aren’t hurt.
“I couldn’t think of who else to call.” You barely get the words out. I sit beside you and pull you into me.
There’s still an ocean between us, and most days I fight to the surface to catch a glimpse of light—to breathe.
I know why you called me. You probably know why I picked up.
You are still the most important person in my life.
ONCE YOU WERE, 100-word fiction
In a dream I saw the reflection of your face, your long hair tangled on the pillow, your clothing tossed carelessly on a chair. I saw light from a street lamp falling on a bare shoulder as you slept.
Once, you told me I was your entire universe, yet somehow you slipped away, disappeared from my life as shallow footprints are erased by a rising tide. I often stand at the bedroom window now, looking out at the gray, familiar shore. I breathe in the salt-laden air, and sometimes I wonder … just for a while, do you ever remember me?
The Fairest/ Fiction (50)
“You are still the most important person in my life.” Gerald couldn’t believe he was saying the words. Out loud. To him. After all the abuse. Then something caught his eyeline. What was that, a smudge? He’d have to ask Magda to devote extra attention to the mirrors next week.