It’s Thursday, and time for another #writephoto prompt, courtesy of Sue Vincent. This week’s photo brought a character to mind, and here he is:
He liked to watch the world change. Today it was snowy, the little tree purged of leaves by winter, the land beyond carpeted white.
Some days he saw green grass and flowers, butterflies dancing. At other times wind blew the little tree, bending it so he feared it might break, russet and gold leaves streaming into the air. Lightning crashed, bright across the landscape, and sometimes, if he woke at the right time, the sky was clear and full of stars, silence ringing like a bell.
Around and above him the stones wept dampness, green moss blurring what was once carved precision. The rainbow of glass was long gone, the windows wide and open to whatever the elements brought.
But he was beyond it all as he paced the old pathway, no wind coming to touch him, no water cold upon his neck. He wondered at that, standing with arms wide beneath stormy skies, staring up to where the roof had once arched.
He couldn’t remember his name, anymore. All he knew was that he was stuck there. Sometimes other people came to walk the stones with him, but he couldn’t make them hear his voice, no matter how he cried and called to them. Children seemed more aware, jumping when he touched their faces, or trailed his fingers through their hair. One little girl had cried, telling her mother over and over about ‘the man in black.’ But she had gone, just like everyone else, leaving him alone beneath the stone arches.
Watching the world change.
Enjoyed this post? Want to read more? Find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJ, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, Under Stone (Ambeth Chronicles #4), is now available on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page to see more.
And don’t forget to get your Bloggers Bash tickets – follow this link to join the fun 🙂
Lonely ol’ ghosty-ghost.
Yes, poor old thing 🙂
Soooo very cool. Loved this one.
Thanks, Craig 🙂
There have been many glimpses of the men who once lived and worked here…though they wore white, except for the black scapular. x
I guess I picked up some of that from your wonderfully atmospheric photo, Sue 🙂
It wouldn’t surprise me, Helen 🙂
😊
Funny, I had similar sort of thoughts. I like the calm sadness of this one.
Thanks, Jane 🙂 I think we’ve done that before, had similar responses to one of Sue’s photos. Perhaps picking up the echoes of the larger stories her images tell? Or maybe it’s just a case of great minds think alike 🙂
We maybe share a common culture, with common responses. Or it could just be great minds 🙂
😊
Such an interesting, melancholic character. Well done.
Thanks, Iain 🙂 I felt a bit sorry for him when I was writing him…
Pingback: #writephoto – Through The Window ~ Helen Jones | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo
Poor spirit! He needs someone to help him into the light. Funny, I’m reading a book about just such a person. Written by Simone Beaudelaire, it’s titled Devilfire. Trapped or recently departed spirits call to the main character. She can’t refuse their pleas.
Thanks, Lyn. That sounds like an interesting read! 🙂
Reading this inspired my (Silly) take!
Really? Thanks, Geoff. I’ll pop on over and take a look…
I really enjoyed this, Helen.
Thanks, Robbie 🙂
Loved the imagery. Very emotive.
Thank you 🙂 Sue is great at choosing photos which seem to contain stories.
Lovely and haunting, like the ghost among the cold stone arches…
Thanks, Linda 🙂 he did seem a bit of a melancholy soul…
Pingback: Writing Links 3/12/18 – Where Genres Collide
This was like a haunting melody.
Thank you – that’s a lovely compliment 😊
Pingback: Photo prompt round-up: Arch #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo
Wonderful…
Thank you 😊