I’ve participated in two writing challenges this week. I find it hard to do one usually, but for some reason my muse was with me this week. I don’t usually share my challenge responses on my own blog, but I thought what the hey, this week I would.
The first challenge I participated in was Esther’s,who this time used a photo as inspiration here’s my entry:
Stargate
“What if I never come back?” I swallowed the bile beginning to attack the back of my throat and clutched at my stomach. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t look at Eloinee. Those perfectly golden eyes made me feel sick with guilt.
“You were born for this Jeremiah, you’re the only one who can take us.”
I shook my head trying not to throw up. I grabbed Eloinee’s arm and steadied myself.
“I’m not a hero, Eloinee, I’m just a nobody inventor who got lucky.”
“How can that be true?” She sat me down in front of the stone stargate, “You captured the hearts of the entire nation, you’re going to save us all.”
My stomach gurgled and I tasted the first acidy traces of sick. I put my head in my hands and rubbed my temples hard.
“This is a mistake. I wasn’t even meant to be studying torsion physics, Eloinee. I can’t do this. I can’t go. It’s all a big mistake. I was just looking for free energy for godsake.”
Eloinee slapped at my face so hard my hands slipped off my knees and I clasped my throbbing hand.
“What the hell was that for?”
She pressed her lips tight and slumped into a chair next to me sighing.
“Jeremiah, it doesn’t matter what you want to do. This isn’t a choice. You may not have meant to discover the stargates, but you did. So get a grip. This is bigger than you. Don’t you get it?” She leant forward, and took my reddened hand in hers, bringing it to her lips, “This is about hope. It’s always been about hope.”
She kissed my hands and leant in to plant a tender peck on my cheek.
“You aren’t just my hope Jeremiah, you are the hope of a nation. Our world is dying, and you are going to be our saviour. I believe in you more than I have ever believed in anything. You were never a ‘nobody’ to me. But now… Now, you are a ‘somebody’ to everyone. You have to be our hope Jeremiah, you just have to.”
Tears spilled onto her pink cheeks. My heart ached looking into her furrowed eyes. If I couldn’t go for the nation, I had to go for Eloinee.
I just nodded. I couldn’t speak. If I spoke, I would lose the strength she had given me.
I stood up, pulling her up and into my arms. I couldn’t say goodbye. So I touched my forehead to hers and breathed in the scent of her sweet skin. I took a last look into her golden eyes, I would never forget them, they were my hope.
I left her alone in the room and walked to the stone stargate. She was right. I could save us all. I touched my hand to the gate, and stepped into the unknown…
***
The second challenge I participated in was Charli Mills weekly 99 word challenge, she gives a prompt and the submission needs to include the prompt which was: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a river and a person (or people). So here is my entry:
I heard shrill ringing from sirens in the background.
“I haven’t got long, Ted.”
I stroked the lid of the cask and flashed a glance at the bright red sign on the edge of the bridge.
‘ASH DUMPING PROHIBITED’
I stifled a laugh as a tear spilled onto the bridge concrete.
“You old basterd, you knew I’d hate doing this.”
I longed for him. Ached. I wasn’t sure I could go on.
The sirens were close now.
I opened the lid and spilled the contents into the river.
And I ran like the wind his ashes were drifting into.
Both submissions are great! I enjoyed reading them. But Esther’s link is broken; I’d love to see the picture that went along with the prompt.
Thanks so much for reading and saying you liked them :). I’ve tried to fix the link, I didn’t even think of posting the picture. Hopefully the link works now. The challenge is still open if u fancy doing it? Let me know if the link works now 🙂
The link works now, thanks for fixing it! I may or may not do the challenge. The rest of my week is pretty packed. But I’ll always keep my eye out for more!
Both excellent Sacha 😀
Thanks Chris that means a lot coming from you 🙂 especially that you took the time to read them when I know how busy you must be. I haven’t forgotten I need to reply to your email I’m just giving it some thought 🙂
Never too busy to read good material Sacha 😀
Oh stop! you’re making me blush now! :p
😀 😀 😀
An interesting pair of stories. I’m pleased you shared them. I hope Jeremiah is able to pull off what is expected of him. I love the down-to-earthiness of the second one. Great humour!
Thanks for taking the time to read them Norah 🙂 appreciate it, and thank you for the positive comments 🙂
You’re welcome. It was a pleasure. 🙂
One reason I like doing the weekly compilation is because the dynamic of a story changes when it is with another or within a collection. I really like reading these two paired together.
I think (having just read all the responses to your challenge) that your completely right, the breadth of story is mind boggling, how can so few words and the same lines of inspiration produce such a plethora of stories?? Its amazing really.