The creeping tenacity of memories

The boxes were filling up with old clothes, DVDs, CDs, books and even an old guitar. This was part of our plan to declutter. Detox. Create order out of chaos. Part of our marriage counselling ‘homework’. Create a space for love and togetherness to grow.

“Wait, not that one. Roy.” I took from his hands a green beenie, fingered the aged wool fondly.

“You haven’t used it in years, Katie. Chuck it!”

Ignoring him I placed it on the bed away from the boxes. Little did Roy know that it belonged to my late husband.

Screw cancer, I thought bitterly.

100 words

Glossary:

Just in case it is not widely known, “Beenie” is the term we use around here for woollen hats.

Thanks to Bjorn for the vivid photo for this week’s Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. This has really helped me to grow as a writer making each word work for its place on the page (or screen.) I suggest you try it. And it is fun to get to know the other writers through their flash fiction.

Click here to read what other’s have written for this prompt and see the wide variety of perspectives a single image can inspire.

I have just celebrated one year on wordpress and I’m pleased that I got to spend all of it with you lot! It has been entertaining, fun and educational. Here’s to another year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Responses

Jan Brown

Dec 21, 2017

Enjoyed this all the way through the sad ending.

Happy blogversary!

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you, Jan 😊
  
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Moon

Dec 21, 2017

Great story, Fatima and I love the very apt title.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you so much! 🙂
  
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Iain Kelly

Dec 21, 2017

It’s nice to hold on to a small memory of him. Touching story. Happy Anniversary 🙂

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you, Iain! Yes a small memory, also maybe hints at their marital problems. She hasn’t moved on from her first marriage…
  
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  1. anie
    
    Jan 7, 2018
    
    this is bitter she should really move on…: (
    
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  2. Fatima Fakier
    
    Jan 8, 2018
    
    In this story, yes, she should move on as it seems to be complicating her current marriage. However as fellow Fictioneers have pointed out, they have kept momentos from their own late husbands to no ill effect on their new relationships. Something which I think speaks of true love. Thank you, Anie.
    
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  3. anie
    
    Jan 8, 2018
    
    I believe that former partners are always more or less a problem. It actually has a great deal to do with trust and understanding to tolerate these memories. But you are cpmpletely right, that it depends also on the situation!
    
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neilmacdon

Dec 21, 2017

What a brilliant title, and a bittersweet story

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you, Neil.
  
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rochellewisoff

Dec 21, 2017

Dear Fatima,

Happy Bog-A-Versary. I’m glad that you spend some of that blog time with Friday Ficitioneers. 😉 Sweet and sad story.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you so much, Rochelle! And I’ve enjoyed it all.
  
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Dale

Dec 21, 2017

As a woman with a late husband, I think you should drop the “ex”… unless he died after they divorced!!
And I totally understand why she would keep it; as should he – if he knew…

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 21, 2017
  
  Thank you, Dale. It was an editing error. Initially had ex-husband and then added “late” but forgot to remove the prefix. I’ve changed it now.
  And I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing that with us.
  
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  1. Dale
    
    Dec 22, 2017
    
    It’s all good, Fatima. Many people want to say ex because they don’t know what else to say! 😀
    
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

Dec 21, 2017

Some memories you cannot part with… I still think that could belong with the her new husband,

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 22, 2017
  
  Yes I think Katie could have shared this with her new husband and it might have brought them closer too.
  
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Jelli

Dec 21, 2017

Oh, yeah, I have a momento like that from my first husband… the key to his old Gremlin car. Hubby doesn’t know what it is and almost threw it out once. I screamed so loud the neighbors called the police. It was that bad. That year, for my birthday, Hubby got me a small cedar box… “For your key” he said. Gotta love that man! ❤ I really enjoyed your story. BTW, that key is hanging on our Memorial tree that we put up every year.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 22, 2017
  
  Your husband sounds like a good man who loves you very much 😊 his gesture was so kind and understanding and I like your tradition of having a memorial tree in tribute to those who passed on. In fact, your story makes for better flash fiction, methinks 😉
  
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  1. Jelli
    
    Dec 22, 2017
    
    Thanks, Fatima. The tree, we started in 2012 after my Mom passed. It’s a small, white, metal tree that sits in the middle of a little table. We have picture ornaments for our grandmothers and Mom, a collar for our beloved Hanniebitzer (kitty), and a little hat for our wee one Iosa born too soon.
    
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  2. Fatima Fakier
    
    Dec 23, 2017
    
    My mom passed away last year. At this point I can’t imagine losing anyone else. But such is life. So many stories and lives on one little tree. Good way of keeping them close. Thank you for sharing that with us 🙂
    
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  3. Jelli
    
    Dec 23, 2017
    
    (hugs) Fatima! Love sending your way, too!
    
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Christine Goodnough

Dec 22, 2017

There’s something inside us that needs to hang on to a few of those precious memory-evoking items.
Good tale and congrats on your anniversary. May the year ahead bring you many more blogging joys.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 22, 2017
  
  Maybe it’s our need for connection that causes us to attach to inanimate objects. Thank you, Christine. I look forward to the second year of blogging.
  
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anuragbakhshi

Dec 22, 2017

Memories associated with certain objects pass on a kind of magic to them, making them more powerful, more precious than others. Lovely story Fatima.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 22, 2017
  
  There is something magical in it for sure. Thank you!
  
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pennygadd51

Dec 22, 2017

You’ve written that story really well, Fatima. Your words made me feel the way Katie handled that worn green beenie with love and almost with reverence. You left me hoping she could move on and commit wholeheartedly to her new marriage.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 23, 2017
  
  Yes, that’s what I wanted to portray. Her unhealthy way of hanging onto the past was getting in the way of the life she had. Thank you, Penny! And have a merry Christmas too 🙂
  
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kindredspirit23

Dec 23, 2017

Cancer seems to be on a lot of minds with the woolen hats.
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/tend-to-your-knittin/
Scott

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 23, 2017
  
  My exact thoughts after reading some of the flash fiction 🙂
  
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yarnspinnerr

Dec 23, 2017

Beautifully crafted.

May there be many such anniversaries. 🙂

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 24, 2017
  
  Oh thank you and I look forward to it.
  
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granonine

Dec 23, 2017

I’d keep it, too. Wonderful story.

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1. Fatima Fakier
  
  Dec 24, 2017
  
  Thank you. ☺
  
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