Sunday, 15 July 2012

Magpie 126


THE LAST CIGARETTE
She stands gazing out of the window of the flat they shared together. She is wearing the dress he loved; the ring he bought for her. He persuaded her to give up smoking, but she needs this last one, to help her to get through today. Just this last one.

Looking down into the street below, she sees that it is time to go.

The funeral cortege is waiting.



(With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales for the picture)
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20 comments:

  1. Tess Kincaid15 July 2012 at 16:37

    Oh this is a dark one...a twist away from your regular humor...

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  2. Monika15 July 2012 at 16:43

    This gave me a moment of grief.

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  3. Helen15 July 2012 at 16:53

    Reminded me of Jackie Kennedy before JFK's funeral ... nice writing.

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  4. Kay15 July 2012 at 19:07

    so different to your normal work and i loved it..x

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  5. Unknown15 July 2012 at 22:01

    This hits home for me. There are days I could use a cigarette, but I don't smoke. Waiting for the funeral cortege, would be one of them. Thank you for sharing, Frances.

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  6. Day Dreamer16 July 2012 at 02:42

    sad but riveting...

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  7. Yvonne Osborne16 July 2012 at 02:53

    Beautifully rendered portrait.

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  8. Graham Edwards16 July 2012 at 09:10

    I have a small collection of pictures of people looking out of windows. It is a theme which has fascinated me for years because the photographer or artist is posing a question which always, for me, is an emotional question or a question of emotions. So your words were very apposite in my mind.

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  9. Amrit Sinha16 July 2012 at 10:56

    Sad and dark .... a real twist in the end !!!

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  10. Paula RC16 July 2012 at 11:31

    Love it! You just didn't know where it was taking you then Bang! right in the heart! Brilliant.

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  11. Little Nell16 July 2012 at 12:42

    Nicely done; perfectly poignant!

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  12. Maggie May16 July 2012 at 13:29

    A perfect story in under 70 words, and we are held in suspense until the final sentence. Excellent.

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  13. Doc FTSE16 July 2012 at 14:40

    Just a little story, but expertly told.

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  14. Trellissimo16 July 2012 at 18:12

    You say so much with so little. Good writing.

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  15. Maude Lynn16 July 2012 at 19:10

    Dark and real.

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  16. Susan Anderson16 July 2012 at 19:23

    Sad, sad, dad.

    And such a strong write.

    =)

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  17. Jinksy17 July 2012 at 05:38

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Jinksy17 July 2012 at 05:40

    Oops! Try again! That packs a punch in as few words as possible. That's the way to tell 'em!

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  19. Frances Garrood17 July 2012 at 22:21

    Thanks, everyone. I thought I'd try to be serious for a change...

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  20. 21 Wits18 July 2012 at 00:07

    Oh so sad, but perhaps she will make it her last one....add more days to her years still yet to live!

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