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)

20 comments:

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

    ReplyDelete
  2. This gave me a moment of grief.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 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.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nicely done; perfectly poignant!

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

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just a little story, but expertly told.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You say so much with so little. Good writing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sad, sad, dad.

    And such a strong write.

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete