Wednesday, November 15, 2017

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Post 1636. Wednesday November 15


As flames licked the smoke-filled sky, banging, crackling, and the sound of exploding windows filled the air.

A paramedic knelt beside a fire-ravaged man. ‘Up there, my little girl’ he whispered with his dying breath.

‘I hear something’ yelled the Fire Chief.  

‘Daddy, where are you?’

‘Look, there. We’ll never reach her, get the air cushion’

A terrified child climbed onto a window ledge, let out a chilling scream and jumped.




In a garden where an apartment block once stood, a young lady places flowers on a bench and strokes the words carved in its backrest.

Daddy, you passed me on your way up to heaven they read.





Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and J Hardy Carroll for the photo.





70 comments:

  1. That is just beautiful. Your story has brought tears to my eyes.

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    1. Thank you so much Irene, I couldn't have wished for a nicer opening comment.

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  2. Awww, gives me goosebumps. Nicely done.

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  3. Lovely, but sad, story, Keith. Well done.

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  4. Dear Keith,

    Beautifully written tragedy.

    Shalom

    Rochelle

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    1. Thank you for your comment Rochelle, and of course for hosting the challenge I look forward to the most each week.

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  5. What a tragic thought. I hope it gives her some comfort.

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  6. That was horrible and wonderful.

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  7. You've done it again, Keith... made me gasp and brought tears to my eyes.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  8. That's so sad. A fitting tribute for a father desperate to save his little girl. Nicely done Keith

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  9. To the end, he was her guardian angel.

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  10. Keith, this is one of your best. Perfectly done. Kudos.

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  11. Touching, poignant --- the best adjectives are used. ;) Loved it!

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    1. Time to invent some more! Thank you so much Christine.

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  12. Sad and touching. Very nice!

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  13. Touching with graphic details.

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  14. Bother you, Keith, I shall have to go and fix my mascara where it's run!
    Wow, such a powerful last line.

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    1. Please accept my sincere apologies Penny! Thank you.

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  15. A sad and very touching story Keith.
    Thanks, Norma.

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  16. A beautiful story, Keith, particularly poignant this week with Grenfell Tower back in the news.

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    1. That's what I had in mind though I decided not to make a direct reference in my piece. Thanks so much liz.

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  17. Oh, this breaks my heart. A few years a go a man set fire to his family home after an argument. He intended to kill the adults, but his niece who normally went to church with her grandmother was the only one who got trapped. She was at the window crying for her auntie to come get her, but the flames were too intense. By the time the firemen got there and reached her she was gone.

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    1. Oh my goodness, that's awful and a very similar situation to the ficticious one I came up with for my piece. I cannot possibly imagine what that must have been like for the auntie. Thank you so much for reading and commenting Susie.

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  18. So beautiful, and yet so heartbreaking. This is a fabulous piece, Keith.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. This week's prompt has resulted in so many tales of woe. Hopefully we'll all find something amusing in next week's.

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  19. Gorgeous piece of writing, Keith. Evokes lots of emotions. Well done.

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  20. Well, I am choking and words are falling short...

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    1. I had no idea my piece wold have the reaction it has. Thank you so much for reading and commenting Balaka

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  21. A spine-chilling story, and gripping - a well told tale.

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  22. Wow! That last line brought tears to my eyes.

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    1. Thanks for reading and tking the time to comment Alice

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  23. I let out an "aaawwwww" at the end of this. Such a beautifully told sad tale...

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  24. Such a poignant tale, written so beautifully.

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  25. Really like this. Creepy and sad at the same time. Last line is fantastic

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  26. A beautiful story full of emotion, Keith. Good writing. ---- Suzanne

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  27. What a heartbreaking story you brought this week...

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    1. A different week a different style! Thanks so much brudberg.

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