Time for the delightful writing challenge of Alastairs Photo Fiction, Alastair shares with us one of his photographs to use as a prompt for writing a flash fiction (short-short) story of no more than 150 words. Writing from a photo prompt is fun, give this one a try! Click on his link for more details.
His photograph this week is the following:
Stepping Into The Future
“A picture of a time portal?” She shook her head handing the photo back to him. “I was expecting something – I don’t know – more exciting, a dark luminous tunnel, a pathway ending in a mist.”
He smiled, “I know, completely average looking. But this is it. The portal, between the first and second set of steps. By the time you reach the second set you’re in the future, when you turn and walk back down you’re in the past again.”
“Fascinating, but how do I know you’re not just making this up.”
His smile became broader. “I anticipated your question. So I took this picture before I came. Notice the date in the lower right hand corner.”
She looked at the date in the photograph and then at him.
“You’re from my future?”
“Yes,” he said, “But I couldn’t wait any longer to be with you,
so I came early!”
(150 words)
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To enter your own flash fiction from Alastair’s photo prompt, click here to get started!
Thanks for stopping by, have a great week ahead!
~ Penny
The Why About This 
I adore this! The lengths we will go to for love!
Thank you! Just a few that read this actually got what the last line meant! I’m pleased you did!
I was thinking about going with the time travel angle. I’m glad you did. And you made it an enjoyable love story. Kudos to you!
Thank you, very much! I’ll admit I was stumped initially so was happy to have ended with with a decent story.
I had not even noticed the date on the photo..you are so wise..loved your story
Thanks, I wasn’t sure what to do with the photo until I happened to see the date! 🙂
This post reminds of the Stephen King book ‘11.22.63’, which I loved, as I do this post, and most everything you write (ok, EVERYTHING you write) 🙂
Nut, thank you LuAnn! 🙂
I am that and proud of it! 😀
I’m not so sure I want a glimpse of our future!!
Right there with you. Hi Lisa, I too am glad the time portal exists only in our imagination. Life is scary enough as it is right now.
AnElephantCant forget it’s October
When he is last in Bethune
He has no email
It seems to have failed
Back then he used the telephone for fun
Time travel is just fascinating.
Great story, you are quite the romantic at times!
That would be me, yes, no email – phone is good though! xx
An excellent flash Penny 🙂
Andro
Thanks Andro. These are fun to write! 🙂
Neat idea! And I like the part about the portal being average looking. Time portals look so dramatic in the movies, so it’s fun to think of them just appearing ordinary — so faith must be had to approach it.
That’s a good point, I guess the scary or more unusual something looks, more courage and fortitude is required to move towards it! 🙂
So ingenious and what an ending. Super!
Thank you Tez, I’m glad somebody caught the meaning to the ending! 🙂
Oh, this is so clever! And using the forward date was just brilliant Penny 😀
Thanks Lyn, I must admit I was rather at a loss for what to write until I saw the date, lol! 🙂
What a great story…
Thanks Bulldog, I’m hoping your week started off well for you! xx
With Monday being a public holiday it stared well… only problem Tuesday now becomes Monday with the blues attached…
That would make a pretty tune, Tuesday Blues … but I hope not for you! )
I contemplated cutting the date out as it was wrong, I’m glad I didn’t. It gave rise to this excellent story. At first I thought it was a con. I thought he was going to charge her. After all, you walk up the stairs, and every step is a step into the future, and when you come down, it is to where you have been, hence the past 🙂 I do like yours though
Sooooo Loved this Penny ~ what a fantastic theme — You created something totally amazing here as a match for Alastair’s photo prompt… I am impressed dearest friend! Love your way ~ x RL
Thank you Robyn, with much love dearest friend, have an most excellent week ahead! Hopefully with lots of sun! xo
Photos as writing prompt – I used this technique . In the last half of my 3 decade + in high school history classroom to have the students learn any history was less and less important. The college bound existed, but the rest were 2-5 years below reading level and certainly writing ability as well. I would choose a picture like this(or anything from a mag with possibility) and ask for just 3 paragraphs; what is going on? how did it come about? and how will it end? Then through the course of the week I would call 8 kids every day for one on one correction and rewrite. I think it was more important than teaching history as they needed get get to some level of functional literacy for adulthood and work of some nature. I feel it was the most satisfying activity of my entire career.
That had to have been rewarding Carl. I taught children and adults Art (for years) – the basics of drawing and in a very similar way, when they had to connect with a skill, an observation and a process, they learned the lessons very well (as well as enjoying it). It sounds much like what you did to assist the students in acquiring a greater skill of using words through a view and perspective of a photo.
time traveling…how delightful! great story, Penny! ♥
Wow – great work from the two of you. The bar is set high.