Ellen stood on the bridge while Nathaniel photographed her from the shore.
“Don’t spoil my memories!”
He did not know how he could spoil her memories, but Nathaniel took multiple shots and made sure the photos looked good. He saw her smile. That let him know she was glad he was taking those pictures. For her part Ellen saw no future that did not include Nathaniel.
Today her face is wrinkled. While she was still able to walk her family decided to take her to her childhood home which seemingly random turbulences over the decades tossed her far away from. She asked to see that old stone bridge. They found the bridge. It was still there in spite of the changes, some challenging, some like windfalls of blessing, that would make almost everything else unrecognizable to her.
As they walked over the bridge, Ellen stopped to the best of her remembrance where she stood when Nathaniel took those photographs. She wondered what happened to him. Why did she lose him that summer?
Ellen thought of her family, husband, middle-aged children and grandchildren starting to have infants to care for. Some of them were with her on the bridge worrying she might fall and guarding her from the edge. She may have another year to share with them. As she breathed the air and watched the water move below she felt an overwhelming gratitude for all of it. The parts of her life she got right soothed those she wished she did differently. She looked toward the shore where Nathaniel stood long ago and smiled at him once again.
Linked to Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt. She provided the photo for the prompt. I am also linking because of the reference to gratitude in the story to Debbie Roth’s Forgiving Fridays.
A lovely tale Frank. I like the fact that you never used the word “regret”.
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As I felt the story progressing it was gratitude rather than regret she felt. Thank you, Peter!
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Each path has its own reward. But we need not forget those we did not take. (K)
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There are many we don’t and sometimes can’t take. Thank you, Kerfe!
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This is very good, Frank.
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Thank you, Dan!
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I am very seldomly touched these days, but this story lubrificated my eyes. We all have our memories and the story is nicely rounded up with the present looking back at a past that somehow can foresee the memories of the future.
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I am so glad you liked this, Danik! Thank you!
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SMiLes Frank
Every one should
Be Gifted With Living
Younger Older to Appreciate
Living
Older
Younger
aT Least
From: mY View to:
Younger Older NoW2..:)
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There is generational flow that is a gift we give ourselves and those around us. Thank you, Fred!
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SMiLes.. Welcome
And thank you..:)
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All choices are their own crossroads… and each path brings its own beauty 🙂
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Each path does. Thank you, Sue! And thank you for hosting these challenges.
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I love seeing the creativity displayed in the responses, Frank 🙂
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Ah, a sweet reminder that life changes despite our desire to hold on.
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It does and hopefully at some point it all is resolved. Thank you!
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Frank, this is truly beautiful. I love your reference to gratitude, and how she used her good memories to embrace the ones she wished would be different. Also, to me, there is something so healing in embracing all that happened to us and what we think and feel about it. It’s total acceptance in a way, because we’re allowing it to be present.
Thank you for your contribution to #ForgivingFridays! I’ll share this tomorrow. Blessings, Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie! The ending may have been different were it not for your influence with Forgiving Fridays. That helped me see the gratitude that I might have missed.
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Frank I am so happy to hear that. (I’m speechless) Blessings — Debbie
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Wow! That was mesmerizing. I do not how you did what you did, but Wow! It affected me in that few seconds I read it. A fine writing, Frank.
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That sudden shift in time is heart breaking!
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I am glad you liked this, Jay. I find the story heartbreaking as well. I am glad that came through.
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A very beautiful piece about memories, regrets and contentment, Frank.
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Thank you, Robbie!
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A beautiful memory. It’ironic that it is what we have the most of…in our older years. I loved the story and your audio recount of it is superb!
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Thank you, Vivian! I am glad you liked the audio as well.
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It was great!
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