The fading bedroom wallpaper stirs up long buried memories. You teased me as I held a roll against the bare walls of our new life. ‘It’s loud and vibrant like you,’ I explained. We flicked paste at each other before lying entwined amongst the paper, merging into one.
We are separate now. You are leaving me. I lay my head on your chest willing your heart to take one more beat, as tears drip onto leathery skin.
Your ragged breath warms the cheek you used to touch with such tenderness ‘my beautiful girl.’
Then silence, stillness. My world is colourless.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt.
fabricating fiction 
This was really moving. I’ve welled up a little bit after reading it. Well done and thank you.
Thank you. I welled up writing it! Can’t imagine a life without my husband.
Dear FF,
Lovely use of the prompt. The metaphor of the fading wallpaper fit beautifully with the death of a partner.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. Enjoy your break.
That last line is heartbreaking. Truly beautiful story.
Thank you.
Nice emotional take on the prompt.
Thanks Peter.
That was beautifully done, and incredibly moving. Congratulations.
Thank you very much Sandra.
so very sad… very emotional. great post.
Thanks.
roll against the bare walls of our new life NICE! I too got a bit thick throated with this one. Well done.
Me too. Thanks.
What a sad one.. the leaving and death cannot be captured better than through the memories of better times.
Absolutely. And can never be taken away.
This was so beautifully written. Very moving.
Thanks.
I enjoyed reading this after randomly clicking a link. You condensed and transferred a lot of emotion into a short piece. It reminded me of Raymond Carver at the start, which is great for me, then quickly went somewhere deeper. I’ll read more of your work over time. Nice one! 🙂
Thanks for your feedback Stephen. I really appreciate it.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. Few things move me to tears, but this one did it. Very wonderfully written.
Awww not sure whether to apologise or thank you 😉
No need for apologies! This was a magnificent story, worth the tears! 🙂
🙂
Absolutely beautiful 🙂
Thanks Helen.
Incredible piece for the prompt, an amazing amount of emotion in so few words 🙂
Thanks. I really appreciate your comment.
Sometime silence is colorless !
It certainly can be.
Very moving and sad. This story really touched me with the metaphor of faded wallpaper compared to the end of this relationship. Wonderful story!
Thanks for commenting.
So much emotion and beautifully written 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Beautiful story full of heart and the sense of loss. I could feel it as though I was there. Well written. —Susan
Thanks Susan.
Beautiful, lovely, soulful, sad, lonely. Never bitter. Well done.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much.
How beautiful, I got a bit teary eyed.
Thank you.
My keyboard needs wiping. A moving piece.
Will send you a tissue 🙂
Quite lovely. The emotions of a lifetime of marriage packed into 100 words….
Thanks Jan
That was a really beautiful bittersweet story.
Thank you Karen
Such a sad but beautiful story of raw grief…remembering him call you “beautiful girl”…just heart wrenching!
Thanks Cheryl
Very sad and moving and beautifully written. I get the impression that they enjoyed a long and happy life together.
They certainly did.
So sad. So beautiful. Loved it.
Thank you.
Beautiful and sad. Flows smoothly.
Thanks for your comment.
This really moved me very much and have to wipe a tear or two or three. Such a beautifully told tale from the happy beginning to the loving end.
Thank you very much.
You’re really very welcome and I thank you.
Very moving, beautifully written.
Thank you.
Wow so powerful! Beautiful and moving piece of writing.
Thanks Maree for commenting.
Hauntingly, sadly…beautiful…
Thanks for reading.
This is such a sad story and you did it justice! Excellent! Nan 🙂
Thank you very much Nan.